Editing Sam Waterston

{{Short description|American actor (born 1940)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Sam Waterston
| image        = Sam Waterston at PaleyFest 2013.jpg
| caption      = Waterston at the [[PaleyFest]] 2013 panel for ''[[The Newsroom (U.S. TV series)|The Newsroom]]''
| birth_name   = Samuel Atkinson Waterston
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1940|11|15}}
| birth_place  = [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| occupation   = Actor
| years_active = 1962–present
| spouse       = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Barbara Rutledge Johns|1964|1975|end=div}}
* {{marriage|Lynn Louisa Woodruff|1976}}
}}
| children     = 4, including [[James Waterston|James]] and [[Katherine Waterston|Katherine]]
| awards       = ''[[List of awards and nominations received by Sam Waterston|Full list]]''
}}

'''Samuel Atkinson Waterston''' (born November 15, 1940) is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television, and film. He has received [[List of awards and nominations received by Sam Waterston|numerous accolades]] including a [[Primetime Emmy Award]], [[Golden Globe Award]], and [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] as well as nominations for an [[Academy Award]], a [[Tony Award]], and two [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA Awards]]. His acting career has spanned over five decades acting on stage and screen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001832/awards|title=Sam Waterston |publisher=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> Waterston received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 2010 and was inducted into the [[American Theater Hall of Fame]] in 2012.

Waterston studied at the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]] in Paris and the American Actors Workshop. He started his career in theater on the [[New York City|New York]] stage, appearing in multiple revivals of [[Shakespeare]]. Waterston starred in numerous productions at the [[Public Theatre]] including ''[[Indians (play)|Indians]]'' (1969), ''[[Catonsville Nine|The Trial of Catonsville Nine]]'' (1970), ''[[A Doll's House]]'' (1975), ''[[Hamlet]]'' (1975), ''[[Measure for Measure]]'' (1977), and ''[[Benefactors (play)|Benefactors]]'' (1980).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.playbill.com/personrolespage/person-role-page?person=00000150-ac81-d16d-a550-ecbf68430001 |title=Sam Waterston Broadway Credits |website=[[Playbill]] |access-date= May 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.simplystreep.com/content/career/stage/1976measureformeasure.html |title=Simply Streep - Stage Career |website=simplystreep.com |access-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806230650/http://www.simplystreep.com/content/career/stage/1976measureformeasure.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He portrayed [[Abraham Lincoln]] on [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] in ''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|Abe Lincoln in Illinois]]'' (1993) where he received a [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]] nomination.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.playbill.com/person/sam-waterston-vault-0000070066 |title= Sam Waterston - Performer |website=[[Playbill]] |access-date= May 12, 2020}}</ref>

On film, he played [[Nick Carraway]] in ''[[The Great Gatsby (1974 film)|The Great Gatsby]]'' (1974) earning a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Golden Globe]] nomination. For his portrayal of [[Sydney Schanberg]] in [[Roland Joffe]]'s ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'' (1984) he was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]. He has acted in several [[Woody Allen]] films including ''[[Interiors]]'' (1978), ''[[Hannah and Her Sisters]]'' (1986), ''[[September (1987 film)|September]]'' (1987), and ''[[Crimes and Misdemeanors]]'' (1989). He also acted in ''[[Hopscotch (film)|Hopscotch]]'' (1980),  ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]'' (1980), ''[[The Man in the Moon (1991 film)|The Man in the Moon]]'' (1991), ''[[Serial Mom]]'' (1994), ''[[Nixon (1995 film)|Nixon]]'' (1995), ''[[Miss Sloane]]'' (2016) and ''[[On the Basis of Sex]]'' (2018).

Waterston gained prominence for his portrayal of [[Jack McCoy]] on the [[NBC]] crime series ''[[Law & Order]]'' (1994–2010, 2022–2024), for which he received a [[Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Award]] along with [[Golden Globe Award]] and [[Emmy Award]] nominations. He played Charlie Skinner in [[Aaron Sorkin]]'s [[HBO]] drama series ''[[The Newsroom (American TV series)|The Newsroom]]'' (2012–2014). He was [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actor|BAFTA nominated]] for portraying [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] in the BBC miniseries ''[[Oppenheimer (TV series)|Oppenheimer]]'' (1980).<ref name="goldenglobes" /> He has also acted in ''[[Lincoln (miniseries)|Lincoln]]'' (1988), ''[[Godless (TV series)|Godless]]'' (2017), ''[[Grace and Frankie]]'' (2015–2022), and ''[[The Dropout]]'' (2022).

==Early life and education==
Sam Waterston was born in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]], the third of four children of George Chychele Waterston, a [[Semantics|semanticist]] and language teacher, and Alice Tucker (née Atkinson), a landscape painter. Waterston's mother was of English ancestry, and a descendant of passengers on the ''[[Mayflower]]''; his father emigrated to the U.S. from Scotland via England. His siblings are Roberta, George, and Ellen Waterston.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson-foundation/thomas-jefferson-foundation-an-overview/july-4th-speakers-at-monticello/sam-waterston/|title=Sam Waterston Welcomes New Citizens at Monticello|website=Monticello.org |date=July 4, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://parade.com/tv/sam-waterston-law-and-order-2022|title=Sam Waterston Reveals Why He Almost Didn't Take Role on 'Law and Order'|first=Mara|last=Reinstein|date=November 25, 2022|website=Parade.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= Staff|url= http://www.biography.com/articles/Sam-Waterston-9542268|title= Sam Waterston|website= [[Biography.com]]|access-date= July 30, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110610033803/http://www.biography.com/articles/Sam-Waterston-9542268|archive-date= June 10, 2011|df= mdy-all}}</ref>
Waterston attended high school at the [[Groton School]], graduating in the class of 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Waterston '58 |url=https://www.groton.org/news-detail?pk=703296 |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=Groton School| date=March 3, 2014 }}</ref> He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] from [[Yale University|Yale College]], class of 1962.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 3, 2000 |title=Actor extols Yale experience and the power of words |work=Yale Bulletin & Calendar |url=http://archives.news.yale.edu/v29.n9/story14.html |access-date=May 20, 2022}}</ref>

==Career==
===1963–1973: Early roles ===
[[File:Sam Waterston 1972.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Waterston with the American Shakespeare Festival in 1972]]
The classically trained Waterston has numerous stage credits to his name. In 1962, he made his [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut playing Jonathan in the [[Arthur Kopit]] play ''[[Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad]]'' at the [[Morosco Theatre]]. The following year, he made his debut at the [[Delacorte Theatre]] playing Silvius in a production of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[As You Like It]]'' (1963). 

He made his film debut in the 1965 drama movie ''[[The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/sam-waterston/2/|title=Sam Waterston|date=16 April 2010 |publisher=[[CBS News]]|access-date=March 30, 2016}}</ref> He returned to Broadway playing David in ''First One Asleep, Whistle'' (1966), and Robert in the [[Peter Ustinov]] play ''[[Halfway Up the Tree]]'' (1967). On October 13, 1969, he starred in [[Arthur Kopit]]'s play ''[[Indians (play)|Indians]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the [[Brooks Atkinson Theatre]]. The play was directed by Gene Frankel, and he acted alongside [[Stacy Keach]] as Buffalo Bill, [[Manu Tupou]] as Sitting Bull, and other actors such as [[Tom Aldredge]], [[Kevin Conway (actor)|Kevin Conway]], [[Charles Durning]], and [[Raul Julia]]. The play ran for 96 performances and 16 previews.<ref>[http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=3465 ''Indians''] ibdb.com</ref><ref name=play>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.playbill.com/production/indians-brooks-atkinson-theatre-vault-0000008045|title=Indians|magazine=[[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]]|date=October 13, 1969}}</ref> 

During this time, Waterston acted in supporting roles in numerous films including [[Delbert Mann]]'s romantic comedy ''[[Fitzwilly]]'' (1967) starring [[Dick Van Dyke]], and the comedy film ''[[Generation (film)|Generation]]'' (1969). He had a leading role in the British romantic drama ''[[Three (1969 film)|Three]]'' acting opposite [[Charlotte Rampling]] and [[Robie Porter]]. He acted in the [[Merchant Ivory]] film ''[[Savages (1972 film)|Savages]]'' based loosely on the [[Luis Buñuel]] film ''[[The Exterminating Angel]]'' (1962). Waterston continued acting in plays at the [[Public Theatre]] including portraying Benedick in [[Joseph Papp]]'s production of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' (1972) and played the [[Prince Hamlet|title role]] in ''[[Hamlet]]'' (1975), the former earned him a [[Drama Desk Award|Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance]].

=== 1974–1993: Rise to prominence === 
Waterston has a history of doing theater work in the summer, often seen acting in such venues as [[Long Wharf Theatre]] and the [[Yale Repertory Theatre]] in New Haven.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ernio|last=Hernandez|date=11 May 2005|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92893-Sam-Waterston-Travesties-Opens-at-Long-Wharf-Theatre-May-11|title=Sam Waterston Travesties Opens at Long Wharf Theatre May 11|magazine=[[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017080745/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92893-Sam-Waterston-Travesties-Opens-at-Long-Wharf-Theatre-May-11 |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Celia|last=Wren|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/18/theater/theater-when-chekhov-had-a-bad-dream.html|title=When Chekov had a Bad Dream|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 18, 2003}}</ref> In 1973, acting opposite [[Katharine Hepburn]], he played a shoe salesman in the television drama film ''[[The Glass Menagerie (1973 film)|The Glass Menagerie]]'' (1973), receiving a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]] for his work in the film.<ref name="emmys">{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/sam-waterston |title=Sam Waterston |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=William |last=Glover |title=Sunday: The Glass Menagerie |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19731215&id=nKtVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5245,3981537&hl=sv |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press |date=December 15, 1973 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> He went on to appear as [[Bond (finance)|bond]] salesman [[Nick Carraway]] in the 1974 feature film version of ''[[The Great Gatsby (1974 film)|The Great Gatsby]]''  acting alongside [[Robert Redford]], [[Mia Farrow]], and [[Bruce Dern]]. For his performance he earned two [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] nominations: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]] and [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor|New Star of the Year]].<ref name="goldenglobes">{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/person/sam-waterston |title=Sam Waterston |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> 

The following year, Waterston acted in the neo-Western comedy film ''[[Rancho Deluxe]]'' (1975) starring [[Jeff Bridges]], [[Elizabeth Ashley]], and [[Harry Dean Stanton]]. That same year, he acted in the Canadian thriller ''[[Journey into Fear (1975 film)|Journey into Fear]]'' with [[Zero Mostel]], [[Vincent Price]] and [[Shelley Winters]]. In 1976, he acted in the thriller ''[[Sweet Revenge (1976 film)|Sweet Revenge]]'' opposite [[Stockard Channing]]. The following year, he acted in the British-American thriller ''[[Capricorn One]]'' playing Lieutenant Colonel Peter Willis. The film had an ensemble cast which included [[Elliott Gould]], [[James Brolin]], [[O. J. Simpson]], and [[Hal Holbrook]]. Also in 1977, he starred in an Off-Broadway production of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Measure for Measure]]'' as Duke Vincentio alongside [[Meryl Streep]] and [[John Cazale]] at the [[Delacorte Theatre]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/13/archives/stage-a-measure-to-test-the-mettle-of-actors.html|title= Stage: A 'Measure' to Test The Mettle of Actors|work= The New York Times|date= August 13, 1976|accessdate= November 28, 2023|last1= Gussow|first1= Mel}}</ref> 

Waterston made his first collaboration with [[Woody Allen]] playing Mike in the drama ''[[Interiors]]'' (1978) starring [[Diane Keaton]], [[Geraldine Page]], [[Maureen Stapleton]], and [[E.G. Marshall]]. The film was a departure from comedy from Allen and received critical acclaim as well as nominations for five [[Academy Awards]]. In 1980, he starred in ''[[Benefactors (play)|Benefactors]]'' alongside [[Glenn Close]], [[Mary Beth Hurt]], and [[Simon Jones (actor)|Simon Jones]] at [[The Brooks Atkinson Theatre]] on Broadway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/personrolespage/person-role-page?person=00000150-ac81-d16d-a550-ecbf68430001|title= Sam Waterston Broadway Credits|website= [[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]]|access-date= May 12, 2020}}</ref> Also in 1980, he portrayed [[American frontier|Old West]] figure [[Frank M. Canton|Frank Canton]] in ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/24/movies/screen-shorter-heaven-s-gate-with-voice-overs-tries-again.html |title=SCREEN: SHORTER 'HEAVEN'S GATE,' WITH VOICE-OVERS, TRIES AGAIN |work=The New York Times |last=Canby |first=Vincent|date=April 24, 1981}}</ref> and [[theoretical physicist]] [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] in the miniseries ''[[Oppenheimer (miniseries)|Oppenheimer]]'' (1980) earned him nominations for a [[BAFTA Award|BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Television Series]] and a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film]].<ref name="goldenglobes"/> 
[[File:SamWaterstonJan10.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Waterston receiving the star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 2010]]
In 1984, Waterston played American journalist [[Sydney Schanberg]] in the British drama ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'', opposite [[Haing S. Ngor]] and [[John Malkovich]]. For his performance, Waterston received an [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] nomination.<ref>{{cite news|title=Polls shows Waterston, Field, 'Killing Fields' as Oscar picks |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19850323&id=rO80AAAAIBAJ&pg=3755,4636688&hl=sv |newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner |date=March 23, 1985 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Historical pictures lead nominations for coveted Oscars |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=943&dat=19850207&id=nbpPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6458,2885944&hl=sv |agency=United Press International (UPI) |newspaper=Mohave Daily Miner |date=February 7, 1985 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> Waterston reunited with Woody Allen playing David, a romantic interest for [[Dianne Wiest]] and [[Mia Farrow]] in ''[[Hannah and Her Sisters]]'' (1986), Peter in ''[[September (1987 film)|September]]'' (1987), and Ben, a [[rabbi]] who is losing his eyesight ''[[Crimes and Misdemeanors]]'' (1989). He also took a supporting role in the coming of age film ''[[The Man in the Moon (1991 film)|The Man in the Moon]]'' (1991) starring [[Reese Witherspoon]] in her feature film debut, the [[John Waters]] satirical black comedy film ''[[Serial Mom]]'' (1994) and played [[Abraham Lincoln|President Abraham Lincoln]] in the miniseries ''[[Lincoln (miniseries)|Lincoln]]'' (1988).

Waterston voiced Lincoln in the 1990 [[Ken Burns]] documentary miniseries ''[[The Civil War (TV series)|The Civil War]]''.<ref name="credits"/> Waterston portrayed a district attorney in drama television series ''[[I'll Fly Away (TV series)|I'll Fly Away]]'' (1991–93), winning the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama]].<ref name="goldenglobes"/><ref>{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Thomas |author-link=Bob Thomas (reporter) |title='Scent' film surprise winner at Golden Globe Awards |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19930125&id=pNsrAAAAIBAJ&pg=5792,1965644&hl=sv |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Kentucky New Era |date=January 25, 1993 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> In 1993, he portrayed [[Abraham Lincoln]] onstage in ''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|Abe Lincoln in Illinois]]'' and received [[Tony Award]], [[Drama Desk Award]], and [[Outer Critics Circle Award]] nominations for his performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/person/sam-waterston-vault-0000070066|title= Sam Waterston - Performer|website= [[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]]|access-date= May 12, 2020}}</ref>

=== 1994–2010: ''Law and Order'' and acclaim ===
In 1994, Waterston debuted as Executive [[Assistant District Attorney]] [[Jack McCoy]] in the fifth season of the [[NBC]] television series ''[[Law & Order]]'' created by [[Dick Wolf]]. He played the role of John James "Jack" McCoy, who would eventually become Manhattan [[District Attorney]], through the series finale in 2010. The role won him a [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series]], as well as several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.<ref name="emmys"/><ref name="goldenglobes"/><ref name=SAG>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sam-waterston-law-order-revival-793869|title=Sam Waterston on 'Law & Order' Revival: Let's "Break the Record"|work=Variety|access-date=March 30, 2016|last=Stanhope|first=Kate|date=May 6, 2015}}</ref> Upon the show's cancellation, Waterston was the second longest-serving cast member (behind [[S. Epatha Merkerson]]), having reprised his role through 16 seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098844/trivia |title=Law & Order (TV Series 1990–2010) |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=2016-02-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218144936/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098844/trivia |archive-date=February 18, 2016 |df=mdy }}. [[Internet Movie Database]].</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/Law_and_Order/bios/bios_sam.shtml |title=Law & Order TV Show Series on NBC: Find Cast Info and Episode Guide . NBC Official Site |access-date=2016-02-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511050930/http://www.nbc.com/Law_and_Order/bios/bios_sam.shtml |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |df=mdy }}. [[NBC]].</ref> He has also made guest appearances as McCoy on other crime shows, such as ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' (1997, 99), ''[[Exiled: A Law & Order Movie]]'' (1998), and spin-offs ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' (2000, 07, 10, 18) and ''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]'' (2005).<ref name="credits">{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/sam-waterston-57289932/ |title=Sam Waterston |date=May 12, 2015 |publisher=Hollywood.com |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> Due to the success of the [[New York City|New York]]–based TV series, Waterston and his fellow longtime ''Law & Order'' castmate [[Jerry Orbach]] were declared "Living Landmarks" by the [[New York Landmarks Conservancy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nylandmarks.org/events/living_landmarks_gala/honoree_list/ |title=Archives: Events |access-date=2016-06-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916013409/http://www.nylandmarks.org/events/living_landmarks_gala/honoree_list/ |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |df=mdy }}. [[New York Landmarks Conservancy]].</ref>

Waterston has appeared as a celebrity contestant on ''[[Jeopardy!]]'' twice. He made a popular [[cameo appearance]] on a 1995 episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' as himself, extolling the virtues of [[Old Glory Insurance]], meant to protect the elderly from [[robot]] attacks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/2340/saturday-night-live-old-glory |title=Hulu - Saturday Night Live: Old Glory |access-date=2016-02-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127010105/http://www.hulu.com/watch/2340/saturday-night-live-old-glory |archive-date=January 27, 2012 |df=mdy }}. [[Hulu]]. Retrieved June 9, 2009.</ref> During this time, he portrayed [[Richard Helms]] in [[Oliver Stone]]'s political drama ''[[Nixon (1995 film)|Nixon]]'' (1995) but his scenes were ultimately cut and remain in the [[Director's cut]] version of the film. The following year, he reunited with [[Merchant Ivory]] for ''[[The Proprietor]]'' (1996) starring [[Jeanne Moreau]]. He portrayed a fictional [[president of the United States]] in the thriller ''[[Shadow Conspiracy]]'' starring [[Charlie Sheen]] and [[Donald Sutherland]]. He acted in his third Merchant Ivory film ''[[Le Divorce]]'' (2003) starring [[Kate Hudson]] and [[Naomi Watts]]. 
[[File:Dan Maffei and Sam Waterston.jpg|thumb|left|U.S. Representative [[Dan Maffei]] and Waterston]] 
Waterston appeared as [[Polonius]] in the 2008 [[Shakespeare in the Park]] production of ''[[Hamlet]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/126/219/ |title=Public Theater – Shakespeare in the Park |website=Publictheater.org |date=August 22, 2006 |access-date=November 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509165116/http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/126/219/ |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> His performance received a positive review in ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/theater/reviews/18hamlet.html|title=Whips and Scorns of Time, Stinging All They Touch|first=Ben|last=Brantley|work=The New York Times |date=June 18, 2008|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> On February 12, 2009, Waterston portrayed [[Abraham Lincoln]] in [[Earl Robinson]]'s "The Lonesome Train: A Music Legend for Actors, Folk Singers, Choirs, and Orchestra" at the [[Riverside Church]] in New York City. The concert was performed to celebrate Lincoln's 200th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/news/article.php?id=270 |title=Theriversdechurchny.org |publisher=Theriversidechurchny.org |date=February 1, 2009 |access-date=November 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027133547/http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/news/article.php?id=270 |archive-date=October 27, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/qa-director-lorca-peress-on-the-world-premie-of-the-image-maker-at-queens-college/|title=Q&A: Director Lorca Peress On the World Premie of The Image Maker At Queens College|first=Steven|last=Thrasher|date=May 5, 2012|website=The Village Voice}}</ref>

=== 2011–present: Established actor ===
Waterston has had several other high profile television roles, including his portrayal of cable news president Charlie Skinner in ''[[The Newsroom (U.S. TV series)|The Newsroom]]'', an [[HBO]] series by [[Aaron Sorkin]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Greg Mottola Tapped to Direct Aaron Sorkin's HBO Pilot|url=https://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/greg-mottola-tapped-direct-aaron-sorkin-hbo-pilot-25916|work=[[The Wrap]]|date=March 28, 2011|first=Tim|last=Kenneally|access-date=December 22, 2011|archive-date=October 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030205902/https://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/greg-mottola-tapped-direct-aaron-sorkin-hbo-pilot-25916/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Waterston acted opposite [[Jeff Daniels]], [[Emily Mortimer]], [[Dev Patel]], [[Olivia Munn]], and [[Jane Fonda]]. The series ran from 2012 to 2014. In 2015, Waterston appeared as [[Prospero]] in a Shakespeare in the Park production of ''[[The Tempest]]'', directed by Michael Greif.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/sam-waterston-to-star-in-the-tempest-in-central-park/|title=Sam Waterston to Star in 'The Tempest' in Central Park|first=Patrick|last=Healy|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 29, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/theater/review-the-tempest-stars-sam-waterston-and-the-weather-at-delacorte-theater.html|title=Review: 'The Tempest' Stars Sam Waterston and the Weather at Delacorte Theater|first=Ben|last=Brantley|work=The New York Times |date=June 17, 2015|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> In 2015, Waterston joined the cast of the [[Netflix]] series ''[[Grace and Frankie]]'', starring alongside [[Martin Sheen]], [[Jane Fonda]] and [[Lily Tomlin]]. In an interview with the ''[[New York Daily News]]'', Waterston supported Tomlin and Fonda in demanding higher salaries than the supporting actors, saying, "I think they're being cheated."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vanmetre|first1=Elizabeth|title=Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston agree 'Grace and Frankie' stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin deserve pay raise|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/martin-sheen-sam-waterston-female-stars-pay-raise-article-1.2218513|website=[[The New York Daily News]]|date=May 12, 2015|access-date=June 10, 2015}}</ref> His character Sol appeared on all seven seasons of the show, which concluded in 2022.{{cn|date=September 2023}} 

In 2017, he played Marshal John Cook	in the [[Netflix]] western limited series ''[[Godless (miniseries)|Godless]]'' opposite [[Jeff Daniels]] and [[Michelle Dockery]]. Waterston portrayed George DuPont in the political thriller ''[[Miss Sloane]]'' starring [[Jessica Chastain]] and played [[Erwin Griswold]] in the biographical drama ''[[On the Basis of Sex]]'' starring [[Felicity Jones]] as [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]]. In 2021, Waterston was cast in the revival of ''[[Law & Order]]'', reprising his role as District Attorney [[Jack McCoy]]. He appeared on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' to promote the show.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37K1zV-93xc|title= "Like Time Travel" - Sam Waterston On Becoming Jack McCoy Again For "Law & Order"|website= [[YouTube]]|date= February 26, 2022|accessdate= February 27, 2022}}</ref> In 2022, he portrayed [[George Shultz]] in the [[Hulu]] limited series ''[[The Dropout]]'' starring [[Amanda Seyfried]] as [[Elizabeth Holmes]].

On February 2, 2024, it was revealed that Waterson would be leaving ''Law & Order'' after 20 seasons, with his renowned character Jack McCoy, who he also played for 405 episodes being replaced by a new D.A. who will be portrayed by [[Tony Goldwyn]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/law-and-order-sam-waterston-exits-tony-goldwyn-joins-new-district-attorney-7501901|title=Sam Waterston to Exit Law & Order as Tony Goldwyn Joins as New District Attorney|first=Anna Lazarus|last=Caplan|publisher=People|date=February 2, 2024|accessdate=February 2, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
=== Marriage and family ===
[[File:Sam with gifts.png|thumb|190px|right|Waterston displaying gifts from fans]]
Waterston married his first wife, Barbara Johns, in 1964.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/03/archives/much-ado-about-waterston-much-ado-about-sam-waterston.html|title=Much Ado About Waterston|first=Chris|last=Chase|work=The New York Times |date=December 3, 1972|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> The couple had one son, actor [[James Waterston]], before divorcing in 1975. Waterston married his second wife, former model Lynn Louisa Woodruff, in 1976.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tv.com/sam-waterston/person/1373/trivia.html | title = Sam Waterston Trivia and Quotes on TV.com | publisher = CBS Interactive Inc. | access-date = May 21, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090209155512/http://www.tv.com/sam-waterston/person/1373/trivia.html | archive-date = February 9, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> They have three children, including [[Katherine Waterston]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/15/theater/newsandfeatures/15sam.html?pagewanted=1?pagewanted=1 |title=Father and Daughter, in Life and in Shakespeare |first=Dinittia |last=Smith |date=July 15, 2004 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517023152/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/15/theater/newsandfeatures/15sam.html?pagewanted=1%3Fpagewanted%3D1 |archive-date=May 17, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

=== Activism ===
Waterston is a board member of [[Oceana (non-profit group)|Oceana]].<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.shakespeareinamericanlife.org/documentary/players/waterston.cfm | title =Sam Waterston in Shakespeare in American Life | access-date =March 2, 2013 | archive-date =April 29, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120429175430/http://www.shakespeareinamericanlife.org/documentary/players/waterston.cfm | url-status =dead }}</ref> Waterston received the Goodermote Humanitarian Award from the [[Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health]] in 2012 for his longtime support of refugees around the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/2012/waterston_goodermote_award.html |title=Actor Sam Waterston Receives Goodermote Humanitarian Award |publisher=Jhsph.edu |date= May 8, 2012 |access-date= November 17, 2012}}</ref> Waterston is a longtime friend and fan of the [[Mark Morris (choreographer)|Mark Morris]] Dance Group and hosted the television presentation of ''Mozart Dances'' on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]'s ''[[Live from Lincoln Center]]'' on August 16, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Second Thoughts {{!}} Seeing Things |url=https://www.artsjournal.com/tobias/2007/08/second_thoughts.html|website=www.artsjournal.com|date=August 21, 2007 |access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref>

Waterston is a practicing [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalian]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gts.edu/news_view.asp?langdisp=&id=115 |title=The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church |date=September 28, 2007 |access-date=November 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429103740/http://www.gts.edu/news_view.asp?langdisp=&id=115 |archive-date=April 29, 2009 }}</ref>

=== Political activism ===
He was a spokesman for the [[Unity08]] movement, which unsuccessfully sought to run a [[independent (politician)|non-]] or [[bipartisan]] presidential ticket in the [[United States Presidential Election, 2008|2008 presidential election]].<ref>Unity08.org: {{cite web |url=http://unity08.com/news/pr_120506 |title=Actor Sam Waterston Calls on Americans to Join Growing 2008 Political Movement, Unity08 |access-date=2010-07-28 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103170540/http://unity08.com/news/pr_120506 |archive-date=November 3, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}. Retrieved January 4, 2008.</ref> Waterston stated in 2007 that he had been a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] until leaving the party in disgust following the airing of [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s "[[Daisy (advertisement)|Daisy]]" election advertisement in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|author= Alston, Joshua |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2007/12/15/the-real-mccoy.html |title=The Real McCoy | work = [[Newsweek]] |via=[[The Daily Beast]] |date= December 15, 2007|access-date= July 30, 2013}}</ref> However, he endorsed Democratic President [[Barack Obama]] for re-election in 2012.<ref name="thedenverchannel">{{cite news |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/31298734/detail.html |work=The Denver Channel |first=Robert |last=Yoon |title=Celebs Open Wallets in WH Race, Mostly for Obama|date=2012-07-24|access-date=2012-07-31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831192115/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/31298734/detail.html|archive-date=August 31, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> As of 2016, Waterston is a registered Democrat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx |title=Connecticut Office of the Secretary of State Voter Registration Lookup |access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref> On October 18, 2019, Waterston was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with ''Grace and Frankie'' co-star [[Jane Fonda]], for protesting the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]]'s policies concerning [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jane-fonda-sam-waterston-detained-by-police-protesting-dc-1248693 |title=Jane Fonda and Sam Waterston Arrested While Protesting in D.C. |last=Parker |first=Ryan |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 18, 2019 |access-date=October 27, 2019}}</ref>

==Acting credits==
{{main|Sam Waterston on screen and stage}}

==Awards and honors==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Sam Waterston}}
Waterston received an [[Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for his performance in ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'' (1984), losing to [[F. Murray Abraham]] for his role in ''[[Amadeus (film)|Amadeus]]'' (1984). Waterston also received three [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations and two [[Golden Globe Award]] nominations for ''[[I'll Fly Away (TV series)|I'll Fly Away]]'', winning a Golden Globe in 1994. He received a 1994 [[Tony Award]] nomination for [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play|Best Actor in a Play]] for his performance in the [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] revival of ''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|Abe Lincoln in Illinois]]''. For his portrayal of Jack McCoy in ''[[Law & Order]]'', Waterston has received three [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations and a [[Golden Globe Award]] nomination; in addition, he has received 11 [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] nominations for his work on ''Law & Order'', winning the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series in 1999.

In 2003, Waterston received The Lincoln Forum's [[Richard Nelson Current]] Award of Achievement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelincolnforum.org/richard-nelson-current-award-of-achievement|title=Richard Nelson Current Award of Achievement|website=The Lincoln Forum}}</ref> [[AllMovie]] historian [[Hal Erickson (author)|Hal Erickson]] characterized Waterston as having "cultivated a loyal following with his quietly charismatic, unfailingly solid performances."<ref>{{cite web|first=Hal|last=Erickson| url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/sam-waterston-74941 |title=Biography at AllMovie |publisher=[[AllMovie.com]] |date=n.d. |access-date= July 30, 2013}}</ref>

On January 7, 2010, Waterston received the 2,397th star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkoffame.com/sam-waterston|title=Sam Waterston on the Hollywood Walk of Fame|date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> In 2012, he was inducted into the [[American Theatre Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/170377-EXCLUSIVE-Betty-Buckley-Sam-Waterston-Trevor-Nunn-Christopher-Durang-Andre-Bishop-Among-Theater-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees|title=EXCLUSIVE: Betty Buckley, Sam Waterston, Trevor Nunn, Christopher Durang, Andre Bishop Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees|access-date=February 17, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220091957/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/170377-EXCLUSIVE-Betty-Buckley-Sam-Waterston-Trevor-Nunn-Christopher-Durang-Andre-Bishop-Among-Theater-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees|archive-date=December 20, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On May 27, 2024, Waterston was inducted as an honorary class member of [[Princeton University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.princeton.edu/news/2024/05/27/actor-sam-waterston-seniors-class-day-2024-its-your-turn|title= Actor Sam Waterston to seniors on Class Day 2024: ‘It’s your turn.'|date=May 27, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

* {{IMDb name|0001832}}
* {{IBDB name|69015}}
* {{iobdb name|5570}}
* {{Playbill person}}
* {{C-SPAN|22546}}
* {{NYTtopic|people/w/sam_waterston}}
*{{Charlie Rose guest|27}} 
* [http://www.mlfilms.com/productions/m_and_i ''Memory and Imagination: New Pathways to the Library of Congress'']—Documentary

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{{Distinguished Performance Award}}
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