Sam Waterston to leave ‘Law & Order’ after 30 years: Tony Goldwyn joins

TELEVISION

By Michael Starr

Sam Waterston, who played District Attorney Jack McCoy on “Law & Order” for more than 400 episodes, is leaving the NBC workhorse.

Its last episode will air on February 22.

Tony Goldwyn, 63, replaces Waterston, 83, playing the new district attorney.

Waterston, who was nominated for three Emmy Awards in the late ’90s for his work on “Law & Order,” joined the show for its fourth season on NBC in 1994.

He spent the next 16 years playing McCoy and returned in 2022 when “Law & Order” began after a 12-year hiatus, making him the longest-serving cast member in the show’s 23-season history. .

“The time has come to move on and take Jack McCoy with me,” Waterston said in a statement Friday.

“It’s sad to leave, but I’m too curious to know what’s next. An actor doesn’t want to get too comfortable,” he continued. “I am more grateful to you than I can say.”

“The continued amazing long run of L&O, along with its amazing comeback, is all thanks to you and (series creator) Dick Wolf, but whose vision, patience, perseverance and unique combination of creative and commercial talents, nothing of this would have happened. .”

“I feel very blessed,” he said. “I hope to see you all on the other side.”

Waterston was excited about the recent revival of “Law & Order.”

“Well, obviously, I love it.” the actor said in an interview last year. “I was wondering if he hadn’t done it already and I shouldn’t come back.

“But I couldn’t stand the thought of someone else doing it and me watching from the sidelines, so I tried it and I’m having a great time.”

Her departure from “Law & Order” comes as a surprise, as Waterston gave no indication that she wanted to retire.

“Time takes its toll, but working allows you to move forward” said a few years ago when she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.”

“Having a job helps because you have to show up,” he said. “Someone expects things from you and you must fulfill them. That’s how it works for me.”

So far this season, “Law & Order” is averaging 6.4 million viewers Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC, according to the network.

In addition to Waterston, the cast includes Mehcad Brooks (as junior detective Jalen Shaw); Camryn Manheim (Lt. Kate Dixon); Hugh Dancy (ADA executive Nolan Price); and Odelya Halevi (ADA Samantha Maroun).

In its long and storied history, “Law & Order,” known for its ripped-from-the-headlines approach, has spawned a number of spinoffs. Two are still airing: “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” starring Mariska Hargitay, and “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” starring Christopher Meloni. Four more have come and gone: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” – in which Goldwyn played Frank Goren, who died in the series – “Law & Order: Trial By Jury,” “Law & Order: LA” and “ Law & Order: Order: True Crime.”

The original series was created by executive producer Dick Wolf, who is also responsible for NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med” and “Chicago PD.”

Last year, Goldwyn, who played President Fitzgerald Grant on ABC’s “Scandal” opposite Kerry Washington, released his feature film “Ezra,” starring Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro and Whoopi Goldberg.

Goldwyn also appears in the film, reuniting him with Goldberg, his co-star from the iconic 1990 film “Ghost,” starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.

He plays Gordon Gray in “Oppenheimer”, the Oscar favorite, and was also in “Murder Mystery 2” alongside Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler (Netflix) and in the film “King Richard”, starring Will Smith.