Sam Waterston Leaving ‘Law & Order’ — Tony Goldwyn Replacing Him as DA
Law & Order fans will have to say goodbye to District Attorney Jack McCoy once again.
Sam Waterston is leaving the long-running NBC drama, TV Insider has learned. His last episode will air on February 22. Coming in as the new district attorney is Tony Goldwyn.
“Greetings, you wonderful people. It’s a pleasure to talk directly like this to the backbone of Law & Order’s absolutely amazing audience. The time has come for me to move on and take Jack McCoy with me,” Waterston said in a statement. “There’s sadness in leaving, but I’m just too curious about what’s next. An actor doesn’t want to let himself get too comfortable. I’m more grateful to you than I can say. L&O’s continuing and amazing long run, along with its astounding come-back, is all thanks to you and to Dick Wolf, but for whose vision, patience, perseverance, and unique combination of creative and business talents, none of this would have happened. I feel very blessed. I hope to see you all on the flip side.”
Waterston has appeared in more than 400 episodes and joined the show in Season 4 in 1994. He then returned when the drama did in 2022 for its 21st season (after it ended in 2010). He was the last returning cast member from the show’s original run (Anthony Anderson only starred in Season 21). He’s won a Screen Actors Guild Award for playing Jack McCoy and has been nominated for other SAG Awards, Emmys, and a Golden Globe for his work on Law & Order.
“I thought, ‘Can you go home again?’” Waterston admitted to TV Insider in 2022 ahead of the drama’s return. “But when I walked on the set, I realized, ‘How could I have considered the possibility of missing this?’”
And for the show’s 400th episode in May 2023, Waterston’s real-life daughter Elisabeth Waterston guest starred as his character’s daughter, a defense attorney. “That topped everything,” he told us. “She’s a beautiful actress, quick to react, full of intelligence and ready emotion.”
Law & Order also stars Hugh Dancy, Camryn Manheim, Odelya Halevi, Mehcad Brooks, and Reid Scott (who joined this season, replacing Jeffrey Donovan). The show is averaging 6.4 million viewers this season across all platforms (L+3).
Joining creator Dick Wolf as executive producers are Rick Eid, Pamela Wechsler, Alex Hall, Arthur Forney, and Peter Jankowski. The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment.
Law & Order, Thursdays, 8/7c, NBC
Get Both Sides of the Story
Get absolutely everything about Law & Order in your inbox!
Conversation9 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
W
He will be missed, but I am still enjoying the show and the Thursday line up.
7
-
B
For me he was the only reason I was watching this mediocre revival. Frankly I think he was only used to get people to watch since the reviews haven't been good. To me L&O died when Jerry Orbach did and without S Epatha Merkeson, Jesse L. Martin and now Sam Waterston it just ain't L&O.
1
-
G
I disagree. I didn't watch the original L&O until it was all re-runs but with
all the DA's SVU hs gone through - Impactfully, maybe it's time for the original to do the same? Also. Since irs not as successful as SVU and Organized Crime maybe this re-fresh is what it needs to attract a new viewership?
-
-
-
P
I always wondered how an actor in one of the supporting roles makes an L&O commitment work. If you’re Sam or Camryn Mannheim (sp) you’re typically in only a couple short scenes per episode. Most of the episode is divided between the 2 detectives in the first 30 minutes and the 2 courtroom attorneys in the last 30 mins.
Not to diminish the supervisor roles importance, but that’s only a few minutes screentime per week. I guess if you live in the NYC metro area and don’t have a lot else going on, you can show up one or two days per episode and film your lines. It is regular work, except if there’s a writer’s strike or until L&O decides to move on from you.
I agree with some other comments that Sam seemed to have more passion the first go round in the series’ lead role as prosecuting attorney. I feel he did fine this time around in the supporting role of D.A., considering he was over 80+ years old when he assumed it.
I’m glad we got another visit with Jack McCoy and wish him well in whatever is next… even and especially if it’s finally retirement.
5 1
-
C
Law and order Organized crime and svu are permeated, like every tv series of all network except fox and platforms, and full of comunist leftist illiberal catholic ideology that destroyed the West and soffocated the free espression. Never it was a significative and ultimate progress for relationship bensler or the undermined storylines. They did for the ratings but the ratings each week are falling miserably. The formula of l&o is so tired and in agony from many years and running out of time. Totally waste of time. 🫣🫣😒😒😒🤢🤢🤢☹️☹️☹️😤😤😤😡😡😡😠😠😠👎👎👎⏰️⏰️⏰️⏰️⏳️⏳️⏳️⌚️⌚️⌚️🛎🛎🛎
1 1
-
G
Wow Erica! It's FICTIONAL entertainment! If you don't like it no one is forcing you to watch.
-
-
B
Just like when Jerry Orbach died and then revived the show without S. Epatha Merkeson and Jesse L. Martin losing Sam Waterston essentially kills this show.
-
O
I have to say I really was not impressed with his performance this time around. While I always enjoyed his character on previous seasons it seems he just kind of phoned in his part on the show this year as well as last. He is such a talented actor so not sure what really happened.
3 4
-
G
Looking back on the last two years, I'm sad to say that I have to (mostly) agree, although I do think that he did have a few good, strong scenes. The one thing that I'm really sorry about is that, since his departure from the series is so imminent, there's probably no chance that Jill Hennessy could make an appearance, not to reprise her role as Claire Kincaid (obviously), but, maybe, to play her late character's heretofore never mentioned twin sister. I really enjoyed watching her on the original series and searching for all of the little hints about the true nature of her and McCoy's relationship. I was so sad when they killed Claire Kincaid off and I would've loved to have seen Jill Hennessy and Sam Waterston on screen together one last time and to possibly have something better than the ending we got at the end of the sixth season.
2
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services