Sam Waterston’s Law & Order Replacement Speaks: I Have ‘Some Very Large Shoes to Fill’

On the eve of Sam Waterston’s final episode as Jack McCoy, the successor to the Law & Order legend’s DA throne is breaking his silence.

Scandal vet Tony Goldwyn, who joins Dick Wolf’s mothership on March 14 as DA Nicholas Baxter, took to Instagram Wednesday to both acknowledge that he has “some very large shoes to fill” and to express gratitude to his new Law & Order family “for being so welcoming.”

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Goldwyn, who also shared a series of photos from the set (including the solitary image above), is Law & Order‘s second major cast addition this season. He joins Veep‘s Reid Scott, who boarded the series earlier this year as a replacement for former cast member Jeffrey Donovan.

In announcing his Law & Order exit last month, Waterston — whose swan song airs Thursday, Feb. 22 — said, “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 comeback, 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 since debuting as McCoy 30 years ago.

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