Sam Waterston Exiting Iconic ‘Law and Order’ Role After 20 Seasons

Sam Waterston has announced he’s leaving Law & Order after 30 years and 20 seasons, per The Hollywood Reporter. The 83-year-old joined the show in 1994, four seasons into its run, as Manhattan District Attorney Jack McCoy. He ended his initial run with the program when it was canceled in 2010, but returned when NBC revived the series in 2022.

Waterston’s last episode will air on February 22. Oppenheimer star Tony Goldwyn will be stepping in for Waterston as Manhattan’s newest district attorney. Waterston will leave the show having starred in over 400 episodes for the venerable series, which boasts several successful spin-offs including Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime.

“The time has come for me to move on and take Jack McCoy with me,” Waterston said in a statement shared by Law & Order production company Wolf Entertainment.

“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,” he continued. “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 [series creator] 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,” Waterston concluded. “I hope to see you all on the flip side.”

Law & Order executive producer Peter Jankowski told THR that Waterston and the franchise’s other veteran cast members, like Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay, are largely responsible for its continued success.“There are all these incredible artists who also are tremendous leaders,” Jankowski said last month. “You can’t make shows without people like that.”

It’s still unclear how veteran actor and director Goldwyn will be written into the show. He previously directed an episode of the series back in 2006. Goldwyn also directed the upcoming Robert De Niro comedy Ezra, which also stars Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids) and Bobby Cannavale (Vinyl).

Waterston has been keeping busy of late, with key roles in series like Grace and Frankie and The Dropout. He’ll next be seen in Tyler Perry’s WWII drama Six Triple Eight.