Sam Waterston
Known for
One of the great character actors of American film and television. Oscar-nominated for 'The Killing Fields' (1984), in which he played a journalist in Cambodia. He achieved enormous popularity as prosecutor Jack McCoy in the long-running series 'Law & Order' (1994-2010), one of his most recognized roles. He collaborated with Woody Allen on 'Hannah and Her Sisters' (1986) and starred in the series 'The Newsroom' (2012-2014). American actor of wide career, recognized for his sober presence and his range of characters of great moral integrity.
Sam Waterston
48 Movies · 20 Series
One of the great character actors of American film and television. Oscar-nominated for 'The Killing Fields' (1984), in which he played a journalist in Cambodia. He achieved enormous popularity as prosecutor Jack McCoy in the long-running series 'Law & Order' (1994-2010), one of his most recognized roles. He collaborated with Woody Allen on 'Hannah and Her Sisters' (1986) and starred in the series 'The Newsroom' (2012-2014). American actor of wide career, recognized for his sober presence and his range of characters of great moral integrity.
Movies
Plays George Dupont
Miss Sloane
2016
Plays Franklin Delano Roosevelt
The Six Triple Eight
2024
Plays Sydney Schanberg
The Killing Fields
1984
Plays Erwin Griswold
On the Basis of Sex
2018
Plays Frank Canton
Heaven's Gate
1980
Plays Ben
Crimes and Misdemeanors
1989
Plays Matthew Trant
The Man in the Moon
1991
Plays Nick Carraway
The Great Gatsby
1974
Plays Mike
Interiors
1978
Plays Prof. Walter Zarrow
Anesthesia
2016
Plays Eugene Sutphin
Serial Mom
1994
Plays Lt. Col. Peter Willis
Capricorn One
1977
Plays Richard Helms
Nixon
1995
Plays Chester Walker
Le Divorce
2003
Plays Cal Morse
Warning Sign
1985
Plays Oliver
Fitzwilly
1967
Plays The President
Shadow Conspiracy
1997
Plays Royce
A Captive in the Land
1990
Plays Sam
Carousel
2026
Producer
Plays Mooney Wright
The Journey of August King
1995
Plays Travis Coles
The Room Upstairs
1987
Plays Jack Cutter
Hopscotch
1980
Plays Peter
September
1987
Plays Cameraman
Cover Me Babe
1970
Plays Inspecteur Gerry Morrison
Flagrant désir
1986
Plays White Bull
Eagle's Wing
1979
Plays Cecil Colson
Rancho Deluxe
1975
Plays Headmaster Waldorf
The Man in the Woods
2020
Plays William McClusky
Sweet William
1980
Plays Harry Crandall
Just Between Friends
1986
Plays Felix
Mahoney's Last Stand
1972
Plays Woody
Welcome Home
1989
Plays Jones
Devil's Paradise
1987
Plays Jack Edwards
Mindwalk
1991
Plays Mr. Graham
Journey into Fear
1975
Plays Desmond
Generation
1969
Plays Taylor
Three
1969
Plays Harry Bancroft
The Proprietor
1996
Plays Tom
The Glass Menagerie
1973
Plays Alex Monte
Who Killed Mary Whats'ername?
1971
Plays James, the Limping Man
Savages
1972
Plays Andy
The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean
1966
Plays Le Clerq
Sweet Revenge
1976
Plays Dad
Please Be Normal
2015
TV Shows
Plays Jack McCoy
Law & Order
1990
Plays Sol Bergstein
Grace and Frankie
2015
Plays Forrest Bedford
I'll Fly Away
1991
Plays Charlie Skinner
The Newsroom
2012
Plays Abraham Lincoln (voice)
The Civil War
1990
Plays Robert Oppenheimer
American Playhouse
1982
Plays Robert Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer
1980
Plays Marshall John Cook
Godless
2017
Plays Professor Quentin Everett Deverill
Q.E.D.
1982
Plays George Shultz
The Dropout
2022
Plays Bill Shirer
The Nightmare Years
1989
Plays Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln
1988
Plays Thomas Jefferson (voice)
Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
1997
Plays Jack McCoy
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
2005
Plays Jack McCoy
Homicide: Life on the Street
1993
Plays Mark
Dr. Kildare
1961
Plays Bruce Kaplan (voice)
Family Guy
1999
Plays G.G. Devoe (segment "As Ye Sow")
Tales from the Crypt
1989
Plays Travis Coles
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Plays Jordan Manmouth
Amazing Stories
1985
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
The Six Triple Eight
Full Filmography 68
Carousel
Sam
2026
Film
The Six Triple Eight
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
2024
Film
The Man in the Woods
Headmaster Waldorf
2020
Film
On the Basis of Sex
Erwin Griswold
2018
Film
Godless
Marshall John Cook · 7 episodes
2017
TV
Miss Sloane
George Dupont
2016
Film
Anesthesia
Prof. Walter Zarrow
2016
Film
Grace and Frankie
Sol Bergstein · 94 episodes
2015–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sam Waterston and where are they from?
Sam Waterston is 85 years old, born on November 15, 1940 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Sam Waterston?
Sam Waterston is best known for roles in Miss Sloane, Hannah and Her Sisters, On the Basis of Sex.
How many movies has Sam Waterston been in?
Over a 60-year career (since 1966), Sam Waterston has appeared in 48 movies and 18 TV shows.
What was Sam Waterston's first movie?
The career of Sam Waterston began with The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean (1966).
What is Sam Waterston's most recent movie or series?
Sam Waterston's most recent release is Carousel, which premiered on January 22, 2026.
What TV shows has Sam Waterston appeared in?
On television, Sam Waterston has appeared in Family Guy, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Tales from the Crypt, The Newsroom.
Sam Waterston
1940-11-15 · Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston (born November 15, 1940) is an American actor and occasional producer and director. Among other roles, he is noted for his Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Sydney Schanberg in 1984's The Killing Fields, and his Golden Globe- and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning portrayal of Jack McCoy on the NBC television series Law & Order. He has been nominated for multiple Golden Globe-, Screen Actors Guild-, BAFTA- and Emmy Awards, having starred in over eighty film and television productions during his forty-five year career. Allmovie has characterised Waterston as having "cultivated a loyal following with his quietly charismatic, unfailingly solid performances."Sam Waterston, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.