Sam Waterston is a well-known American actor who has also dabbled in producing and directing. He is most recognized for his role as Sydney Schanberg in the film The Killing Fields, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. He also received a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for portraying Jack McCoy on the popular NBC show Law & Order.
Sam Waterston Quick Facts
Full name: Samuel Atkinson Waterson
Date of birth: November 15, 1940
Zodiac sign: Scorpio
Age: 83 years
Gender: Male
Birthplace: Cambridge, United States
Hometown: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Nationality: American
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Marital status: Married
Spouse name: Lynn Louisa
Kids: James, Elizabeth, Katherine, and Graham
Profession: TV actor, director, producer
Early Life & Education
Sam Waterston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on November 15th, 1940. His parents were Alice Tucker, a landscape painter, and George Waterston, a linguist and amateur actor.
He was raised with his three siblings and went to both Brooks Boarding School and Groton School, a preparatory institution located in Massachusetts. At the age of seven, he debuted on stage in his father’s production of Antigone.
Following his graduation from high school, Sam Waterston was awarded a scholarship to attend ‘Yale University’, where he pursued studies in French and History and was actively involved in the Yale Dramatics theater group.
In college, he spent time studying at The Sorbonne in Paris and took part in the ‘American Actors Workshop’ led by John Berry. In 1962, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University.
Career
After starting with minor roles in theaters, Sam Waterston’s career took off when he relocated to New York City and landed leading roles in various plays. Among his early successes were Oh Dad, Poor Dad, I’m Feelin’ So Sad, and Mama’s Hung You in the Closet.
One of his most unforgettable roles was as Thomas Lewis in the drama The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, which was performed on Broadway after a series of sold-out shows, as he made his way towards the Lyceum Theatre at a leisurely pace.
After that, he delivered a string of remarkable acts in various Shakespearean productions, including his portrayals of Laertes in ‘Hamlet, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, and Prospero in The Tempest.
In 1965, he first appeared in a film called The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean and later had a role in the 1967 film ‘Fitzwilly’. He also played the character of Benedick again in a TV adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing.
In 1973, Sam Waterston secured a supporting role in the TV movie The Glass Menagerie alongside Katharine Hepburn and also took on various roles in TV series such as Dr. Kildare, Hawk, and The Good Lieutenant. He also acted in the comedy Rancho Deluxe with Jeff Bridges in 1975 and was chosen for roles in the movies The Great Gatsby and Journey into Fear during the same period.
In 1981, Sam Waterston took on the lead role in the BBC program Oppenheimer. He received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in The Killing Fields. His acting portfolio was further enriched by movies like Finnegan Begin Again and Gore Vindal’s Lincoln in 1984. He went on to star in Assault at West Point with Samuel L. Jackson, as well as The Man in the Moon and Mindwalk.
Sam Waterston took on the lead role in the fifth installment of the television series Law & Order, a police drama that premiered on NBC on September 21st, 1994. The show concluded after 20 successful seasons on May 24th, 2010.
Until the show’s final season, Sam Waterston portrayed the District Attorney, Jack McCoy, and held the second-longest tenure of any cast member. The New York Landmark Conservancy honored him as a living icon for his enduring work on the show.
In 2012, Sam Waterston made a big impact on television with his portrayal of Charlie Skinner in the HBO series The Newsroom and also starred in the web comedy-drama Grace & Frankie.
Sam Waterston starred as Professor Walter Zarrow in 2015’s ‘Anesthesia’ and also took on the role of Prospero in The Tempest, directed by Michael Greif.
He played the role of George Dupont in the 2016 political thriller Miss Sloane directed by John Madden, alongside Jessica Chastain and Mark Strong.
Personal Life
Sam Waterston was previously married to Barbara Rutledge-Johnson. He ended his marriage with Barbara Rutledge-Johns in 1975. Later then in 1976, he tied the knot with Lynn Louisa Woodruff, a former model. He has a son named James from his previous wife and three children – Katherine, Elisabeth, and Graham – with his current spouse.
Net Worth
With a net worth of $20 million, Sam Waterston is an accomplished American actor, producer, and director. He started his career in New York as a stage actor and went on to act in various movies during the 1970s and 1980s.
Being a true philanthropist, he has shown his dedication to causes such as ‘Refugees International’, ‘Oceana’, ‘Meals on Wheels’, and ‘The United Way’, and has been honored for his contributions to helping refugees worldwide.
