Why Sam Waterston Left Law & Order

Law & Order is one of the longest and most iconic procedural dramas, which debuted in 1990 and has since developed into a successful franchise, with several spin-off shows and recurring characters sharing the same universe. One of the most iconic Law & Order actors is Sam Waterston, who played ADA Jack McCoy and joined the original Law & Order series during its fifth season in 1994. Waterston returned for the Law & Order revival in 2022 but has since announced his departure from the series.

Sam Waterston is a talented and prolific actor who has received multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Waterston has also been nominated for other major awards, including three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Law & Order. And while many fans have a hard time imagining Law & Order without one of its most popular characters, others are excited and curious to see where Waterston’s career takes him next. But when exactly did Sam Waterston join the Law & Order franchise, and why is Waterston leaving?

When Did Sam Waterston Join Law & Order?

While One of the Most Iconic Law & Order Characters, Jack McCoy Wasn’t On Law & Order from the Start

• Jack McCoy’s father was a police officer in Chicago.
• McCoy experienced a rebellious phase during his teenage years, and while he settled into his adult age, he still rides a Yamaha motorcycle and is a big fan of punk rock bands.

While many fans might believe Sam Waterston has been in Law & Order from the start, since ADA Jack McCoy has appeared in over four hundred episodes of the series, Waterston actually joined the procedural drama during its fifth season in 1994. Waterston first appeared as Executive Assistant District Attorney John James “Jack” McCoy in the Season 5 premiere, “Second Opinion.” Waterston joined the cast of Law & Order after the departure of Michael Moriarty, who played the Executive Assistant District Attorney Benjamin “Ben” Stone from Season 1 to Season 4. Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy quickly became one of the most beloved characters in the Law & Order series and within the entire franchise, and the longest-tenured character in the show.

Jack McCoy is a respected and successful prosecutor and rose through the ranks to become the Manhattan District Attorney, taking over after DA Arthur Branch’s departure, another iconic Law & Order character portrayed by Fred Thompson. In the Season 18 episode “Illegal,” audiences learn that the reason behind McCoy’s appointment as DA comes as a compromise between the New York Attorney General and the New York Mayor, as they both had different people they wanted to appoint for the job, and McCoy became the “neutral” option. McCoy runs for reelection and wins and continues to be the Manhattan DA in the Law & Order universe even during Law & Order’s hiatus. He briefly left the office, though the reason behind it is not explained, but was once again Manhattan District Attorney during SVU’s episode “The Undiscovered Country,” where Barba resigns as the SVU ADA.

In Which Episode Does Sam Waterston Leave Law & Order?

Sam Waterston Makes His Final Appearance as Jack McCoy in Law & Order Season 23

• Jack McCoy was known for pursuing relationships with all his female assistants, something opposing attorneys even used against him.
• He had a relationship with Claire Kincaid, who was the ADA working alongside him after McCoy replaced Ben Stone. Kincaid died in a car accident in the episode “Aftershock,” and McCoy has never dated one of his assistants again since.
• McCoy holds the record for the most police officers prosecuted while in office.

Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy made his final appearance in Law & Order Season 23, Episode 5, titled “Last Dance.” In this episode, McCoy goes after a tech billionaire who has several political connections. After prosecuting the case himself and putting the criminal behind bars, he feared the Mayor’s retaliation for continuing with the case against the politician’s wishes. Knowing the Mayor could use his influence to make McCoy’s opponent win the election for Manhattan DA and then go against everyone at the DA’s office who didn’t follow his orders, McCoy chooses to resign instead. This way, McCoy knows the governor will have to appoint a new District Attorney, one that might have more integrity.

Making the ultimate sacrifice is something that is very in character for someone like Jack McCoy, who’s always been relentless in his pursuit of justice and who doesn’t shy away from going against the most dangerous criminals, even making enemies along the way. McCoy might not have the best tactics and has been held in contempt of court more than once, but everyone knows underneath his more aggressive tactics is a strong desire to put every criminal behind bars. During “Last Dance,” Jack McCoy proves he remains “the top of the legal food chain,” as one rival attorney once called him, before informing Executive ADA Nolan Price that he’s submitted his resignation. McCoy mentions his resignation is something he’s been thinking about anyway, which would also make sense considering everything he’s been through during his long tenure as both Executive Assistant District Attorney and Manhattan’s District Attorney.

Why Did Sam Waterston Leave Law & Order?

Waterston’s Legacy Within the Law & Order Franchise Will Never Be Forgotten

• Sam Waterston received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Sydney Schanberg in The Killing Fields.
• Waterston was also nominated for a Tony Award in the Best Actor in a Play category for the play Abe Lincoln in Illinois, where Waterston played Lincoln.

Fans will surely miss Sam Waterston’s portrayal of Jack McCoy, as Waterston has chosen to step down to pursue other opportunities. In an open letter to fans posted on Wolf Entertainment’s official Instagram, Waterston explains he doesn’t want to let himself be “too comfortable” as an actor and instead is excited to see what comes next. This is understandable, as many actors have come to a point in time when they realize the character they’ve been playing for a long time has reached its end, or they’ve accomplished everything they wanted for a role, and they want to try out other acting opportunities.

Sam Waterston has had a prolific career outside the Law & Order franchise as well. He began his career appearing in multiple revivals of Shakespeare in theater before appearing in movies like 1974’s The Great Gatsby, The Killing Fields, and the controversial Heaven’s Gate, a project that was once considered one of the “worst films ever made” while its re-edit was reappraised in recent years and received critical acclaim. On television, Waterston has also had an incredible career, playing Abraham Lincoln in the miniseries Lincoln, as well as J. Robert Oppenheimer in the miniseries Oppenheimer. Waterston is currently set to star in the upcoming war drama film Six Triple Eight,written and directed by Tyler Perry.

While Sam Waterston wasn’t in Law & Order from the start, no one can deny his portrayal of Jack McCoy, who has been one of the most influential and iconic within the Law & Order franchise. Waterston, alongside fellow Law & Order star Jerry Orbach, was declared a “Living Landmark” by the New York Landmarks Conservancy thanks to the popularity of his Law & Order character. During the last twenty years since Waterston’s debut in 1994, he has appeared as Jack McCoy in other Law & Order series, including Law & Order:Trial by Jury and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also played McCoy in several crossovers with Homicide: Life on the Streets, as well as in the made-for-TV movie within the Law & Order franchise, Exiled. Tony Goldwyn, who many might know from his portrayal of President Fitzgerald Grant in the Shondaland drama series Scandal, joined the cast of Law & Order as Jack McCoy’s replacement as Manhattan District Attorney Nicholas Baxter. Goldwyn made his debut in the Season 23 episode “Balance of Power.” And while it’s not likely that anyone will be able to match Sam Waterston’s impact on the Law & Order franchise, hopefully, Tony Goldwyn’s Nicholas Baxter will be up to Jack McCoy’s standards.