Are you a fan of Law and Order? If so, the news of Sam Waterston’s departure must have shocked you.
We can say that we all fans will surely miss our favorite attorney on the show.
However, the reason for him leaving is creating a dilemma in everyone’s mind.
For the people who are unaware of who Sam Waterston is, let me give you a quick intro about him.
Waterston is a talented actor who played DA Jack McCoy in the critically acclaimed series Law and Order from 1994 to 2024.
Over the years, the veteran actor has gone on to work on more than 100 projects, for which he has been nominated for the Oscars once.
Enough about his career. Now, let’s delve into why he is leaving and discuss if our favorite Attorney is leaving by his choice or was fired.
Key Takeaways
- On February 3, 2024, Sam shocked the Law and Order fans by announcing his departure from the show.
- Sam Waterson wasn’t fired from the show. Rather, it was his own choice to leave to get better opportunities.
- His last episode was a fitting end to the legendary character as he went down with the fight.
Reason Behind The Departure Of The Sam Waterston
After appearing in 405 episodes, Sam Waterston suddenly announced his retirement on February 4, 2024, via Wolf Entertainment’s official Instagram handle.
In a letter, he explained how lucky he was to be a part of such a fantastic crew.
The veteran actor thanked every one of his fans for supporting him for so long.
While reading that note, we learned that leaving the show was Sam's decision.
Furthermore, the actor clarified that every actor needs to upgrade with time. And he also wants to try on new roles in the future.
So we can say that Sam wasn’t fired and left the show to pursue more challenging roles as an actor.
Fitting End To The Legendary Character
Even though Jack McCoy’s role has ended, one can’t deny that our very own DA went out with a BANG.
In his final episode, our Attorney managed to give justice to the victim.
His last case began after finding out the body of Veronica Knight in Central Park.
The prime suspect in this case was Scott Kelton, one of the biggest donors to the mayor of New York City.
For this reason, McCoy realized that this wouldn’t be easy.
Later, it was revealed that the Mayor’s son was also involved in the case. The Mayor threatened McCoy not to involve his son in this case.
However, for the sake of justice, McCoy did involve the mayor’s son. He knew there would be some consequences, so he quietly left, marking an end to the legendary character.
FAQs
How Much Did Sam Waterston Make In Each Episode Of Law And Order?
Sam’s official salary isn’t available but it is estimated that Sam made anywhere between $75,000 to $100,000 per episode from the show.
Is Sam Waterston Married?
Yes, Sam Waterston has been married to Lynn Louisa Woodruff since 1976.
In How Many Seasons Did Sam Waterston Appear In The Law And Order Show?
Sam Waterston appeared in 19 seasons of the Law and Order.
