Samuel Atkinson Waterston, known as Sam Waterston, is an American actor whose career spans over five decades across theater, film, and television. Trained on the stage, he gained recognition for his Shakespearean performances before gaining prominence on the big screen in films such as *The Great Gatsby* (1974). His acclaimed portrayal of journalist Sydney Schanberg in *The Killing Fields* (1984) earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He is best known internationally for his role as District Attorney Jack McCoy in the long-running television series *Law & Order*, a character he portrayed for nearly twenty years. For this part, he received numerous Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, winning a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble. On television, he also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for the drama series *I'll Fly Away* (1991-1993), solidifying his reputation as a versatile and respected actor.