Sam Waterston, beloved actor and long-time star of the hit crime procedural Law & Order, bid farewell to the show after nearly three decades. The emotional departure of Waterston’s character, District Attorney Jack McCoy, left fans shocked and nostalgic for the iconic series.
Waterston’s departure had been previously announced by NBC, as he will be replaced by Tony Goldwyn, known for his role in Scandal. However, viewers were still taken aback by McCoy’s exit in the season 23 episode titled “Last Dance.” The episode revolved around the investigation of a murder in Central Park, involving a tech mogul with connections to the mayor. Despite facing threats from the mayor, McCoy’s office remained steadfast in pursuing justice, leading McCoy to take over as the prosecution.
In his final closing argument, McCoy delivered a powerful speech, stating, “When I was elected district attorney, I gave a pledge to the citizens of New York to act fairly and ethically without bias or favor, to always act with integrity.” He urged the jury to fulfill their duty and find the defendant guilty of murder. Ultimately, McCoy and the DA’s office emerged victorious in the case. However, McCoy shocked Executive Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price (played by Hugh Dancy) by revealing that he had tendered his resignation.
McCoy explained his decision, saying, “I’ve been thinking about this for a while. It’s time. It just is. Look, the mayor is a vindictive son of a b**ch … and he’s going to bury everyone who wronged him, including you, especially you. If I step aside now, the governor will be able to appoint someone new, someone with integrity.” This statement seemed to allude to Goldwyn’s upcoming entrance as DA Nicholas Baxter.
As the episode concluded, McCoy shared a heartfelt moment with Price, acknowledging their journey together. “It’s been a hell of a ride,” McCoy remarked as they raised their glasses in a toast. The episode ended with McCoy taking one last look at the courthouse before walking away, leaving fans with a sense of both closure and longing.
In addition to his character’s exit, Waterston took the opportunity to reflect on his experience over the past 30 years in a touching farewell address. The Law & Order Twitter account shared his heartfelt message, where he expressed gratitude for the show and its community. “To this place and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived for a quarter of a century and gone from a young to an old man,” Waterston shared. He emphasized the privilege he had to be involved with the show for such an extended period, working with different people but within the same supportive community.
Waterston first appeared as Jack McCoy in Law & Order’s fifth season in 1994. Throughout his tenure, he also made appearances in related shows such as Homicide: Life on the Street, Exiled: A Law & Order Movie, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. In total, Waterston appeared in an impressive 405 episodes of Law & Order. His portrayal earned him three Emmy Award nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and a SAG Award win in 1999, along with ten other SAG nominations.
Fans of Law & Order will undoubtedly miss Waterston’s presence on the show. However, they can continue to enjoy the series, which airs on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. As the iconic character of Jack McCoy bids farewell, viewers can look forward to Tony Goldwyn’s entrance as the new District Attorney Nicholas Baxter, bringing fresh energy and intrigue to the long-running crime drama.