Sam Waterston to Exit ‘Law & Order’ During Season 23

After over 400 episodes as District Attorney Jack McCoy, Sam Waterston will exit Law & Order during Season 23.

Variety exclusively reported the news on Waterston’s departure.

His final Law & Order episode will air on Thursday, February 22, at 8/7c on NBC. Scandal‘s Tony Goldwyn will join the Dick Wolf series as its new district attorney.

Waterston joined the procedural drama as then-Executive ADA Jack McCoy during its fifth season in 1994 and remained a part of its ensemble until the end of its original run in 2010. He returned to the role with Law & Order‘s revival in 2022.

During his tenure, Waterston has also portrayed Jack on Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and the franchise’s movie, Exiled: A Law & Order Movie.

Waterston shared a statement about his departure from Law & Order via Wolf Entertainment.

“Greetings, you wonderful people. It’s a pleasure to talk directly like this to the backbone of Law & Order‘s absolutely amazing audience,” Waterston wrote.

“The time has come for me to move on and take Jack McCoy with me. There’s sadness in leaving, but I’m just too curious about what’s next. An actor doesn’t want to let himself get too comfortable,” Waterston continued.

“I’m more grateful to you than I can say. L&O‘s continuing and amazing long run, along with its astounding come-back, is all thanks to you and to Dick Wolf, but for whose vision, patience, perseverance, and unique combination of creative and business talents, none of this would have happened,” he added.

“I feel very blessed. I hope to see you all on the flip side. Thank you, Sam,” Waterston concluded.

Sam Waterston earned 11 Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for portraying Jack McCoy, winning Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series in 1998. He also received three Emmy Award nominations for the role.

Law & Order stars Hugh Dancy, Camryn Manheim, Odelya Halevi, Mehcad Brooks, and Reid Scott.

Created and executive produced by Dick Wolf, Rick Eid, Pamela Wechsler, Alex Hall, Arthur Forney, and Peter Jankowski executive produce the show.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment, produces Law & Order.

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Law & Order airs on Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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