Samuel Atkinson Waterson (born November 15 1940) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the long-running NBC television series Law & Order. He has also appeared in many feature films.

Once lived in a house previously owned by New Yorker writer James Thurber.

Son of George Chychele Waterston aka G. Chychele Waterston or George C. Waterston (1904-1995), diplomat, linguist, and wife Alice Tucker Atkinson, and paternal grandson of musician Robert Whitman Atkinson (1868-1934) and wife Elizabeth Bispham Page; grew up at Brooks School, a boarding school in North Andover, MA.

He attended Groton Prep School and then entered Yale University on a scholarship in 1958 where he studied French and History and graduated with a BA in 1962. He spent his junior year studying at the Sorbonne in Paris. After failing to quash the acting bug he studied at the American Actors Workshop in Paris. After leaving Yale he spent some months at the Clinton Playhouse. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and four children, Elisabeth Waterston, Katherine Waterston, Graham and James Waterston.

(2001) Received honorary degree from Yale.

Forrest Bedford, Waterston's character on "I'll Fly Away" (1991), was ranked #17 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].

He received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from The University of the South on October 12, 2004

Is the official spokesperson for TD Waterhouse, the online investment company. He appears in all of their television commercials (2003/2004-?)

Was nominated for Broadway's 1994 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for playing Abraham Lincoln (I)in a revival of Robert E. Sherwood (I)'s "Abe Lincoln in Illinois.".

#23 on Tropopkin's Top 25 Most Intriguing People [Issue #100]

Appeared in episodes of four different series with Jerry Orbach: "Law & Order" (1990), "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) and "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005).

Has appeared in episodes of three different television series with Jesse L. Martin: "Law & Order" (1990), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) and "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005).

Has appeared in episodes of four different series with Richard Belzer: "Law & Order" (1990), "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999) and "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005).

Has the distinction of starring in two television series in which he played a prosecutor--D.A. Forrest Bedford in "I'll Fly Away" (1991) and E.A.D.A. Jack McCoy in "Law & Order" (1990).

He and Stockard Channing were in five films together: David's Mother (1994) (TV), Room Upstairs, The (1987) (TV), Sweet Revenge (2001), Matthew Shepard Story, The (2002) (TV) and Divorce, Le (2003). In the last two they played husband and wife.

Both he and his Rancho Deluxe (1975) and Heaven's Gate (1980) co-star Jeff Bridges (I) were Oscar nominated for Best Actor in 1984, for Killing Fields, The (1984) and Starman (1984) respectively.

Winner of the 2003 Richard Nelson Current Award of Achievement, awarded annually by the Lincoln Forum.

Three of his children followed him into the show business industry: Elisabeth Waterston, Katherine Waterston, and James Waterston.

Voices the TV ad for left wing magazine "The Nation," including the line "The Nation gives you that liberal media slant you can't get anywhere else.".