Sam Waterston

Sam Waterston

85 · Born: Nov 15, 1940

Personal Details

BornNov 15, 1940 Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Spouse
  • Lynn Louisa Woodruff

    ( Jan 26, 1976 to Dec 10, 2025 )
  • Barbara Rutledge Johns

    ( Dec 28, 1964 to Sep 16, 1975 )
Parents
  • Alice Tucker Atkinson
  • George Chychele Waterston
Relatives
  • Roberta Page Waterston (Sibling)
  • George Chychele Waterson Jr. (Sibling)
  • Ellen Bispham Waterston (Sibling)

Biography

Sam Waterston, a renowned American actor and producer, entered this world on November 15, 1940, in the esteemed city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Notable for his captivating performances in iconic films such as The Killing Fields (1984),The Great Gatsby (1974),and the critically acclaimed television series Law & Order (1990),Waterston has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

A devoted husband and father, Sam Waterston has been married to his loving partner, Lynn Louisa Woodruff, since January 26, 1976. Together, they share a loving family with three beautiful children.

Before finding his soulmate in Lynn, Waterston was previously married to Barbara Rutledge Johns.

Career

2024
The Six Triple Eight
The Six Triple Eight as Franklin Delano Roosevelt
2022
The Dropout
The Dropout as George Shultz
2020
The Man in the Woods
The Man in the Woods as Headmaster Waldorf
2018
On the Basis of Sex
On the Basis of Sex as Erwin Griswold
Dateline: Saigon
Dateline: Saigon as Narrator (voice)
Godless
Godless as Marshall John Cook
Grace and Frankie
Grace and Frankie as Sol Bergstein
2016
Anesthesia
Anesthesia as Prof. Walter Zarrow
Miss Sloane
Miss Sloane as George Dupont
Dean Smith
Dean Smith as Narrator
And It Was Good
And It Was Good as Judge Alexander Baas / Doctor / Gravedigger
2013
The Newsroom
The Newsroom as Charlie Skinner
2011
Prohibition
Prohibition as Reader (voice)
2003
Le divorce
Le divorce as Chester Walker
The Commission
The Commission as J. Lee Rankin
2002
2000
A House Divided
A House Divided as David Dickson
1998
Exiled
Exiled as Jack McCoy
1997
Shadow Conspiracy
Shadow Conspiracy as The President
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson as Thomas Jefferson (voice)
1996
The Proprietor
The Proprietor as Harry Bancroft
1995
Nixon
Nixon as Richard Helms
1994
Serial Mom
Serial Mom as Eugene Sutphin
David's Mother
David's Mother as John Nils
The Enemy Within
The Enemy Within as President William Foster
American Masters
American Masters as Tom Wingfield (archive footage)
Law & Order
Law & Order as Jack McCoy
1993
1991
The Man in the Moon
The Man in the Moon as Matthew Trant
I'll Fly Away
I'll Fly Away as Forrest Bedford
1990
Mindwalk
Mindwalk as Jack Edwards
The Civil War
The Civil War as Abraham Lincoln
1989
Lantern Hill
Lantern Hill as Andrew Stuart
The Nightmare Years
The Nightmare Years as Bill Shirer
A Walk in the Woods
A Walk in the Woods as John Honeyman
Lincoln
Lincoln as Abraham Lincoln
1987
The Room Upstairs
The Room Upstairs as Travis Coles
September
September as Peter
Swimming to Cambodia
Swimming to Cambodia as Additional cast from 'The Killing Fields' (archive footage)
1986
Just Between Friends
Just Between Friends as Harry Crandall
The Fifth Missile
The Fifth Missile as Capt. Allard Renslow
Hannah and Her Sisters
Hannah and Her Sisters as David (uncredited)
1985
Finnegan Begin Again
Finnegan Begin Again as Paul Broadbent
Warning Sign
Warning Sign as Cal Morse
The Killing Fields
The Killing Fields as Sydney Schanberg
1983
In Defense of Kids
In Defense of Kids as Paul Wilcox
Dempsey
Dempsey as Doc Kearns
1980
Hopscotch
Hopscotch as Jack Cutter
Heaven's Gate
Heaven's Gate as Frank Canton
Sweet William
Sweet William as William McClusky
Friendly Fire
Friendly Fire as C.D.B. Bryan
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer as Robert Oppenheimer
1979
Eagle's Wing
Eagle's Wing as White Bull
1978
1977
Capricorn One
Capricorn One as Lt. Col. Peter Willis
1976
Sweet Revenge
Sweet Revenge as Le Clerq
1975
Journey Into Fear
Journey Into Fear as Mr. Graham
Rancho Deluxe
Rancho Deluxe as Cecil Colson
1974
Reflections of Murder
Reflections of Murder as Michael Elliott
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby as Nick Carraway
1973
The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie as Tom Wingfield
1972
Savages
Savages as James, the Limping Man
1970
Cover Me Babe
Cover Me Babe as Cameraman
1969
Three
Three as Taylor
Generation
Generation as Desmond
1967
Fitzwilly
Fitzwilly as Oliver