Sam Waterston Jokes He’s ‘Drunk’ on Freedom Ahead of ‘Beautiful’ Final Episode of Law & Order

Sam Waterston embraces a new chapter in his life as he says goodbye Law and order after 30 years.

The 83-year-old actor revealed on Wednesday Today that he feels “good” that he’s no longer playing District Attorney Jack McCoy after three decades as part of the NBC procedural.

“I knew I was going to go when I came back and it was just a matter of when,” he said of his return to the series in 2022. “I have to say it’s been a wonderful trip.”

He added that he has no plans to reprise the role in the future after his final episode airs on Thursday, but teased that fans might “see a picture of him somewhere” on the show.

Sam Waterston attends the season premiere of NBC’s “Law & Order” at Capitale on September 19, 2022 in New York City. Rob Kim/Getty Where to stream every season Law and order Franchise

The actor acted in Law and order from Season 5 in 1994 to its finale in 2010, earning three Emmy Award nominations for his performance in 1997, 1999 and 2000, as well as a Golden Globe nomination in 1995. He went on to play Prosecutor McCoy on several occasions before returning in 2022

Waterston admitted that his long involvement in the series “gets your attention”. He explained: “When they say goodbye to me, the last shot I took was on set in the courtroom, and [creator] Dick Wolf appeared and everyone gave speeches and I quoted Abraham Lincoln who went to DC at the start of the Civil War. That he was there for 25 years. If 25 years don’t matter, nothing matters.”

Earlier this month, NBC made the announcement Scandal Alum Tony Goldwyn will join the long-running crime drama as Waterston departs after more than 400 episodes in the character.

Sam Waterston as prosecutor Jack McCoy in “Law and Order” and Tony Goldwyn.

Will Hart/NBC; Amy Sussman/Getty

Waterston shared his excitement about the new addition to the cast, saying: “I think he’s going to be great. You know, my reputation is in terrible jeopardy, because I think it’s going to be great and I’m going to watch it. But I think… that’s going to be a big problem. It will be what the prosecutor is: demanding…”

Katherine Waterston says her father Sam Waterston’s passion for acting inspired her to follow in his footsteps

As for Waterson, he teased that there’s “no way” he’ll retire from acting after that Law and order. He added that his manager and “beautiful wife” were in charge of finding me the next job. I don’t worry about that.”

The actor admitted that he is enjoying his newfound flexibility after finishing filming the series.

“I can’t tell you how liberating it is,” he said. “It happened when I was leaving the courtroom on that last day. Suddenly there was a space in my head that I didn’t even know existed, and which was forever occupied by work.”

Tijuana Ricks as Police Commissioner Hanlon and Sam Waterston as Prosecutor Jack McCoy in “Law & Order.”

Peter Kramer/NBC

Sam Waterston returns to ‘Law & Order’ as Jack McCoy in the first teaser for NBC’s upcoming renewal

“Even during a break, even on breaks… It’s a wonderful thing to see the world through someone else’s eyes, and that’s what an actor can do in a way,” he continued. “But it also limits. Now it’s my own eyes. I like it.”

He joked that the change had made him “drunk on nothing but freedom” and admitted his list was now “a million miles long”.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Law and order airs Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET on NBC.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education