Actor
Sam Waterston
- Born: 15 November 1940, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
- Estimated net worth: $10 million
Sam Waterston is an American actor known for his compelling performances in both film and television. He gained prominence for his role in the long-running series 'Law & Order' and films like 'The Great Gatsby' and 'The Killing Fields.' His deep voice and…
Sam Waterston: best films and shows
About Sam Waterston
Sam Waterston is an American actor known for his compelling performances in both film and television. He gained prominence for his role in the long-running series 'Law & Order' and films like 'The Great Gatsby' and 'The Killing Fields.' His deep voice and ability to convey complex emotions have made him a respected figure in the industry.
- Born
- 15 November 1940, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
- Height
- 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
- Spouses
- Barbara Rutledge (1976-present)
- Children
- 3 children, including Katherine Waterston
- Parents
- George Waterston, Alice Waterston
- Estimated net worth
- $10 million
Fun facts about Sam Waterston
- Sam Waterston is also a producer and director, showcasing his versatility in the entertainment industry.
- He is a passionate advocate for environmental causes and has been involved in various initiatives to promote sustainability.
Famous Sam Waterston quotes
“You can't make a living doing something you're not passionate about.”
“The truth is, we can’t change the world, but we can change ourselves.”
“I think the greatest thing about being an actor is that you get to be someone else.”
Sam Waterston filmography
Cast (128)
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Carousel Movie | Sam | |
| 2024 | The Six Triple Eight Movie | Franklin Delano Roosevelt | 7.6 |
| 2024 | Merchant Ivory Movie | Self | 7.7 |
| 2024 | Rain Falls from Earth: Surviving Cambodia's Darkest Hour Movie | Self (voice) | |
| 2024 | A Case for Love Movie | Self | |
| 2023 | Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled TV | Self | 8.0 |
| 2022 | The Dropout TV | George Shultz | 7.4 |
| 2021 | Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time Movie | Self (voice) | 6.8 |
| 2020 | The Man in the Woods Movie | Headmaster Waldorf | 4.6 |
| 2020 | Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story Movie | Self |
Show 118 more creditsShow fewer
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | On the Basis of Sex Movie | Erwin Griswold | 7.3 |
| 2018 | The Mayo Clinic Movie | Charlie Mayo (voice) | 7.0 |
| 2018 | Jane Fonda in Five Acts Movie | Self - (archive footage) | 7.1 |
| 2017 | Godless TV | Marshall John Cook | 7.7 |
| 2017 | Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators Movie | Narrator (voice) | 7.3 |
| 2017 | Dateline: Saigon Movie | Narrator (voice) | 8.0 |
| 2016 | Miss Sloane Movie | George Dupont | 7.4 |
| 2016 | Anesthesia Movie | Prof. Walter Zarrow | 5.7 |
| 2015 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert TV | Self - Guest | 6.1 |
| 2015 | And It Was Good Movie | Judge Alexander Baas / Doctor / Gravedigger | |
| 2015 | Grace and Frankie TV | Sol Bergstein | 7.7 |
| 2015 | Dean Smith Movie | Narrator | 6.0 |
| 2015 | Please Be Normal Movie | Dad | 3.3 |
| 2013 | Jo TV | Unknown character | 6.3 |
| 2012 | The Newsroom TV | Charlie Skinner | 8.1 |
| 2011 | Prohibition TV | Reader (voice) | 7.8 |
| 2010 | The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear Movie | Self | 5.9 |
| 2007 | Masters of Science Fiction TV | Unknown character | 6.2 |
| 2006 | The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays Movie | John Honeyman (segment "A Walk in the Woods") | |
| 2005 | The Colbert Report TV | Unknown character | 7.0 |
| 2005 | The Colbert Report TV | Self (uncredited) | 7.0 |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury TV | Jack McCoy | 8.1 |
| 2004 | Hammer and Cycle Movie | Self - Narrator | 8.0 |
| 2003 | The Commission Movie | J. Lee Rankin | 4.5 |
| 2003 | Le Divorce Movie | Chester Walker | 4.9 |
| 2002 | The Matthew Shepard Story Movie | Dennis Shepard | 5.6 |
| 2000 | A House Divided Movie | David Dickson | 6.5 |
| 1999 | The Unfinished Journey Movie | Narrator (voice) | 6.5 |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit TV | Jack McCoy | 8.0 |
| 1999 | In Bad Taste Movie | Self | 8.0 |
| 1999 | Moment of Impact: Stories of the Pulitzer Prize Photographs Movie | Self / Host / Narrator | 10.0 |
| 1999 | Here Am I, Send Me: The Story of Jonathan Daniels Movie | Narrator | |
| 1999 | Family Guy TV | Bruce Kaplan (voice) | 7.4 |
| 1998 | Exiled Movie | Jack McCoy | 5.9 |
| 1998 | Miracle at Midnight Movie | Dr. Karl Koster | 7.5 |
| 1997 | Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery TV | Thomas Jefferson (voice) | 7.6 |
| 1997 | The View TV | Self | 4.3 |
| 1997 | The View TV | Self - Guest | 4.3 |
| 1997 | Thomas Jefferson TV | Thomas Jefferson (voice) | 7.5 |
| 1997 | Shadow Conspiracy Movie | The President | 4.9 |
| 1996 | The Proprietor Movie | Harry Bancroft | 6.3 |
| 1995 | Nixon Movie | Richard Helms | 6.8 |
| 1995 | The Journey of August King Movie | Mooney Wright | 6.9 |
| 1995 | Amazing Stories: The Movie IV Movie | Jordan Manmouth (archive footage) | |
| 1995 | Time Life's Lost Civilizations TV | Narrator | 6.8 |
| 1994 | Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage Movie | Tom Wingfield (archive footage) | 9.0 |
| 1994 | The Enemy Within Movie | President William Foster | 5.8 |
| 1994 | Serial Mom Movie | Eugene Sutphin | 6.7 |
| 1994 | David's Mother Movie | John Nils | 8.3 |
| 1994 | Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker Movie | Daniel Chamberlain | 6.3 |
| 1993 | I'll Fly Away: Then and Now Movie | Forrest Bedford | 8.5 |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life on the Street TV | Jack McCoy | 8.1 |
| 1992 | Earth and the American Dream Movie | Reader (voice) | 6.7 |
| 1992 | HBO First Look TV | Unknown character | 5.5 |
| 1991 | Mindwalk Movie | Jack Edwards | 6.9 |
| 1991 | I'll Fly Away TV | Forrest Bedford | 7.5 |
| 1991 | The Man in the Moon Movie | Matthew Trant | 7.4 |
| 1990 | The Civil War TV | Abraham Lincoln (voice) | 7.9 |
| 1990 | Law & Order TV | Jack McCoy | 7.3 |
| 1990 | Night of 100 Stars III Movie | Self | 4.3 |
| 1990 | A Captive in the Land Movie | Royce | 5.6 |
| 1989 | The Nightmare Years TV | Bill Shirer | 6.5 |
| 1989 | Crimes and Misdemeanors Movie | Ben | 7.4 |
| 1989 | Welcome Home Movie | Woody | 6.6 |
| 1989 | Lantern Hill Movie | Andrew Stuart | 8.0 |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt TV | G.G. Devoe (segment "As Ye Sow") | 8.0 |
| 1988 | Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami Movie | Jim Delmore | 7.0 |
| 1988 | Lincoln TV | Abraham Lincoln | 7.5 |
| 1988 | A Walk in the Woods Movie | John Honeyman | 8.5 |
| 1987 | September Movie | Peter | 6.2 |
| 1987 | Devil's Paradise Movie | Jones | 5.7 |
| 1987 | Swimming to Cambodia Movie | Additional Cast from 'The Killing Fields' (archive footage) | 7.0 |
| 1987 | The Room Upstairs Movie | Travis Coles | 4.8 |
| 1986 | Flagrant désir Movie | Inspecteur Gerry Morrison | 5.3 |
| 1986 | Just Between Friends Movie | Harry Crandall | 5.2 |
| 1986 | The Fifth Missile Movie | Capt. Allard Renslow | 5.5 |
| 1986 | Hannah and Her Sisters Movie | David (uncredited) | 7.5 |
| 1985 | Amazing Stories TV | Jordan Manmouth | 7.5 |
| 1985 | Warning Sign Movie | Cal Morse | 6.0 |
| 1985 | Love Lives On Movie | Bernie | 8.0 |
| 1985 | Finnegan Begin Again Movie | Paul Broadbent | 6.5 |
| 1984 | The Killing Fields Movie | Sydney Schanberg | 7.5 |
| 1984 | The Boy Who Loved Trolls Movie | Ofoeti | 4.5 |
| 1984 | Jeopardy! TV | Self | 6.9 |
| 1983 | Dempsey Movie | Doc Kearns | 6.2 |
| 1983 | In Defense of Kids Movie | Paul Wilcox | 7.0 |
| 1982 | Games Mother Never Taught You Movie | David Bentells | 8.0 |
| 1982 | Q.E.D. TV | Professor Quentin Everett Deverill | 7.1 |
| 1982 | American Playhouse TV | Robert Oppenheimer | 6.6 |
| 1982 | American Playhouse TV | John Honeyman | 6.6 |
| 1980 | Heaven's Gate Movie | Frank Canton | 6.7 |
| 1980 | Friendly Fire Movie | C.D.B. Bryan | 7.0 |
| 1980 | Oppenheimer TV | Robert Oppenheimer | 6.7 |
| 1980 | Hopscotch Movie | Jack Cutter | 7.0 |
| 1980 | Sweet William Movie | William McClusky | 4.2 |
| 1979 | Eagle's Wing Movie | White Bull | 5.4 |
| 1978 | Interiors Movie | Mike | 6.8 |
| 1977 | Capricorn One Movie | Lt. Col. Peter Willis | 6.8 |
| 1976 | Sweet Revenge Movie | Le Clerq | 5.7 |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live TV | Self (uncredited) | 6.9 |
| 1975 | Journey into Fear Movie | Mr. Graham | 6.0 |
| 1975 | Rancho Deluxe Movie | Cecil Colson | 5.3 |
| 1975 | People's Choice Awards TV | Self - Presenter | 8.3 |
| 1974 | Reflections of Murder Movie | Michael Elliott | 6.8 |
| 1974 | The Great Gatsby Movie | Nick Carraway | 6.3 |
| 1973 | The Glass Menagerie Movie | Tom | 7.7 |
| 1973 | Much Ado About Nothing Movie | Benedick | 6.0 |
| 1972 | Mahoney's Last Stand Movie | Felix | 5.7 |
| 1972 | Savages Movie | James, the Limping Man | 5.3 |
| 1971 | Who Killed Mary Whats'ername? Movie | Alex Monte | 4.9 |
| 1971 | Film '72 TV | Self | 5.1 |
| 1970 | Cover Me Babe Movie | Cameraman | 4.7 |
| 1969 | Three Movie | Taylor | 5.2 |
| 1969 | Generation Movie | Desmond | 5.5 |
| 1967 | Fitzwilly Movie | Oliver | 6.3 |
| 1966 | The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean Movie | Andy | 8.2 |
| 1961 | Dr. Kildare TV | Mark | 5.7 |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame TV | Travis Coles | 8.8 |
Crew (1)
| Year | Title | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Journey of August King Movie | Producer · Production | 6.9 |
Latest releases
- Carousel2026
- The Six Triple Eight2024 / TMDB 7.6
- Merchant Ivory2024 / TMDB 7.7
- Rain Falls from Earth: Surviving Cambodia's Darkest Hour2024
- Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time2021 / TMDB 6.8
- The Man in the Woods2020 / TMDB 4.6
Sam Waterston in the news
Questions about Sam Waterston
What are some of Sam Waterston's most famous roles?
Sam Waterston is best known for his role as Jack McCoy on 'Law & Order' and for his performances in films like 'The Great Gatsby' and 'The Killing Fields.'
Has Sam Waterston won any awards?
Yes, Sam Waterston has received multiple awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in 'Between East and West' and a Golden Globe nomination for 'The Killing Fields.'
What was Sam Waterston's first film?
Sam Waterston's first film was 'The Last Time I Saw Archie' in 1961, where he played a minor role that marked the beginning of his acting career.
How many children does Sam Waterston have?
Sam Waterston has three children, including actress Katherine Waterston, who has appeared in several high-profile films.
What is Sam Waterston's estimated net worth?
Sam Waterston's estimated net worth is around $10 million, reflecting his successful career in film and television.
What is a notable milestone in Sam Waterston's filmography?
A notable milestone in Sam Waterston's filmography is his performance in 'The Killing Fields,' which earned him critical acclaim and showcased his dramatic range.
What other roles has Sam Waterston taken on besides acting?
In addition to acting, Sam Waterston has worked as a producer and director, contributing to various film and television projects throughout his career.
What is Sam Waterston's connection to environmental activism?
Sam Waterston is known for his commitment to environmental causes and has participated in numerous initiatives aimed at promoting ecological sustainability.