Samuel Atkinson Waterston was born on November 15, 1940 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is an Academy Award-nominated American actor.

Waterston made his film debut in Fitzwilly in 1967. Other films include Savages (1972), The Great Gatsby (1974), Journey Into Fear (1975), Capricorn One (1978), Heaven's Gate and Hopscotch (1980), The Killing Fields (1984), Mindwalk (1990), Serial Mom (1994) and Woody Allen's Interiors (1978), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986, cameo), and Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989).

Waterston has appeared in episodes of four different series with Richard Belzer: Law & Order, Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. She starred in 306 episodes of "Law & Order" (1994-2008).

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Killing Fields.

Waterston lives in Connecticut. He and his wife, Lynn Louisa Woodruff, a model, were married on January 26, 1976.

Filmography

• "Law & Order" (306 episodes, 1994-2008)
• "Masters of Science Fiction" (1 episode, 2007)
• "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2 episodes, 2005)
• The Commission (2003)
• Divorce, Le (2003)
• The Matthew Shepard Story (2002)
• A House Divided (2000)
• "Family Guy" (2 episodes, 2000)
• "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1 episode, 2000)
• "Homicide: Life on the Street" (2 episodes, 1997-1999)
• Exiled (1998)
• Miracle at Midnight (1998)
• Shadow Conspiracy (1997)
• "Thomas Jefferson" (1997)
• The Proprietor (1996)
• Nixon (1995)
• The Journey of August King (1995)
• Serial Mom (1994)
• David's Mother (1994)
• Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker (1994)
• The Enemy Within (1994)
• "I'll Fly Away" (39 episodes, 1991-1994)
• I'll Fly Away: Then and Now (1993)
• "Tales from the Crypt" (1 episode, 1993)
• A Captive in the Land (1993)
• A Dog Race in Alaska (1993)
• "Warburg: A Man of Influence" (1992)
• Amazing Stories: Book Four (1992)
• The Man in the Moon (1991)
• Lantern Hill (1990)
• Mindwalk (1990)
• Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
• Welcome Home (1989)
• "The Nightmare Years" (1989)
• Lincoln (1988)
• Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami (1988)
• A Walk in the Woods (1988)
• September (1987)
• Teufels Paradies, Des (1987)
• The Room Upstairs (1987)
• Flagrant désir (1986)
• Just Between Friends (1986)
• "Amazing Stories" (1 episode, 1986)
• The Fifth Missile (1986)
• Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
• Warning Sign (1985)
• Love Lives On (1985)
• Finnegan Begin Again (1985)
• The Killing Fields (1984)
• The Boy Who Loved Trolls (1984)
• Dempsey (1983)
• In Defense of Kids (1983)
• Games Mother Never Taught You (1982)
• "Q.E.D." (1982)
• "Freedom to Speak" (1982)
• Heaven's Gate (1980)
• "Oppenheimer" (1980)
• Hopscotch (1980)
• Sweet William (1980)
• Eagle's Wing (1979)
• Friendly Fire (1979)
• Interiors (1978)
• Capricorn One (1978)
• Sweet Revenge (1976)
• Journey Into Fear (1975)
• Rancho Deluxe (1975)
• Reflections of Murder (1974)
• The Great Gatsby (1974)
• The Glass Menagerie (1973)
• Much Ado About Nothing (1973)
• Savages (1972)
• Mahoney's Estate (1972)
• Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? (1971)
• Cover Me Babe (1970)
• Three (1969)
• Generation (1969)
• Fitzwilly (1967)
• "N.Y.P.D." (1 episode, 1967)
• "Hawk" (1 episode, 1966)
• "Dr. Kildare" (2 episodes, 1965)
• The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean (1965)

Awards

• The Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series "Law & Order" 1998
• Emmy Outstanding Informational Series "Time Life's Lost Civilizations - Egypt: Quest for Immortality" 1996
• Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Drama Series "I'll Fly Away" 1992
• Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance "Much Ado About Nothing" 1973
• OBIE Award Distinguished Performance "Much Ado About Nothing" 1972 - 73