How old was Sam Waterston in…

Sam Waterston

Bio: Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston (born November 15, 1940) is an American actor and occasional producer and director. Among other roles, he is noted for his Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Sydney Schanberg in 1984's The Killing Fields, and his Golden Globe- and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning portrayal of Jack McCoy on the NBC television series Law & Order

Born: Fri, Nov 15 1940

Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Sam Waterston is 84 years old

External Links

Sort by Popularity

Scroll to TV Credits

Acting Roles

Crew Roles

Movies (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date

The Six Triple Eight

Sam Waterston was 84 in The Six Triple Eight as 'Franklin Delano Roosevelt'.

Movie Released: Fri, Dec 06 2024

Merchant Ivory

Sam Waterston was 83 in Merchant Ivory as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Fri, Aug 30 2024

A Case for Love

Sam Waterston was 83 in A Case for Love as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Tue, Jan 23 2024

Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time

Sam Waterston was 81 in Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time as 'Self (voice)'.

Movie Released: Fri, Nov 19 2021

The Man in the Woods

Sam Waterston was 80 in The Man in the Woods as 'Headmaster Waldorf'.

Movie Released: Tue, Nov 24 2020

Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story

Sam Waterston was 79 in Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Tue, Sep 01 2020

On the Basis of Sex

Sam Waterston was 78 in On the Basis of Sex as 'Erwin Griswold'.

Movie Released: Tue, Dec 25 2018

The Mayo Clinic

Sam Waterston was 77 in The Mayo Clinic as 'Charlie Mayo'.

Movie Released: Tue, Sep 25 2018

Jane Fonda in Five Acts

Sam Waterston was 77 in Jane Fonda in Five Acts as 'Self - Actor'.

Movie Released: Sun, Jan 21 2018

Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators

Sam Waterston was 76 in Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators as 'Narrator (voice)'.

Movie Released: Sat, Jun 17 2017

Dateline: Saigon

Sam Waterston was 76 in Dateline: Saigon as 'Narrator (voice)'.

Movie Released: Tue, Mar 07 2017

Miss Sloane

Sam Waterston was 76 in Miss Sloane as 'George Dupont'.

Movie Released: Fri, Nov 25 2016

Anesthesia

Sam Waterston was 75 in Anesthesia as 'Prof. Walter Zarrow'.

Movie Released: Fri, Jan 08 2016

And It Was Good

Sam Waterston was 74 in And It Was Good as 'Judge Alexander Baas / Doctor / Gravedigger'.

Movie Released: Fri, Jun 05 2015

Dean Smith

Sam Waterston was 74 in Dean Smith as 'Narrator'.

Movie Released: Wed, Mar 25 2015

Please Be Normal

Sam Waterston was 74 in Please Be Normal as 'Dad'.

Movie Released: Fri, Mar 20 2015

The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

Sam Waterston was 69 in The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Sat, Oct 30 2010

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Sam Waterston was 65 in The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays as 'John Honeyman (segment "A Walk in the Woods")'.

Movie Released: Tue, May 02 2006

Hammer and Cycle

Sam Waterston was 63 in Hammer and Cycle as 'Self - Narrator'.

Movie Released: Fri, Apr 09 2004

The Commission

Sam Waterston was 62 in The Commission as 'J. Lee Rankin'.

Movie Released: Fri, Nov 07 2003

Le Divorce

Sam Waterston was 62 in Le Divorce as 'Chester Walker'.

Movie Released: Fri, Aug 08 2003

The Matthew Shepard Story

Sam Waterston was 61 in The Matthew Shepard Story as 'Dennis Shepard'.

Movie Released: Sat, Mar 16 2002

A House Divided

Sam Waterston was 59 in A House Divided as 'David Dickson'.

Movie Released: Sun, Jul 30 2000

The Unfinished Journey

Sam Waterston was 59 in The Unfinished Journey as 'Narrator (voice)'.

Movie Released: Fri, Dec 31 1999

In Bad Taste

Sam Waterston was 58 in In Bad Taste as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Fri, Sep 03 1999

Moment of Impact: Stories of the Pulitzer Prize Photographs

Sam Waterston was 58 in Moment of Impact: Stories of the Pulitzer Prize Photographs as 'Self / Host / Narrator'.

Movie Released: Sun, Jul 18 1999

Exiled

Sam Waterston was 57 in Exiled as 'Jack McCoy'.

Movie Released: Sun, Nov 08 1998

Miracle at Midnight

Sam Waterston was 57 in Miracle at Midnight as 'Dr. Karl Koster'.

Movie Released: Tue, Mar 17 1998

Shadow Conspiracy

Sam Waterston was 56 in Shadow Conspiracy as 'The President'.

Movie Released: Sat, Jan 25 1997

The Proprietor

Sam Waterston was 55 in The Proprietor as 'Harry Bancroft'.

Movie Released: Mon, Sep 09 1996

Nixon

Sam Waterston was 55 in Nixon as 'Richard Helms'.

Movie Released: Fri, Dec 22 1995

The Journey of August King

Sam Waterston was 54 in The Journey of August King as 'Mooney Wright'.

Movie Released: Thu, Sep 14 1995

Amazing Stories: The Movie IV

Sam Waterston was 54 in Amazing Stories: The Movie IV as '(archive footage)'.

Movie Released: Fri, Aug 18 1995

Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage

Sam Waterston was 54 in Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage as 'Tom Wingfield (archive footage)'.

Movie Released: Mon, Dec 19 1994

The Enemy Within

Sam Waterston was 53 in The Enemy Within as 'President William Foster'.

Movie Released: Wed, Aug 24 1994

Serial Mom

Sam Waterston was 53 in Serial Mom as 'Eugene Sutphin'.

Movie Released: Wed, Apr 13 1994

David's Mother

Sam Waterston was 53 in David's Mother as 'John Nils'.

Movie Released: Sun, Apr 10 1994

Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker

Sam Waterston was 53 in Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker as 'Daniel Chamberlain'.

Movie Released: Sat, Feb 26 1994

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now

Sam Waterston was 52 in I'll Fly Away: Then and Now as 'Forrest Bedford'.

Movie Released: Mon, Oct 11 1993

A Captive in the Land

Sam Waterston was 52 in A Captive in the Land as 'Royce'.

Movie Released: Fri, Jan 15 1993

Earth and the American Dream

Sam Waterston was 51 in Earth and the American Dream as 'Reader (voice)'.

Movie Released: Thu, Oct 01 1992

Mindwalk

Sam Waterston was 51 in Mindwalk as 'Jack Edwards'.

Movie Released: Thu, Dec 05 1991

The Man in the Moon

Sam Waterston was 50 in The Man in the Moon as 'Matthew Trant'.

Movie Released: Mon, Sep 30 1991

Night of 100 Stars III

Sam Waterston was 49 in Night of 100 Stars III as 'Self'.

Movie Released: Mon, May 21 1990

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Sam Waterston was 48 in Crimes and Misdemeanors as 'Ben'.

Movie Released: Fri, Oct 13 1989

Welcome Home

Sam Waterston was 48 in Welcome Home as 'Woody'.

Movie Released: Fri, Sep 29 1989

Lantern Hill

Sam Waterston was 48 in Lantern Hill as 'Andrew Stuart'.

Movie Released: Tue, Aug 29 1989

Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami

Sam Waterston was 48 in Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami as 'Prosecutor'.

Movie Released: Fri, Dec 30 1988

A Walk in the Woods

Sam Waterston was 47 in A Walk in the Woods as 'John Honeyman'.

Movie Released: Fri, Jan 01 1988

September

Sam Waterston was 47 in September as 'Peter'.

Movie Released: Fri, Dec 18 1987

Devil's Paradise

Sam Waterston was 46 in Devil's Paradise as 'Jones'.

Movie Released: Thu, May 07 1987

Swimming to Cambodia

Sam Waterston was 46 in Swimming to Cambodia as 'Additional cast from 'The Killing Fields' (archive footage)'.

Movie Released: Fri, Mar 13 1987

The Room Upstairs

Sam Waterston was 46 in The Room Upstairs as 'Travis Coles'.

Movie Released: Sat, Jan 31 1987

Flagrant désir

Sam Waterston was 45 in Flagrant désir as 'Inspecteur Gerry Morrison'.

Movie Released: Wed, Jun 11 1986

Just Between Friends

Sam Waterston was 45 in Just Between Friends as 'Harry Crandall'.

Movie Released: Fri, Mar 21 1986

The Fifth Missile

Sam Waterston was 45 in The Fifth Missile as 'Capt. Allard Renslow'.

Movie Released: Sun, Feb 23 1986

Hannah and Her Sisters

Sam Waterston was 45 in Hannah and Her Sisters as 'David (uncredited)'.

Movie Released: Fri, Feb 07 1986

Warning Sign

Sam Waterston was 44 in Warning Sign as 'Cal Morse'.

Movie Released: Fri, Aug 23 1985

Love Lives On

Sam Waterston was 44 in Love Lives On as 'Bernie'.

Movie Released: Sun, Mar 31 1985

Finnegan Begin Again

Sam Waterston was 44 in Finnegan Begin Again as 'Paul Broadbent'.

Movie Released: Sun, Feb 24 1985

The Killing Fields

Sam Waterston was 44 in The Killing Fields as 'Sydney Schanberg'.

Movie Released: Fri, Nov 23 1984

The Boy Who Loved Trolls

Sam Waterston was 43 in The Boy Who Loved Trolls as 'Ofoeti'.

Movie Released: Mon, Oct 29 1984

Dempsey

Sam Waterston was 42 in Dempsey as 'Doc Kearns'.

Movie Released: Wed, Sep 28 1983

In Defense of Kids

Sam Waterston was 42 in In Defense of Kids as 'Paul Wilcox'.

Movie Released: Wed, Apr 06 1983

Games Mother Never Taught You

Sam Waterston was 42 in Games Mother Never Taught You as 'David Bentells'.

Movie Released: Sat, Nov 27 1982

Heaven's Gate

Sam Waterston was 40 in Heaven's Gate as 'Frank Canton'.

Movie Released: Wed, Nov 19 1980

Friendly Fire

Sam Waterston was 39 in Friendly Fire as 'C.D.B. Bryan'.

Movie Released: Sun, Nov 09 1980

Hopscotch

Sam Waterston was 39 in Hopscotch as 'Jack Cutter'.

Movie Released: Fri, Sep 26 1980

Sweet William

Sam Waterston was 39 in Sweet William as 'William McClusky'.

Movie Released: Fri, Apr 11 1980

Eagle's Wing

Sam Waterston was 38 in Eagle's Wing as 'White Bull'.

Movie Released: Thu, Jul 26 1979

Interiors

Sam Waterston was 37 in Interiors as 'Mike'.

Movie Released: Wed, Aug 02 1978

Capricorn One

Sam Waterston was 37 in Capricorn One as 'Lt. Col. Peter Willis'.

Movie Released: Sat, Dec 10 1977

Sweet Revenge

Sam Waterston was 35 in Sweet Revenge as 'Le Clerq'.

Movie Released: Sun, Jun 06 1976

Journey into Fear

Sam Waterston was 34 in Journey into Fear as 'Mr. Graham'.

Movie Released: Fri, Aug 08 1975

Rancho Deluxe

Sam Waterston was 34 in Rancho Deluxe as 'Cecil Colson'.

Movie Released: Fri, Mar 14 1975

Reflections of Murder

Sam Waterston was 34 in Reflections of Murder as 'Michael Elliott'.

Movie Released: Sun, Nov 24 1974

The Great Gatsby

Sam Waterston was 33 in The Great Gatsby as 'Nick Carraway'.

Movie Released: Wed, Mar 27 1974

The Glass Menagerie

Sam Waterston was 33 in The Glass Menagerie as 'Tom Wingfield'.

Movie Released: Sun, Dec 16 1973

Much Ado About Nothing

Sam Waterston was 32 in Much Ado About Nothing as 'Benedick'.

Movie Released: Fri, Feb 02 1973

Mahoney's Last Stand

Sam Waterston was 31 in Mahoney's Last Stand as 'Felix'.

Movie Released: Wed, Nov 01 1972

Savages

Sam Waterston was 31 in Savages as 'James, the Limping Man'.

Movie Released: Tue, Jun 27 1972

Who Killed Mary Whats'ername?

Sam Waterston was 31 in Who Killed Mary Whats'ername? as 'Alex Monte'.

Movie Released: Sat, Dec 11 1971

Cover Me Babe

Sam Waterston was 29 in Cover Me Babe as 'Cameraman'.

Movie Released: Thu, Oct 01 1970

Three

Sam Waterston was 29 in Three as 'Taylor'.

Movie Released: Tue, Dec 23 1969

Generation

Sam Waterston was 29 in Generation as 'Desmond'.

Movie Released: Mon, Dec 15 1969

Fitzwilly

Sam Waterston was 27 in Fitzwilly as 'Oliver'.

Movie Released: Wed, Dec 20 1967

The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean

Sam Waterston was 25 in The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean as 'Andy'.

Movie Released: Sat, Oct 01 1966

Rain Falls from Earth: Surviving Cambodia's Darkest Hour

Sam Waterston will be 84+ in Rain Falls from Earth: Surviving Cambodia's Darkest Hour as 'Self (voice)'.

Movie Released: Unreleased

TV Shows (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date
Ages in TV shows are based off the first air date and may not be accurate. View individual episode details for accurate ages

Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled

Sam Waterston was 82+ in Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled as 'Self'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, May 21 2023

The Dropout

Sam Waterston was 81+ in The Dropout as 'George Shultz'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, Mar 03 2022

Godless

Sam Waterston was 77+ in Godless as 'Marshall John Cook'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Wed, Nov 22 2017

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Sam Waterston was 74+ in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as 'Self'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, Sep 08 2015

Grace and Frankie

Sam Waterston was 74+ in Grace and Frankie as 'Sol Bergstein'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Fri, May 08 2015

Sam Waterston was 72+ in Jo

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, Jan 17 2013

The Newsroom

Sam Waterston was 71+ in The Newsroom as 'Charlie Skinner'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Jun 24 2012

Prohibition

Sam Waterston was 70+ in Prohibition as 'Reader (voice)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Oct 02 2011

Masters of Science Fiction

Sam Waterston was 66+ in Masters of Science Fiction

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sat, Aug 04 2007

The Colbert Report

Sam Waterston was 64+ in The Colbert Report

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, Oct 17 2005

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

Sam Waterston was 64+ in Law & Order: Trial by Jury as 'Jack McCoy'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, Mar 03 2005

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Sam Waterston was 58+ in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as 'Jack McCoy'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, Sep 20 1999

Family Guy

Sam Waterston was 58+ in Family Guy as 'Bruce Kaplan (voice)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Jan 31 1999

Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery

Sam Waterston was 56+ in Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery as 'Thomas Jefferson (voice)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, Nov 04 1997

The View

Sam Waterston was 56+ in The View as 'Self, Self - Guest'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, Aug 11 1997

Thomas Jefferson

Sam Waterston was 56+ in Thomas Jefferson as 'Thomas Jefferson (voice)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, Feb 18 1997

Time Life's Lost Civilizations

Sam Waterston was 54+ in Time Life's Lost Civilizations as 'Narrator'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Jun 25 1995

Homicide: Life on the Street

Sam Waterston was 52+ in Homicide: Life on the Street

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Jan 31 1993

HBO First Look

Sam Waterston was 51+ in HBO First Look

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Fri, Jun 12 1992

I'll Fly Away

Sam Waterston was 50+ in I'll Fly Away as 'Forrest Bedford'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, Oct 07 1991

The Civil War

Sam Waterston was 49+ in The Civil War as 'Abraham Lincoln'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Sep 23 1990

Law & Order

Sam Waterston was 49+ in Law & Order as 'Jack McCoy'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Thu, Sep 13 1990

The Nightmare Years

Sam Waterston was 49+ in The Nightmare Years as 'Bill Shirer'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Fri, Nov 17 1989

Tales from the Crypt

Sam Waterston was 48+ in Tales from the Crypt as 'G.G. Devoe'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sat, Jun 10 1989

Lincoln

Sam Waterston was 47+ in Lincoln as 'Abraham Lincoln'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Mar 27 1988

Amazing Stories

Sam Waterston was 44+ in Amazing Stories as 'Jordan Manmouth'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sun, Sep 29 1985

Jeopardy!

Sam Waterston was 43+ in Jeopardy!

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, Sep 10 1984

Q.E.D.

Sam Waterston was 41+ in Q.E.D.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, Mar 23 1982

Oppenheimer

Sam Waterston was 39+ in Oppenheimer as 'Robert Oppenheimer'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Wed, Oct 29 1980

Saturday Night Live

Sam Waterston was 34+ in Saturday Night Live as 'Self - Cameo (uncredited)'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Sat, Oct 11 1975

People's Choice Awards

Sam Waterston was 34+ in People's Choice Awards as 'Self - Presenter'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Tue, Mar 04 1975

Dr. Kildare

Sam Waterston was 20+ in Dr. Kildare as 'Mark'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Wed, Sep 27 1961

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Sam Waterston was 11+ in Hallmark Hall of Fame as 'Travis Coles'.

TV Show Released: First Air Date
Mon, Dec 24 1951