Waterston on ‘Law’ Docket Through 2005
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – It’ll be at least an even 10 years on the “Law & Order” beat for Sam Waterston, who plays a hard-charging assistant district attorney on the veteran NBC crime drama.
Waterston signed on as “Law & Order” in 1994, and the show’s producers have picked up his option to stick with the Emmy-winning series at least the 2004-05 season.
He ranks as the third-longest-serving actor currently on the show — which is famous for periodically overhauling its cast — behind Jerry Orbach, who has played Detective Lennie Briscoe since 1992, and S. Epatha Merkerson, who has played Lt. Anita Van Buren since 1993.
Waterston has earned three lead actor Emmy nominations (in 1997, 1999 and 2000) for his work as Jack McCoy on “Law & Order.” He also garnered a lead actor Oscar nomination in 1985 for his role in “The Killing Fields.”
“Law & Order,” which bowed in 1990, has defied the laws of primetime gravity by gaining audience share in recent years. The series will begin its 14th season in the fall. NBC and producer Universal Network Television are expected to begin negotiating a long-term renewal deal for “Law & Order” and its spinoffs, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” later this year. It’s understood that a possible fourth “Law & Order” series will be included as part of those negotiations.
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