Portrayed by Sam Waterston, Jack McCoy is one of the longest-running characters on “Law & Order,” having appeared in Seasons 5 to 20. In fact, he is second only to Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) as she was on the show for 17 seasons, just one more than McCoy. Waterston’s portrayal of the character has made McCoy a staple to the series and a clear fan favorite. McCoy had such a cultural impact that Waterston has been named a “Living Landmark” by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, as reported by Gothamist.
Waterston has a wide range of acting lists before and after his time on “Law & Order.” From his portrayal of Nick Carraway in 1974’s “The Great Gatsby” alongside Robert Redford to his time as Charlie Skinner in HBO’s political drama “The Newsroom” with Jeff Daniels from 2012 to 2014, Waterston’s never been far from an incredible performance. However, he’s heading back to his procedural legal roots, as he’s joining co-star Anthony Anderson for the “Law & Order” revival. According to UPI, Waterston stated, “We stopped making the shows, but the audience never stopped watching them,” he added. “So, the audience’s persistent appetite for ‘Law & Order’ is a major reason why we’re back. So, thanks to them.”