Sam Waterston Net Worth

What is Sam Waterston's Net Worth and Salary?

Sam Waterston is an American actor, producer, and director who has a net worth of $16 million. Sam Waterston is an acclaimed American actor whose career spans over six decades across film, television, and theater. He began his career on the New York stage in the 1960s, earning recognition for his Shakespearean performances. His film breakthrough came in the 1970s with notable roles in "The Great Gatsby" (1974) and later in "The Killing Fields" (1984), which earned him an Academy Award nomination.

Waterston is best known for his iconic portrayal of Jack McCoy on NBC's "Law & Order," a role he began in 1994 and played for 16 years until the show's initial conclusion in 2010. He returned to the character when the series was revived in 2022. He eventually departed for good in 2024, after 19 seasons and 405 episodes spread over three decades. His performance as McCoy earned him multiple Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In his 80s, Waterston remains remarkably active in the industry. He recently starred as Sol Bergstein in Netflix's "Grace and Frankie" alongside Martin Sheen, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin for all seven seasons of the comedy series. He has also appeared in other recent productions like Hulu's "The Dropout," playing former Secretary of State George Shultz.

Throughout his career, Waterston has demonstrated remarkable versatility, playing figures from Abraham Lincoln to J. Robert Oppenheimer. His work has earned him numerous accolades including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 and induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2012. Beyond acting, Waterston has been involved in humanitarian work, including a 25-year commitment to Refugees International following his experience filming "The Killing Fields."

Early Life

Samuel Atkinson Waterston was born on November 15th, 1940, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Raised alongside three siblings by a teacher and a painter, Waterston encountered artistic pursuits at an early age. After graduating from high school, Sam attended Yale University, studying acting. He eventually graduated in 1962 with a BA.

Career

During the beginning of Sam's career in the 60s, he became renowned for his roles in various productions of Shakespeare's plays, such as "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Hamlet." He also appeared in Broadway plays such as "Indians." By the 70s, he was beginning to appear in both film productions and stage productions. A major breakthrough for Waterston came in 1974 when he played the role of Nick Carraway in "The Great Gatsby." During this period, he also earned fame for appearing in Woody Allen's "Interiors."

While he was appearing in a number of films in the 70s, it is fair to say that stage work was always Waterston's priority, especially during the early phase of his career. During the 70s, he also found time to appear in the off-Broadway adaptation of Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure," joining well-known actors such as Meryl Streep and John Cazale. By the 80s, he was also appearing in plays such as "Benefactors" and "Abe Lincoln in Illinois," the latter of which earned him considerable critical praise. During the 80s, he also won praise after acting in the film "The Killing Films," for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He also worked with Woody Allen extensively during the 80s, appearing in three of his films over the course of the decade.

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In the 90s, he continued his film work with movies like "The Man in the Moon," "Serial Mom," and "Nixon." During the 90s, he also accepted his first substantial TV role, booking the starring role of Jack McCoy in "Law & Order." The series originally ran from 1994 to 2010 before re-launching in 2022. Waterson has appeared in over 370 episodes of the series.

In 1993, he returned to the stage, playing Abe Lincoln in "Abe Lincoln in Illinois."

After the 2010s, Waterston has continued to appear in a number of stage performances throughout the country, focusing on Shakespeare productions in many cases. He has also appeared in films like "Miss Sloane" and "On the Basis of Sex." In terms of post-2010s television work, he is best known for his appearances in series like "The Newsroom," and "Grace and Frankie."

In 2022, Sam portrayed George Shultz in the Hulu series "The Dropout."

TD Ameritrade Endorsement

Sam Waterston is most recognized for his long-running role as the spokesman for TD Ameritrade (previously TD Waterhouse), a position he held from 2003 to 2012. Taking over from fellow "Law & Order" actor Steven Hill, Waterston brought gravitas and trustworthiness to the financial brand with his no-nonsense delivery. His signature tagline "Independence is the spirit that drives America's most successful investors" became closely associated with his persona.

Relationships

Sam Waterston has been married twice and is the father of four children who have all followed creative paths. His first marriage was to Barbara Rutledge Johns from 1964 to 1975, with whom he had one son, James (born 1969). In 1976, Waterston married former model Lynn Louisa Woodruff, and they have remained together for nearly five decades. With Lynn, he had three more children: Elisabeth (born 1977), Katherine Waterston (born 1980), and Graham (born 1983). All four Waterston children followed their father into the entertainment industry—James, Elisabeth, and Katherine became actors, while Graham works as a film producer and director. Sam and Lynn first met when he was performing in a Shakespeare production in Central Park, and he has occasionally shared the stage with his children, including performing with James in "Long Day's Journey into Night" and with Elisabeth in "Much Ado About Nothing."

Activism

In 2019, it was reported that Sam Waterston and Jane Fonda had been arrested in Washington, D.C., after taking part in climate change protests. Waterston is an outspoken commentator on various political issues, and he works with a number of activist groups.

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