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Sam Waterston first appeared onLaw & Orderin 1994, four years into the shows initial run.
They were opposing forces who nevertheless pulled in the same direction, Waterstons snappish temper counterbalancing Orbachs laconic self-possession.
He gets a conviction, then resigns his position so you can protect the rest of his staff.
I dont want anybody to get the wrong idea!
Then they designed this fabulous exit!
The last day of shooting was on the courtroom set and everybody showed up.
Dick Wolf made a surprise appearance.
Speeches were made, and they even opened up a pop-up deli called Sams Delicatessen for that day.
It was a great celebration.
Did you make a speech?I made a speech.
Ive been going one year after another for a long time.
Very rarely did I ever sign a contract that lasted more than a year.
So I didnt really notice the passage of time, but it adds up.
The first time I ever noticed this was with our kids.
And they were thoroughly satisfied with the entire experience!
Law & Orderunderstands that the stability of the narrative is part of the attraction.
Sometimes youre going to want to throw your shoe at the television set.
But I think it answers a real appetite.
That was kind of the wayLaw & Orderfelt.
The most extraordinary people!
The one that sticks out the most was Elaine Stritch.
People were not used to seeing that, and for her it was all part of a days work.
But theres only one New York, and the only way to see it is to be here.
What did you think when you read the script for your last episode?
Rick came to set one day and I said, We have this idea!
He read it, but he said it wasnt really what he thought he was going to do.
So I thought,Well, itll have to bereallygood to be better thanthat.
Wait, did you kill yourself off?No!
It was perfectly respectable.
But this, the episode we actually made, was really nice.
He did a really nice job, I thank him.
McCoy got to stand up for his principles and then resign to preserve the offices integrity.Exactly.
Thats the good stuff.
Youve played McCoy for so long.
What are the distinctive things about him, as a character and a performance?
You try having eyebrows like these and not using them!
He has a short wick, and he has an appetite for conflict.
He doesnt just think hes right he knows hes right and he loves the fight.
In terms of the longevity of my career as an actor, it was a great blessing.
I could make me famous without using me up.
Do people yell things at you on the street?
Do they say DUN DUN?Well, yes, they do.
Its priceless being part of the city, feeling like youre the citys mascot or something.
Jerry Orbach and I had the same experiences about that.
They made us both New York landmarks.
We both felt it and it was fabulous.
I hope the theater gods wont punish me.
Was that the idea of the rule?
Im just putting it out there.
I almost did it.
But I didnt, and its good, for the play and for me.
You have no idea the space that your work is taking up in your head.
Work and career, over and over.
It takes up this huge space.
That day I wrapped onLaw & Order, I felt the strangest thing.
There was a piece of my brain that I didnt even know existed, that was now free.
But Joel Grey and I have been thinking that it would be wonderful to do a play.
Weve been wanting to doOn Borrowed Timefor a long time.
That opened in 1938 the same year asOur Town, and actually ran for more performances.
Id play the part Lionel Barrymore played, and Joel would direct.
That sounds fantastic I hope you get to do it!
It sounds like the time felt right to leaveLaw & Order.I will miss the people.
But I wont miss … well, who knows.
But for the moment, this seemed like a good decision.
And some people might say it was past time!
And you dont want to wait.
Leave them wanting more.
