Law & Order Star Sam Waterston Opened Up About The Night That Changed His Life
Law & Order’s back and Sam Waterston’s once again slipped into the suit of District Attorney Jack McCoy. And while audiences are understandably delighted, the actor’s revealed why his job’s so important to him. After all, acting played a central part in a special night during 1972 that proved to be a pivotal moment in Waterston’s life.
Life-changing work
The fact that work’s so crucial to Waterston should come as no surprise to fans who’ve followed the star over the years. The actor’s often spoken about the ways in which his profession’s paved the way for life-changing experiences. He’s even singled out one particular performance that altered his entire worldview. This was before 1972, back when the future Jack McCoy was still in college.
The moment it happened
“I was interested in the arts from a very early age,” Waterston told WBUR in 2022. The actor had begun wanting to perform in plays when he was just six years old. But his path to stardom was by no means set. “I had other ideas about what I was going to become,” he admitted. That was until he went on stage at Yale.
The lightning bolt of inspiration
“I played Lucky in Waiting for Godot at Yale,” Waterston told Interview in 1981. He added, “I had this sudden, wonderful understanding about the character just the instant before I was supposed to speak, and there wasn’t any time to think about whether it was a good idea or not — it just went bam!” And it changed his life.
What a feeling
“It worked like gangbusters,” Waterston recalled. “I had a palpable sensation of control from my fingers out to the audience, that what I did affected them, and I thought, ‘My God, this is wonderful!’” Waterston clearly had an epiphany right then and there — but he still tried to fight his natural instinct to act.
