Law & Order_ How Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy Exited Series(1)
Law & Order_ How Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy Exited Series(1)
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00:00 I've been thinking about this for a while.
00:04 It's time.
00:06 It just is.
00:07 Dear friends, no one, not in my situation,
00:14 can appreciate the sadness of this parting.
00:18 Sam Waterston has tried his final case
00:21 in the "Law & Order" universe.
00:23 It's been a hell of a ride.
00:25 You know, he's sharp-witted and fast and decisive
00:28 and out there and tough-minded.
00:31 The actor playing ADA Jack McCoy for nearly three decades.
00:35 To this place and the kindness of these people,
00:41 I owe everything.
00:43 Now NBC paying tribute to the show's mainstay on Instagram,
00:46 sharing Waterston's emotional farewell speech
00:49 to his cast and crew.
00:51 Here I have lived for a quarter of a century
00:56 and gone from a young to an old man.
01:02 If 25 or 30 years doesn't matter,
01:04 then nothing matters at all.
01:07 And that's what this has been.
01:09 This is-- this is just amazing.
01:13 He leaves "Law & Order" after playing McCoy
01:15 across 400 episodes and helping to jumpstart
01:19 the franchise's flagship in 2022.
01:22 The jury wants to acquit.
01:24 Following a decade's absence from the airwaves,
01:26 which landed his beloved character
01:29 a prestigious promotion.
01:30 When I was elected district attorney,
01:33 I gave a pledge to the citizens of New York
01:36 to act fairly and ethically without bias or favor,
01:41 to always act with integrity.
01:43 Of course we've got talented actors,
01:45 but what else is it about this show?
01:47 Well, of course, it's a great structure.
01:50 But the other thing is that it--
01:53 that it's old advertisement about telling stories
01:56 that are ripped from the headlines.
01:58 So it's always talking about what's going on today.
02:00 And that's no different now than it has been
02:03 for the whole long time it's been around.
02:06 During my time as district attorney,
02:09 I've tried my best to uphold that sacred oath
02:14 in the pursuit of justice.
02:16 On Thursday's episode titled "Last Dance,"
02:19 McCoy breaks the news he's stepping aside
02:21 amid drama with city officials.
02:23 If I step aside now,
02:27 the governor will be able to appoint someone new.
02:31 Someone with integrity.
02:37 That someone we know is scandal alum Tony Goldwyn.
02:40 But for "Law & Order" stars,
02:41 there's no replacing an OG like Waterston.
02:45 He's just such an incredible force to be reckoned with.
02:48 So distinguished, so talented, so many things.
02:51 He was iconic then, not to mention now.
02:54 This is a court of law.
02:56 You are not here to pontificate.
02:58 Your sole function is to answer the question.
03:02 Back in 1994, E.T. was on the set with Waterston
03:05 as he joined the series during season five.
03:08 One of the ways that we've described him
03:09 is as a sort of a merry attack dog.
03:13 Ruined his life. Did he say how?
03:15 And while Jack McCoy helped this franchise
03:18 become a TV phenomenon,
03:19 Waterston's all gratitude for the role of a lifetime.
03:23 I have had a privilege that practically nobody
03:27 in show business has to be involved
03:31 over that long period of time with different people,
03:37 but the same community and being privileged
03:41 to be a member of the same team all this time.
03:47 Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
03:53 God bless you.
03:54 (music)
04:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]