NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — It's the end of an era.
NBC announced on Friday that Sam Waterston, who has played Manhattan District Attorney Jack McCoy on “Law & Order” since 1994, is set to leave the long-running series.
Waterston’s last episode will air on Feb. 22, and Tony Goldwyn is to join the show as the city's new District Attorney.
The 83-year-old has appeared in over 400 episodes of the show since he joined the cast in season four, when McCoy was just an assistant district attorney. For his performance in this role, Watertson has won a SAG award and has received multiple nominations for an Emmy and Golden Globe.
In a statement released by Wolf Entertainment on Friday, Waterston thanked his fans and colleagues for his time on the show, and acknowledged his need to move on.
“There’s sadness in leaving, but I’m just too curious about what’s next. An actor doesn’t want to let himself get too comfortable,” Waterston said.
Waterston served as the link to the original show when the series returned in 2022, after its 1990-2010 run.