Sam Waterston to step down on 'Law & Order' as District Attorney Jack McCoy

"Law & Order" fans will soon have to say goodbye to District Attorney Jack McCoy.

Sam Waterston, who has played the New York DA across 404 episodes over 30 years, will soon leave the NBC drama, the network announced Friday. Waterston's last episode will air Feb. 22.

Waterston, 83, joined the show in Season 5 in 1994. He won a SAG Award and was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and multiple Emmys for the role.

USA TODAY has reached out to Waterston's reps for comment.

Waterston later reprised his role at the DA's office in the series' 2022 return.

He joined a cast of newcomers, including Hugh Dancy, Camryn Manheim, Odelya Halevi, Mehcad Brooks and Reid Scott.

"I was of two minds about whether to do it or not. I asked myself, 'Hadn't I already done this? And really did I need to be doing it again?' But I came around to the idea that it was at least worth a try," Waterston told USA TODAY at the time. "And when I stepped on the set, it was new, but it was the exact same set we had been working on 12 years ago. it made the hairs on my arm stand up."

Series creator and producer Dick Wolf told USA TODAY in 2022 that Waterston's return to the series was a no-brainer.

"Fortunately we never had to face that question," Wolf said, over email. "It was always my intent to have Sam return. I'm glad he said yes."

'Law & Order':Sam Waterston talks Jack McCoy's return and losing coveted TV record to 'SVU'

Now the actor, who made guest appearances as McCoy on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and starred as Sol Bergstein in the Netflix series "Grace and Frankie" for seven seasons, will step down from heading the DA's office.

"Scandal" actor Tony Goldwyn has been cast as the new DA.

Goldwyn, 63, also starred as Gordon in "Oppenheimer," Ben Lefevre in the Netflix drama fantasy series "Chambers" and Carl Bruner in "Ghost."

Contributing: Bryan Alexander

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