The 5 Best Sam Waterston Moments On Law & Order

Since 1994, Sam Waterston’s portrayal of complex and passionate District Attorney Jack McCoy on Law & Order has been an essential part of the show. Recently, Sam announced his departure from the show, and though he’s moving on, he’ll always be Jack McCoy to us. His final episode airs tonight on NBC — to celebrate all that he’s contributed to the show, here are 5 of the very best Sam Waterston moments on Law & Order.

S5E1 “Second Opinion”

This is the first time we meet Jack McCoy, and his first appearance on the show is nothing less than memorable. McCoy and the squad go after a fraudulent doctor, who ends up having a long history of horrific treatment methods for his cancer patients.

S10E1 “Gunshow”

A mass shooting in Central Park kills five people, and instead of taking the predictable route of prosecuting the shooter, McCoy decides to pursue the manufacturers of the shooter’s weapon. Not one to shy away from proving his point, the episode climaxes with one of McCoy’s most impactful closing arguments, complete with him pouring bullets on a table in court.

S6E23 “Aftershock”

In a tragic turn of events, McCoy loses his long-time lover and fellow member of the DA office, Claire Kincaid (played by Jill Hennessy) to a drunk driving accident. Not only is this episode a true shocker, it shows more of McCoy’s humanity as he struggles to move on.

S20E23 “Rubber Room”

Originally meant to serve as the series finale before it was revived in 2021, this episode brings the action and the drama. As the squad races to find a student threatening on an Internet blog to blow up a school, only to discover that they are looking for a disgruntled teacher instead, McCoy’s big moment comes when he confronts the teachers’ union representative.

S19E22 “The Drowned and the Saved”

After uncovering some shady business related to Governor Shalvoy and the death of a business executive, blackmail begins to directly impact McCoy’s campaign for interim DA. The episode’s excellent writing, as well as Sam’s impeccable delivery of his biting comments for the Governor, make this a standout episode and enduring fan favorite.

Watch Sam’s final episode of Law & Order tonight at 8/7c on NBC and stream it the next day on Peacock.