Which actor played the characters Jack McCoy, Forrest Bedford, and Charlie Skinner on several U.S. TV shows?

Sam Waterston (b. 1940) is an American actor best known for his role as Jack McCoy, first Executive Assistant District Attorney (ADA), later District Attorney (DA), on the TV show "Law & Order" (1994―2010). His TV work also includes playing District Attorney, Forrest Bedford, on the period drama "I'll Fly Away" (1991―1993) and being boss Charlie Skinner on the TV show "The Newsroom" (2012―2014). He additionally appeared as Sol on the Netflix sitcom "Grace and Frankie" (with Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Martin Sheen).

As a frequent portrayer of Abraham Lincoln, Waterston was part of Gore Vidal's 1988 miniseries "Lincoln", was a voice-over in Ken Burns "The Civil War" (1990), and participated in the 1993 Broadway revival of "Abe Lincoln in Illinois", as well as other TV and film productions regarding Lincoln's entire persona.

Sam Waterston (Samuel Atkinson Waterston) has worked as an actor, producer, and director. He is known for his work in theater, television, and film. He has received various awards and accolades including an Academy Award, Primetime Emmy Award, Tony Award, British Academy Film Award, Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Having starred in over 80 film and TV productions during his 60-year career, he is also known for numerous stage productions on and off Broadway.

Waterston has reinvented himself several times during his career. “What’s cool about that is that I can look back and know that it was all worth doing,” he said.