In the entertainment industry, fans and followers are frequently captivated by actor Sam Waterston’s personal life. His spouse’s identity and marital status are two factors that receive a lot of attention. As an experienced actor with a noteworthy career spanning several decades, fans are curious about Waterston’s love interest.
In addition to his well-known performances in movies and television, such as his critically praised depiction of Jack McCoy in “Law & Order,” Waterston’s personal life—particularly his romantic status—brings further mystery to his public character. Investigating the identity of Sam Waterston’s spouse provides details on the personal lives and relationships of the actor.
Sam Waterston Wife
In 1964, Waterston wed Barbara Johns for the first time. Before divorcing in 1975, the couple had one son, the actor James Waterston. Waterston married Lynn Louisa Woodruff, a former model, as his second wife in 1976. They are parents to three children: a son named Graham and two actresses, Katherine and Elisabeth Waterston.
Waterston is an Oceana board member. Waterston’s longstanding support of refugees worldwide earned him the Goodermote Humanitarian Award from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2012.
On August 16, 2007, Waterston, a longtime friend and admirer of the Mark Morris Dance Group, hosted the Mozart Dances television show on PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center.
Lynn Louisa Woodruff
Sam Waterston wed former fashion model Lynn Louisa Woodruff as his second wife following the divorce of his first. Woodruff was featured in several old issues of Cosmopolitan, Vogue Italia, Vogue, and other magazines. The couple’s first meeting is unknown. However, they were married in 1976 and have been together for 56 years.
Together, Katherine (43 years old) and Elisabeth (46 years old), both actresses, and Graham (40 years old), a film producer and director, make up the couple’s three children.
For Sam’s and their kids’ projects, Sam and Lynn have regularly gone to red-carpet events and movie premieres together. For instance, on November 10, 2016, they went to the Lincoln Center in New York City to see the world premiere of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
They were there to cheer for their daughter Katherine, who portrayed the deuteragonist and half-blood witch Tina Goldstein. Additionally, they were pictured together on May 1, 2016, in Los Angeles, California, at the premiere of the Netflix Original Series Grace & Frankie Season 2.
Barbara Rutledge Johns
Sam Waterston wed Barbara Rutledge Johns, his first wife, in December 1964, as per the couple’s announcement in The New York Times. Though the couple’s specific dating history is unknown, it was probably during their time as Yale students (she graduated in the class of 1960, while he graduated in ’62).
After being married in Yale University’s Branford College Chapel, they had a reception in the bride’s Westport, Connecticut, home. The bride, who her father gave away, wore a fishnet shoulder-length veil and an empire-length white wool gown lined in satin.
The Times said, “She carried a spray of podocarpus leaves and spider chrysanthemums.” Barbara worked as a fashion reporter for The New York Herald Tribune’s women’s feature section when she got married.
After being married for more than ten years, Sam and Barbara were divorced in 1975. James Waterston, a 54-year-old child they had together, likewise followed in his footsteps and became an actor.
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Is Sam Waterston Leaving Law & Order?
It was revealed on February 2, 2024, that Sam Waterston will be leaving his long-standing position on Law and Order. The 83-year-old actor will go the show midway through its 20th season, which is scheduled to debut on February 22, 2024.
Tony Goldwyn will portray a new district attorney who will take Jack McCoy’s spot in the cast. Goldwyn previously worked on the Law & Order television series. In a few Law & Order: Criminal Intent episodes from 2007 to 2008, he portrayed Frank Goren. In the end, his character was killed off, and he will now act in an entirely other role.
Sam Waterston’s Career
Waterston is classically trained and has several stage credits. He made his Broadway debut in 1962 as Jonathan in Arthur Kopit’s Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet, and I’m Feelin’ So Sad at the Morosco Theatre. His Delacorte Theatre debut was as Silvius in William Shakespeare’s As You Like It (1963).
The 1965 drama The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean was his film debut. He returned to Broadway as David in First One Asleep, Whistle (1966) and Robert in Peter Ustinov’s Halfway Up the Tree (1967).
The Brooks Atkinson Theatre hosted his Broadway debut in Arthur Kopit’s Indians on October 13, 1969. Gene Frankel directed the play, which starred Stacy Keach as Buffalo Bill, Manu Tupou as Sitting Bull, Tom Aldredge, Kevin Conway, Charles Durning, and Raul Julia. The play had 96 shows and 16 previews.
Waterston played supporting roles in many films, including Delbert Mann’s romantic comedy Fitzwilly (1967) with Dick Van Dyke and Generation (1969). The British love drama Three starred him with Charlotte Rampling and Robie Porter.
He appeared in Merchant Ivory’s Savages, loosely based on Luis Buñuel’s 1962 film The Exterminating Angel. Waterston continued performing at the Public Theatre, winning a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance for playing Benedick in Joseph Papp’s Much Ado About Nothing (1972) and Hamlet (1975).
