Shocker exit as ‘Law & Order’ veteran Sam Waterston leaves NBC warhorse — Tony Goldwyn joins

Sam Waterston, who’s played “Law & Order” DA Jack McCoy for more than 400 episodes, is leaving the NBC warhorse.

His last episode will air Feb. 22.

Waterston, 83, will be replaced by Tony Goldwyn, 63, as the new district attorney.

Waterston, who’s been nominated for three Emmys in the late ’90s for his work on “Law & Order,” first joined the show in its fourth season on NBC in 1994.

He spent the next 16 years playing McCoy and returned in 2022 when “Law & Order” was jump-started after an eight-year hiatus — making him the longest-running cast member in the show’s 23-season history.

“The time has come for me to move on and take Jack McCoy with me,” Waterston said in a statement posted to wolfentertainment.com.

“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,” he continued. “I’m more grateful to you than I can say.

“L&O’s continuing and amazing long run, along with its astounding comeback, is all thanks to you and [series creator] Dick Wolf, but for whose vision, patience, perseverance, and unique combination of creative and business talents, none of this would have happened.

“I feel very blessed,” he said. “I hope to see you all on the flip side.”

Waterston was enthusiastic upon returning to the “Law & Order” universe when the show returned to NBC.

“Well, obviously, I love it,” Waterston said in a 2023 TV interview. “I wondered whether I hadn’t already done this and shouldn’t go back.

“But I couldn’t stand the idea of somebody else doing it and me watching from the sidelines, so I gave it a try and I’m having a wonderful time.”

His departure from “Law & Order” comes as something of a surprise, since Waterston gave no hint of wanting to retire.

“Time does take its toll, but working keeps you going,” he said a few years back when he was co-starring opposite Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.”

“It helps to have a job because you have to show up,” he said. “Somebody is expecting things of you and you need to deliver. So it works for me.”

So far this season, “Law & Order” is averaging 6.4 million viewers Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC, according to the network.

In addition to Waterston, the cast includes Mehcad Brooks (Junior Detective Jalen Shaw); Camryn Manheim (Lieutenant Kate Dixon); Hugh Dancy (Executive ADA Nolan Price); and Odelya Halevi (ADA Samantha Maroun).

In its long and storied history, “Law & Order” — known for its ripped-from-the-headlines approach — spawned a slew of spinoffs: “Law & Order: SVU,” starring Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” starring Christopher Meloni (both still airing), “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” — on which Goldwyn played Frank Goren, who died on the series — “Law & Order: Trial By Jury,” “Law & Order: LA” and “Law & Order: True Crime.”

The series was created by executive producer Dick Wolf, who’s also responsible for NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med” and “Chicago PD.”

Goldwyn, who played President Fitzgerald Grant on ABC’s “Scandal ” — opposite star Kerry Washington — just wrapped production on his latest feature directing project, “Ezra,” starring Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro and Whoopi Goldberg.

Goldwyn also appears in the movie, reuniting him with Goldberg, his castmate from the iconic 1990 movie “Ghost,” starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.

He plays Gordon Gray in Oscar favorite “Oppenheimer” and was also in “Murder Mystery 2” opposite Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler (Netflix) and the movie “King Richard,” starring Will Smith.