James Waterston

Last updated
James Waterston
Born
James Smallwood Waterston

(1969-01-17) January 17, 1969 (age 56)
Years active1980–present
Spouse
Line Lillevik
(m. 2000)
Father Sam Waterston
Relatives Katherine Waterston (paternal half-sister)

James Waterston (born January 17, 1969) is an American actor. His first role was playing Gerard Pitts in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society , and he has subsequently worked mostly in television.

Contents

Personal life

Waterston grew up in New York City, the son of actor Sam Waterston and Barbara Rutledge Johns. His father later remarried, making Waterston the older half-brother of actresses Elisabeth Waterston and Katherine Waterston, and filmmaker Graham Waterston. [1]

Waterston studied at Yale, where he was a member of The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, an all-male a cappella group. While still in college, but having already appeared in films and television, he formed the theater company Malaparte with numerous friends, including Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard. During the 1991 to 2000 life of Malaparte, Waterston and his colleagues did everything from directing to taking tickets. Waterston also formed an improv/sketch group called Circus Maximus.

Career

Waterston first came to attention playing Gerard Pitts in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society . While much of his screen work has been in television productions, he did appear in the 2015 film And It Was Good, working with his father Sam and sister Katherine.

Waterston has a number of stage credits, such as the lead role in the 2011 world premiere of Chinglish, by David Henry Hwang, at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. He has starred in many off-Broadway plays in New York City, and New England.

Waterston has appeared in different roles across the Law & Order television franchise over the years. He played a doctor in the Law & Order 1999 episode, "Refuge (Part II)". He also appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , in the 2008 episode "Inconceivable", as a husband whose wife couldn't conceive without in-vitro fertilization. He returned to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, in the 2017 episode “Real Fake News”, playing Congressman Luke Bolton, who gets falsely accused of soliciting underage girls.

Waterston has numerous other appearances on episodes of television dramas, such as Diagnosis: Murder , The Good Wife , The Blacklist and others. He played the role of Rev. David Grantland in three made-for-television movies that served as a wrap-up to the Christy television series: Christy: Return to Cutter Gap (2000) and the two-part Christy, Choices of the Heart (2001) (part 1: Christy: A Change of Seasons and part 2: Christy: A New Beginning).

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
1989 Dead Poets Society Gerard Pitts
1989Little SweetheartRichard
2015And It Was GoodBridegroom

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999 Law & Order Dr. ShimoEpisode: "Refuge (Part II)"
2000 Christy: Return to Cutter Gap Rev. David GrantlandTelevision film
2001Shrinking VioletGreg StanleyTelevision film
2001 Christy, Choices of the Heart Rev. David GrantlandMiniseries; 2 episodes
2002 Diagnosis: Murder Craig BurkeEpisode: "Without Warning"
2002 ER Mr. BarneyEpisode: "Insurrection"
2002 Live from Baghdad EricTelevision film
2004 Six Feet Under Kyle2 episodes
2004 Wedding Daze Lyle MillsTelevision film
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mr. HarveyEpisode: "Inconceivable"
2009 The Electric Company Dr. Pinklepurpy GoozibindananskyEpisode: "The Skeleckian Hiccups"
2009 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Paul WaltersEpisode: "The Glory That Was"
2010 The Good Wife Jason RuckerEpisode: "Hi"
2010 Treme Street musicianEpisode: "Wish Someone Would Care"
2011 Unforgettable Ian SmithEpisode: "Check Out Time"
2012 666 Park Avenue John BarlowEpisode: "Pilot"
2013 Zero Hour Young RolandEpisode: "Escapement"
2013 Dear Dumb Diary Assistant Principal DevonTelevision film
2015 Red Oaks Dr. Dale Blum5 episodes
2015 Flesh and Bone Prescott HawthornMiniseries; 4 episodes
2016 Chicago Fire Rich CorbinEpisode: "Bad for the Soul"
2017Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCongressman Luke BoltonEpisode: "Real Fake News"
2017 The Deuce Episode: "Pilot"
2018 The Blacklist Dale RayburnEpisode: "Anna-Gracia Duerte (No. 25)"
2019 Blindspot Calvin MeeksEpisode: "Coder to Killer"
2019 Modern Love ChrisEpisode: "The Race Grows Sweeter Near Its Final Lap"
2020 The Politician 2 episodes
2021 Halston MikeMiniseries; episode: "The Sweet Smell of Success"

References

  1. Soloski, Alexis (2022-02-17). "Sam Waterston Is Still the Face of 'Law & Order'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-07-27.