James Waterston

James Waterston (born January 17, 1969) is an American actor whose first role was playing Gerard Pitts in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society.

This article is about the actor. For the entomologist, see James Waterston (entomologist).
James Waterston
Born
James Smallwood Waterston

(1969-01-17) January 17, 1969
New York City, U.S.
Years active1980–present
Spouse
Line Lillevik
​
(m. 2000)​
Parent
RelativesKatherine Waterston (paternal half-sister)

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
Year Title Role
1989 Dead Poets Society Gerard Pitts
1989 Little Sweetheart Richard
2015 And It Was Good Bridegroom

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1980 Oppenheimer Peter Oppenheimer Miniseries; episode 6
1999 Law & Order Dr. Shimo Episode: "Refuge (Part II)"
2000 Christy: Return to Cutter Gap Rev. David Grantland Television film
2001 Shrinking Violet Greg Stanley Television film
2001 Christy, Choices of the Heart Rev. David Grantland Miniseries; 2 episodes
2002 Diagnosis: Murder Craig Burke Episode: "Without Warning"
2002 ER Mr. Barney Episode: "Insurrection"
2002 Live from Baghdad Eric Television film
2004 Six Feet Under Kyle 2 episodes
2004 Wedding Daze Lyle Mills Television film
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mr. Harvey Episode: "Inconceivable"
2009 The Electric Company Dr. Pinklepurpy Goozibindanansky Episode: "The Skeleckian Hiccups"
2009 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Paul Walters Episode: "The Glory That Was"
2010 The Good Wife Jason Rucker Episode: "Hi"
2010 Treme Street musician Episode: "Wish Someone Would Care"
2011 Unforgettable Ian Smith Episode: "Check Out Time"
2012 666 Park Avenue John Barlow Episode: "Pilot"
2013 Zero Hour Young Roland Episode: "Escapement"
2013 Dear Dumb Diary Assistant Principal Devon Television film
2015 Red Oaks Dr. Dale Blum 5 episodes
2015 Flesh and Bone Prescott Hawthorn Miniseries; 4 episodes
2016 Chicago Fire Rich Corbin Episode: "Bad for the Soul"
2017 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Congressman Luke Bolton Episode: "Real Fake News"
2017 The Deuce — Episode: "Pilot"
2018 The Blacklist Dale Rayburn Episode: "Anna-Gracia Duerte (No. 25)"
2019 Blindspot Calvin Meeks Episode: "Coder to Killer"
2019 Modern Love Chris Episode: "The Race Grows Sweeter Near Its Final Lap"
2020 The Politician — 2 episodes
2021 Halston Mike Miniseries; 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.
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