James Waterston

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

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.

James Waterston
Born	James Smallwood Waterston (1969-01-17) January 17, 1969 New York City, U.S.
Years active	1980–present
Spouse	Line Lillevik ​ (m. 2000)​
Father	Sam Waterston
Relatives	Katherine 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.

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
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"

External links

• James Waterston at IMDb