PictureLux Hollywood report: Sam Waterston receives star

Television perennial, Sam Waterston, who has starred in more than 350 episodes of "Law and Order", was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday, January 7, 2010.

Waterston, who’s spent 16 seasons playing Assistant D.A. Jack McCoy, on "Law & Order," has an accomplished film career as well. His performance in 1984's "The Killing Fields" earned him an Oscar nomination and he has worked with Woody Allen on three films "Interiors", "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Crimes and Misdemeanors"

During his speech he credited the show for making many things possible for him and his family. "It's made all sorts of things possible," ... "It's directly due to 'Law & Order' that a theater put on 'Long Day's Journey Into Night' for me and my son James to do. Priceless. It's directly due to 'Law & Order' that we sold out the run. Fabulous."

"'Law & Order' kept me near home, near family and out of professional trouble. I hate to sit around. I tremble to think what trash a workaholic like me would have accepted to do if 'Law & Order' hadn't kept me busy," he said.

When asked about his long tenure on "Law and Order" Waterson says, "I always told myself that I would leave the minute I was bored and I'm surprised that over all this time it hasn't happened."

... and about his life's motto, "When I was young actor, I remember seeing a quote of (baseball Hall of Famer) Satchel Paige's on an ad on the New York City bus saying "Don't look back: Something may be gaining on you." That's been my watchword ever since. I've never, ever, felt that I could relax and rest on my laurels"

According to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Waterston's star was the first star dedicated in 2010 and will have a special seal placed below it to commemorate the "50 Years" milestone. (Photo © 2010 Joe Martinez/PictureLux)

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