Elisabeth Waterston: Sam Waterston’s Daughter — Career & Family

Who Is Elisabeth Waterston?

Elisabeth Waterston is an American actress and the eldest daughter of Emmy-nominated actor Sam Waterston, best known for playing District Attorney Jack McCoy on NBC’s Law & Order. Born in Paris, France on March 30, 1977, she’s part of one of Hollywood’s most established acting families — her younger sister Katherine Waterston has starred in the Fantastic Beasts franchise and Inherent Vice.

While Elisabeth doesn’t chase headlines the way her father and sister do, she’s built a steady career across film, television, and Off-Broadway theater since the early 2000s. She’s appeared in The Prince and Me (2004), Good Dick (2008), Quantico, and Gossip Girl, and she made a memorable guest appearance on Law & Order‘s Season 22 finale in May 2023 — playing Rebecca McCoy, the fictional daughter of her real-life father’s character.

Early Life and Education

Elisabeth P. Waterston was born on March 30, 1977, in Paris, France. Despite her French birthplace, she was raised in the United States by American parents. Her father, Sam Waterston, was already an established stage and screen actor at the time of her birth — he’d earned an Academy Award nomination for The Killing Fields in 1984, just seven years after Elisabeth was born.

Elisabeth is the daughter of Sam Waterston’s first marriage to Barbara Rutledge Johns. Her parents later divorced, and Sam married model and actress Lynn Louisa Woodruff. Between both marriages, Elisabeth has four siblings total, including half-brother James Waterston (also an actor), sister Katherine Waterston, and brother Graham Waterston (a director).

She attended the Loomis Chaffee School, an independent college preparatory school in Windsor, Connecticut. After graduating, Elisabeth enrolled at Yale University, where she studied theater and painting. Yale’s drama program has produced actors like Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, and Lupita Nyong’o — so Elisabeth was in strong company as she developed her craft.

Her Father: Sam Waterston’s Career

It’s impossible to talk about Elisabeth without addressing Sam Waterston’s enormous footprint in American television and film. Sam first took on the role of Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy on Law & Order in 1994, during Season 5. He stayed with the show through its original run until 2010, then returned as District Attorney McCoy when the series was revived in 2022. He continued in that role through 2024, making him one of the longest-serving cast members in the franchise’s history.

Beyond Law & Order, Sam Waterston earned his Oscar nomination for The Killing Fields (1984), won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and received multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations across a career spanning six decades. He’s also well known for playing journalist Charlie Skinner on HBO’s The Newsroom (2012–2014) and has a long history in Shakespearean and classical theater.

Growing up with a father who was one of the most recognizable faces on network television clearly shaped Elisabeth’s path. She followed him into acting, though she’s chosen a less public route than Sam’s primetime career.

Sister Katherine Waterston

Elisabeth’s younger sister Katherine Waterston has become the most commercially successful actor of the next Waterston generation. Katherine broke out with her role as Shasta Fay Hepworth in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice (2014) opposite Joaquin Phoenix. She then landed the part of Tina Goldstein in the Fantastic Beasts series (2016, 2018, 2022), part of the Harry Potter universe.

Katherine has also appeared in Steve Jobs (2015) alongside Michael Fassbender, Logan Lucky (2017) with Daniel Craig and Channing Tatum, and The Current War (2017). While Katherine has pursued big-budget studio films, Elisabeth has gravitated toward independent projects, theater, and television guest roles — a deliberate distinction between the two sisters’ careers.

Elisabeth Waterston’s Acting Career

Elisabeth’s filmography started in the early 2000s with a mix of independent films and TV appearances. Here are her most notable credits:

• The Prince and Me (2004) — She played Princess Arabella in this romantic comedy starring Julia Stiles and Luke Mably. The film followed a college student who falls for an undercover Danish prince.
• The Sensation of Sight (2006) — An independent drama where Elisabeth worked alongside other emerging actors.
• The Girl in the Park (2007) — A thriller that gave her a chance to work in a darker genre.
• Good Dick (2008) — An indie comedy-drama that became one of her more recognized film roles.
• Gossip Girl — A guest appearance on The CW’s hit teen drama series.
• Quantico — She appeared on ABC’s thriller series, playing the character Alice Winter.
• Law & Order Season 22 Finale (May 2023) — Her most talked-about role: she played Rebecca McCoy, the on-screen daughter of her real father’s character, Jack McCoy. This father-daughter pairing on screen was a moment fans had waited decades for.

Theater Work

Elisabeth’s career isn’t limited to screen work. She’s been active in Off-Broadway and classical theater, performing in productions at venues like the Women’s Project Theatre and Playwrights Horizons. She’s taken on Shakespeare — playing Miranda in The Tempest and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. She’s also appeared in Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard with the Classic Stage Company, and in Sheila Callaghan’s Lascivious Something.

Her Yale education in theater and painting clearly informs this side of her career. Elisabeth treats acting as a craft rather than a fame vehicle, which explains why she’s drawn to classical material and new American plays rather than blockbuster franchises.

Personal Life

Elisabeth married actor Louis Cancelmi on October 21, 2006. Louis is an accomplished stage and screen actor in his own right, and his sister is actress Annie Parisse — who, in a neat coincidence, also appeared on Law & Order as Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Borgia from 2004 to 2005. That means Elisabeth’s father-in-law connections run straight back to the same show her father starred on for decades.

Elisabeth and Louis have a daughter together. The family keeps a low profile compared to the Waterston name’s public visibility. Elisabeth doesn’t maintain an active social media presence, which is consistent with her approach to her career — she lets the work speak rather than courting attention.

Standing at 180 cm (5’11”), Elisabeth is tall even by Hollywood standards. She was born under the Aries zodiac sign, which tracks with her independent streak and willingness to forge her own path separate from her family’s fame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Elisabeth Waterston’s father?

Elisabeth Waterston’s father is Sam Waterston, the Emmy-nominated actor who played District Attorney Jack McCoy on NBC’s Law & Order from 1994 to 2010 and again from 2022 to 2024. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for The Killing Fields (1984).

Is Elisabeth Waterston related to Katherine Waterston?

Yes, Katherine Waterston is Elisabeth’s younger sister. Katherine is known for playing Tina Goldstein in the Fantastic Beasts films and Shasta Fay Hepworth in Inherent Vice (2014). They’re both daughters of Sam Waterston.

Was Elisabeth Waterston on Law & Order?

Yes. Elisabeth appeared in the Season 22 finale of Law & Order, which aired on May 18, 2023. She played Rebecca McCoy — the fictional daughter of her real father Sam Waterston’s character, Jack McCoy.

How old is Elisabeth Waterston?

Elisabeth Waterston was born on March 30, 1977, making her 48 years old as of 2025. She was born in Paris, France and raised in the United States.

Who is Elisabeth Waterston married to?

Elisabeth has been married to actor Louis Cancelmi since October 21, 2006. Louis is the brother of actress Annie Parisse, who also had a recurring role on Law & Order.

Related Profiles

If you’re interested in more about the people connected to Elisabeth Waterston’s world, check out these profiles:

• Julie Condra — actress with connections to 1990s and 2000s Hollywood.
• Luke Mably — Elisabeth’s co-star from The Prince and Me (2004), known for playing Prince Edvard.