Sam Waterston Will Play Martin Sheen's Lover on Netflix
I make no bones about Sam Waterston being one of my favorite actors of all-time. From his Oscar-nominated role in 1984's The Killing Fields to his 16-year run as Jack McCoy on Law & Order, he's been one of the most dependable actors in the business. Hell, he even bolstered the profile of HBO's The Newsroom, where he plays grizzled veteran Charlie Skinner. So, naturally, Netflix wants in on the Sam Waterston business. And now would be the time, since The Newsroom is entering its third and final season this fall.
But what is Waterston's new role with Netflix? Turns out he'll be playing the lover of Martin Sheen on Netflix's 13-episode comedy series Grace and Frankie. And he's hardly the only big TV star joining the ensemble, as he will co-star alongside Lily Tomlin and Oscar winner/fellow Newsroom alum Jane Fonda.
The comedy series focuses "on nemeses Grace (Fonda) and Frankie (Tomlin), whose lives are turned upside down when their husbands announce they are in love with each other and plan to get married. The women, much to their dismay, find that their lives are permanently intertwined and, much to their surprise, find they have each other."
Naturally, Waterston will play the role of Sol, Frankie's husband, who has been keeping his sexuality a secret for over 20 years. He creates a wave when he announces he's been in love with his law partner, Robert (Martin Sheen), and wants to make it official by marrying him. If nothing else, it's an interesting premise that you probably wouldn't see on many cable networks outside of the premium ones like HBO or Showtime.
Grace and Frankie, written and created by Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman and Sullivan & Son mastermind Howard J. Morris, is scheduled to bow in 2015. Tate Taylor (The Help) is one of several executive producers on the show, but his role also includes a creative component, as he will direct the first episode. He joins a roster of executive producers that include Kauffman, Morris, Tomlin, Fonda, and TV vets such as Paula Weinstein, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross. All in all, there's a ton of talent on this show, which could make all the difference between being a massive success and ending up as another modest performer for the streaming service, like Hemlock Grove.
Credit: HBO