Sam Waterston News Archives 2003
Fans Stun Sam With Birthday Tribute!
(Cyberspace, December 3, 2003) A spokesperson for Refugees International reports that the annual Sam Waterston Birthday fundraiser netted $4000 for that worthy organization. Since a typical mission costs ten thousand dollars, Sam's fans have raised enough to nearly pay for half a mission! In letters to fans, Sam said he was stunned by fan's generosity to the cause. For more details on Sam's activities with RI, click here to go to their site, and put his name in the search engine.
Sam Receives Lincoln Honor
(Gettysburg, PA Nov. 16, 2003) Sam received the Richard N. Current Award of Achievement at the Lincoln Symposium at this Civil War site on Sunday, the day after his birthday. The award, which is a statuette of the Sixteenth President, was given by the group, which is dedicated to studying Lincoln and the Civil War. The award is named for the dean of Lincoln historians, Professor Current. Knowing Sam's love of history, I'm sure he enjoyed the symposium as well as the award!
Sam Receives Earthwatch Award
(Cambridge MA, Nov. 8, 2003) Sam was honored at the annual conference of Earthwatch in Cambridge MA. This environmental group,which stresses public participation in promoting research for a sustainable environment, awarded Sam for "his use of the media to engage the public in important social issues." Click here to read the entire article and see a lovely photo of Sam!
Thanks to Kathy for the heads up!
Sam Named Honorary Chair for General Theological Seminary
(New York City, Oct.1, 2003) Stage, film and television actor Sam
Waterston has been appointed Honorary Chairman of
The General Theological Seminary’s “Leaders for the
Church” strategic initiative, which includes a
five-year, $21 million fund-raising campaign, the
Seminary’s Dean and President, the Very Rev. Ward B.
Ewing, announced today. The campaign has
raised $7 million to date to fund a campus education
complex, endow the Archbishop Tutu Center at GTS, and support
current and future educational programming.
“Sam Waterston joins the leadership of this campaign
at a crucial moment of redevelopment in the
Seminary’s history,” Ewing said. “As a person of deep social
concern with a distinguished artistic reputation,
and also as a faithful Episcopalian, he epitomizes the
ideals of our historic institution. Sam’s
participation as Honorary Chair is a wonderful
complement to the work already begun so effectively
by Herbert Thompson and Dan Matthews.”
Click here for more information!
Sam's the Man in Rabe's The Black Monk!
(Summer, 2003) Sam fans lucky enough to go to New Haven to see the new David Rabe play, The Black Monk, agree that Sam was wonderful as the eccentric gardener Pestosky. Comments from fans can be found on the All Things Waterston message board as well as right here! We have secured exclusive first rights to a professional review by a scholar working for The Waterston World under the name of Feste:
If a play mentions but does not actually require a cute kid, dog, or, for heaven’s sake, a miniature snow white horse to show up, don’t materialize one. If you can’t resist, don’t expect an actor of Sam Waterston’s caliber to cower while the audience goes, “ooooh.” Director Daniel Fish, perhaps with justified anxiety that his audience might not warm quickly to David Rabe’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s novella, “The Black Monk,” sent in the emotional cavalry at the opening of his otherwise abstract production. Waterston, with the familiarity of one who knows well both horses and theater, gave the horse a comforting, resounding thump on its side and sent it north–quite literally upstaging the adorable creature.
Click here to read the rest of the review!
Sam Guest of Honor at Fundraising Event
Thanks to san for the heads up!
(Falls River MA, July 19-20, 2003) Sam Waterston was guest of honor in the annual Victory at Sea yacht race, which raises funds for youth boating. On the 19th, four America's Cup yachts had a sailing competition in Mount Hope Bay, and on the 20th they raced from Fall River's Battleship Cove to Newport. Sam was seen having the time of his life on board the American Eagle, where, "...Along with DiMaggio's nine-year-old grandson Peter DiMaggio, Waterston spent a good portion of his time aboard American Eagle as a grinder on the pedestal winch helping to keep the mainsail properly trimmed." Click here to read the entire South Coast Today article.
Le DivorcePremieres in LA
(Los Angeles CA July 29, 2003)
Sam Waterston, along with other cast members of Merchant-Ivory's Le Divorcewas at the premiere of the film in LA on Tuesday, July 29. It opens at select theatres across the country August 8. Sam's character, the father of one of the principal characters, is described as "perpetually sunny", a description that fits THE MAN himself! There is a new website with information about the film and photos. Click here and enjoy the trailer, reviews, and photos.
Sam Does Lincoln
(Washington, DC, Feb. 10, 2003) As a member of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, Sam appeared at the Library of Congress in a program called Lincoln Seen and Heard. Here's an account of what happened.
Sam appeared in a grey suit with a red tie and French cuffs. He read excerpts from Lincoln's speeches, including the Gettysburg Address. His voice took on the dialect of Lincoln as he read. During the slide show, he turned and looked at the photos. He looked ruddy and slim. He was given a standing ovation, and returned to the stage three times to acknowledge the applause!
Thanks to noodle and her sister for this report!
Sam Stars in The Commission
(Los Angeles CA Nov 2003) Sam stars as Mr. Rankin, counsel, in The Commission, a play based on the previously secret transcripts of the Warren Commission. Sam commented on why he got involved in the project, and the following is quoted with permission:
There were two reasons why I became involved in this film: first and foremost, Mark's quixotic passion, as exemplified by building the Hearing Room set in his own home and having it stand there for 5 years; second, the story itself in the context of a momentous event in history: the murder of a head of state; a look inside the functions, behaviors, and practices of 'political' human beings when they believe themselves to be observed only by each other; their manners of speaking, applying pressure, controlling the tide of a discussion, and of conveying understandings through what they don't say as much as what they do say --- the between-the-lines stuff that you can feel floating up out of the spaces between the words of the transcript without always being absolutely certain what was necessarily 'intended', although clearly something besides the words themselves was said and understood --- and all this in the very words of the historic figures themselves. It is very, very fascinating
The film's premiere is set for Nov 7 and 11 at AFI, Los Angeles Film Festival. For more details, click here.
Thanks to Chris for the heads up!