<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Information </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Family </Th> <Td> Rebecca McCoy (daughter) </Td> </Tr> <P> John James McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order . He was created by Michael S. Chernuchin and portrayed by Sam Waterston from 1994 until the end of the series in 2010 . He is the second - longest tenured character on the show (16 seasons), after Lt. Anita Van Buren (17 seasons; portrayed by S. Epatha Merkerson). He appeared in 368 episodes of Law & Order, four episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, two episodes of Law & Order: Trial by Jury, two episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street, and the made - for - TV movie Exiled . </P> <P> Waterston's performance as McCoy on the New York - based series was so popular that it resulted in him being declared a "Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, along with fellow longtime series cast member Jerry Orbach (who portrayed the popular police detective Lennie Briscoe for 12 years). </P>

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