I don't see this mentioned at all, but Sam Waterston slurs a lot of his words and has mannerisms that suggest that he has speech problems as if he had a stroke. Sometimes it's hard to watch him or listen to him.
shareI don't believe so, but it's hard to find out anything about his health. Evidently he's very private on the subject.
He definitely does have what's called an "essential tremor," that's visible, but there are many different underlying causes for those. They're quite common once over a certain age.
It doesn't bother me. I mean, there's no reason his character might not have this.
"I'm a New York City cop, I can't go around beating people up."
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I recently read that he did have a minor stroke 2 years ago, can't remember where. That explains a lot but I have to wonder why they would hire an actor for such a big part with neurological deficits.
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Wow!
Please either explain yourself or apologize.? Personally, I think he does a great job in the role, and I couldn't imagine anyone else. But just because someone thinks otherwise does not mean they owe you an explanation or an apology. I find your post offensive to people with opinions.
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I am a big fan of Law and Order and I just said yesterday to my son that his speech and mannerisms seemed off. He's always had sort of a weird way of talking but it seems worse this season. I said it sounded like he may have had a stroke
shareI totally agree. I love this show, but can't stand to watch him. He's doing a terrible job of playing this role. He's acting like a child, not a compassionate, gay man. I bet the gay community is embarrassed by him.
shareomg. I felt so bad, guilty for not liking him in this role. I totally believe Martin Sheen's character, but Sam Waterston's portrayal of this character is shrill, and not likeable. His voice and mannerisms are bugging the crap out of me. I love the show, the flawed genius of both Frankie and Grace, the supporting and recurring characters and when he walks in, he feels like someone who is watching himself "play gay". I feel bad not liking him here, being so "aware"of him "acting", when I've liked him in other things.... When he's doing his lawyer thing, though, he's believable, lol.
shareTotally agree. I fast forward his parts for the most part. So hard to watch. Such bad acting on his part and unbelievable in that role.
shareOh no, I love his character! I think he’s doing the role of Sol super great :-D I’d miss the quirks if he lost them. I think he adds flavour to the show. I have a lot of gay colleges at work by the way, and I don’t think you should stereotype one way or the other.. we all have our ”thing” if you will. Sam obviously had what the casting crew was looking for for Sol’s character, what ever our personal preferences.
shareI just discovered this show a few weeks ago and have been binge watching it. Overall we like it and it has some great moments, but I will have to add myself to the list of people who have a very hard time watching Waterston do his roll. I'm only just now ending season 1, so have no idea what to expect later, but I'm guessing from comments it does not change at all, and if anything, becomes more irritating. To be blunt, I'm gay, and I'd have smacked someone like him over a balcony long ago. I'm overall also not very thrilled about how they portray gay men on here as being able to flip a switch on and off (sleeping with the ex, etc) and how the couple seems to be becoming more stereotypical (effeminate-ish) as the season progresses.
I was trying to be sympathetic, because (and maybe I was wrong?) I was SURE he must have Parkinson's disease (or similar). So I was trying to keep that in mind, yet was still confused as to how he got that roll given those circumstances. I was watching the episode last night though where he and Frankie slipped and slept with each other one last time, and he was ALL OVER the place in that one! I Googled about Parkinson's, and... nothing. Not a word. That's how I found this board and a mention of maybe (?) a stroke.
Again, if he has had a major health issue I'm sympathetic, but if he is for some very odd reason acting the character out on purpose in this way, I have no idea how the show has lasted so long. I do like it, but not sure I'll be able to watch him do this for several more seasons.
His weird facial tics and odd speech patterns are too distracting to watch. I just saw him in "Godless", from just three years ago, and he was completely normal, so the stroke mannerisms must be a choice for his G and F character.
shareI can't imagine someone would purposely incorporate that into a character without explaining it and writing it into the script, though. As in, having him act that way but in the storyline say he had a stroke once, etc. As a matter of fact, if he had one in "real life", they could write it into the script, too. Otherwise they run the risk of it just being way too awkward (as it is).
I'm still watching it - the other characters as a whole are making it "watchable", especially since we are all quarantined and looking for non-serious things to watch these days. But like someone else said, I am finding myself having to fast forward it a bit when his character comes on for a longer scene.
Yeah, I’m pretty positive that those mannerisms and his speech issues aren’t an act. I knew from the minute I saw and heard him that he’s had a stroke. They probably didn’t include it in the show because having a stroke has a certain stigma and Waterson didn’t want it addressed. Although, saying all that, there are people who develop a tremor in old age. It could just be tremors.
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