S. Epatha Merkerson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 28, 1952 (age 73)
- Birthplace
- Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Biography
S. Epatha Merkerson (born Sharon Epatha Merkerson) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She has won a Golden Globe, Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, Obie Award, 4 NAACP Image Awards, and 2 Tony Award nominations. She is best known for her role as NYPD Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (1993–2010) on the long-running NBC police procedural drama series Law & Order, as well as the Law & Order TV movie Exiled. She appeared in 390 episodes of the series, more than any other cast member. She has a starring role as Sharon Goodwin on NBC's Chicago Med. She also had a recurring role as Reba (the mail carrier) on Pee-wee's Playhouse, and Ms. St. Marth on the TV series Here and Now. She has appeared in feature films including She's Gotta Have It, Loose Cannons, Jacob's Ladder, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Random Hearts, Radio, Black Snake Moan, Lincoln (2012), and Peeples. She has also appeared in TV movies including A Place for Annie, A Mother's Prayer, Breaking Through, Lackawanna Blues, and The Gabby Douglas Story.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Sexual Healing
Movie · as Alberta Gay
After All
Movie
Eye for an Eye
Movie · as May
We Grown Now
Movie · as Anita
Poker Face
TV · as Joyce Carter · 1 ep
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
Movie · as Selma
Blood Sugar Rising
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
Barbecue
Movie · as Lillie Anne
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
Movie · as Belize
Year by the Sea
Movie · as Liz
You Can Go
Movie · as Mrs. Bryant
The Challenger
Movie · as Jada
Chicago Med
TV · as Sharon Goodwin · 228 eps
The Gabby Douglas Story
Movie · as Miss Caroline
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Movie · as Self
Chicago P.D.
TV · as Sharon Goodwin · 7 eps
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Peeples
Movie · as Daphne Peeples
Lincoln
Movie · as Lydia Smith
Finding Your Roots
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Chicago Fire
TV · as Sharon Goodwin · 9 eps
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
Movie · as Effa
Mother and Child
Movie · as Ada
The Good Wife
TV · as Judge Melanie Ellis · 1 ep
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
Slipstream
Movie · as Bonnie
Girl, Positive
Movie · as Ariel Winters
Black Snake Moan
Movie · as Angela
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Movie · as Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
Rachael Ray
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Lackawanna Blues
Movie · as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
TV · as Anita Van Buren · 1 ep
The Closer
TV · as Dr. Rebecca Dioli · 3 eps
Jersey Girl
Movie · as Doctor #1
Radio
Movie · as Maggie
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Rising Place
Movie · as Lessie Watson
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV · as Anita Van Buren · 1 ep
Random Hearts
Movie · as Nea
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Movie · as Eslanda Robeson (voice)
An Unexpected Life
Movie · as Beverly Hawkins
Exiled
Movie · as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
The View
TV · as Self · 1 ep
After the SIlence
Movie · as Barbara
A Mother's Prayer
Movie · as Ruby
A Place for Annie
Movie · as Alice
It's Nothing Personal
Movie · as Louise Waters
Frasier
TV · as Dr. McCaskill · 1 ep
Second Chances
Movie · as Ruth Clayton
Mann & Machine
TV · as Capt. Margaret Claghorn · 9 eps
Here and Now
TV · as Claudia St. Marth · 15 eps
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Movie · as Tarissa Dyson
Jacob's Ladder
Movie · as Elsa
Loose Cannons
Movie · as Rachel
Moe's World
Movie
Navy Seals
Movie · as Jolena
Law & Order
TV · as Denise Winters, Anita Van Buren · 1 ep
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Movie · as Reba
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
She's Gotta Have It
Movie · as Doctor Jamison
Pee-wee's Playhouse
TV · as Reba · 45 eps
The Cosby Show
TV · as Elena · 1 ep
Tony Awards
TV · as Self - Nominee · 1 ep
Today
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Emmy Awards
TV · as Self · 1 ep