S. Epatha Merkerson

Personal Info

Known For Actor

Gender Female

Birthday 1952-11-28 (71 years old)

Place of Birth Saginaw, Michigan, USA

Also Known As Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson

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

Actor

Sexual Healing

as Alberta Gay

2024
We Grown Now

as Anita

2023
Poker Face

as Joyce Carter

2020
Barbecue

as Lillie Anne

2020
Blood Sugar Rising

as Narrator (voice)

2016
You Can Go

as Mrs. Bryant

2016
2015
2015
Chicago Med

as Sharon Goodwin

2014
The Gabby Douglas Story

as Miss Caroline

2014
Chicago P.D.

as Sharon Goodwin

2013
Peeples

as Daphne Peeples

2012
Lincoln

as Lydia Smith

2012
Chicago Fire

as Sharon Goodwin

2012
2009
2009
The Good Wife

as Judge Melanie Ellis

2008
2007
Girl, Positive

as Ariel Winters

2007
Slipstream

as Bonnie

2006
2006
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

as Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")

2006
Rachael Ray

as Self

2005
Lackawanna Blues

as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby

2005
The Closer

as Dr. Rebecca Dioli

2005
Law & Order: Trial by Jury

as Anita Van Buren

2004
Jersey Girl

as Doctor #1

2003
Radio

as Maggie

2001
The Rising Place

as Lessie Watson

2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent

as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren

1999
1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

as Eslanda Robeson (voice)

1998
Exiled

as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren

1998
An Unexpected Life

as Beverly Hawkins

1997
The View

as Self

1996
1995
1994
1993
It's Nothing Personal

as Louise Waters

1993
Frasier

as Dr. McCaskill

1992
Here and Now

as Claudia St. Marth

1992
Mann & Machine

as Capt. Margaret Claghorn

1991
1990
1990
Navy Seals

as Jolena

1990
Loose Cannons

as Rachel

1990
Law & Order

as Anita Van Buren

1990
Law & Order

as Denise Winters

1986
She's Gotta Have It

as Doctor Jamison

1984
1956
Tony Awards

as Self - Nominee

1952
Today

as Self

Director