About

Known credits:
47
Birthday:
1952-11-28
Place of birth:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Website:
N/A

S. Epatha Merkerson

Overview

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

Acting
2024 We Grown Now Actor Anita 59
Average
2021 Desmond's Not Here Anymore Actor Selma N/A
N/A
2020 Barbecue Actor Lillie Anne N/A
N/A
2020 The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America Actor Belize 59
Average
2020 Blood Sugar Rising Actor Narrator (voice) N/A
N/A
2016 You Can Go Actor Mrs. Bryant 59
Average
2016 Year by the Sea Actor Liz 59
Average
2015 Chicago Med Actor Sharon Goodwin 82
Very good
2015 The Challenger Actor Jada 59
Average
2014 Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee Actor Self 59
Average
2014 The Gabby Douglas Story Actor Miss Caroline 60
Fair
2013 Peeples Actor Daphne Peeples 58
Average
2012 Lincoln Actor Lydia Smith 67
Fair
2010 We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918 Actor Narrator (voice) 59
Average
2009 Mother and Child Actor Ada 60
Fair
2009 The Six Wives of Henry Lefay Actor Effa 57
Average
2008 Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun Actor Narrator (voice) 58
Average
2007 Girl, Positive Actor Ariel Winters 59
Average
2007 Slipstream Actor Bonnie 57
Average
2006 Black Snake Moan Actor Angela 65
Fair
2006 The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays Actor Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson") N/A
N/A
2005 Lackawanna Blues Actor Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby 59
Average
2004 Jersey Girl Actor Doctor #1 60
Fair
2003 Radio Actor Maggie 66
Fair
2001 The Rising Place Actor Lessie Watson 59
Average
1999 Random Hearts Actor Nea 57
Average
1999 Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Actor Eslanda Robeson (voice) N/A
N/A
1998 Exiled Actor Lieutenant Anita Van Buren 58
Average
1998 An Unexpected Life Actor Beverly Hawkins 58
Average
1996 After the Silence Actor Barbara 59
Average
1995 A Mother's Prayer Actor Ruby 59
Average
1994 A Place for Annie Actor Alice 58
Average
1993 It's Nothing Personal Actor Louise Waters N/A
N/A
1992 Here and Now Actor Claudia St. Marth N/A
N/A
1992 Mann & Machine Actor Capt. Margaret Claghorn 69
Fair
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Actor Tarissa Dyson 80
Very good
1990 Jacob's Ladder Actor Elsa 70
Good
1990 Navy Seals Actor Jolena 57
Average
1990 Moe's World Actor N/A
N/A
1990 Loose Cannons Actor Rachel 57
Average
1988 Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special Actor Reba 60
Fair
1986 Pee-wee's Playhouse Actor Reba 70
Good
1986 She's Gotta Have It Actor Doctor Jamison 61
Fair
Eye for an Eye Actor N/A
N/A
Sexual Healing Actor Alberta Gay N/A
N/A
After All Actor N/A
N/A

Directing
2013 The Contradictions of Fair Hope Directing Director N/A
N/A