- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- November 28, 1952
- Place of Birth
- Saginaw, Michigan, USA
S. Epatha Merkerson
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 ha…
Filmography
movieEye for an Eye
2025 · May
movieWe Grown Now
2024 · Anita
tvPoker Face
2023 · Joyce Carter
movieDesmond's Not Here Anymore
2021 · Selma
movieBarbecue
2020 · Lillie Anne
movieThe Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
2020 · Belize
movieBlood Sugar Rising
2020 · Narrator (voice)
movieYou Can Go
2016 · Mrs. Bryant
movieYear by the Sea
2016 · Liz
tvChicago Med
2015 · Sharon Goodwin
movieThe Challenger
2015 · Jada
movieLife's Essentials with Ruby Dee
2014 · Self
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · Self
movieThe Gabby Douglas Story
2014 · Miss Caroline
tvChicago P.D.
2014 · Sharon Goodwin
moviePeeples
2013 · Daphne Peeples
movieThe Contradictions of Fair Hope
2013 · Director
movieLincoln
2012 · Lydia Smith
tvChicago Fire
2012 · Sharon Goodwin
tvFinding Your Roots
2012 · Self
movieWe Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
2010 · Narrator (voice)
movieMother and Child
2009 · Ada
tvThe Good Wife
2009 · Judge Melanie Ellis
movieThe Six Wives of Henry Lefay
2009 · Effa
movieZora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
2008 · Narrator (voice)
movieGirl, Positive
2007 · Ariel Winters
movieSlipstream
2007 · Bonnie
movieBlack Snake Moan
2006 · Angela
tvRachael Ray
2006 · Self
movieThe Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
2006 · Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
tvThe Closer
2005 · Dr. Rebecca Dioli
tvLaw & Order: Trial by Jury
2005 · Anita Van Buren
movieLackawanna Blues
2005 · Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
movieJersey Girl
2004 · Doctor #1
movieRadio
2003 · Maggie
tvThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003 · Self
tvLaw & Order: Criminal Intent
2001 · Anita Van Buren
movieThe Rising Place
2001 · Lessie Watson
movieRandom Hearts
1999 · Nea
moviePaul Robeson: Here I Stand
1999 · Eslanda Robeson (voice)
movieExiled
1998 · Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
movieAn Unexpected Life
1998 · Beverly Hawkins
tvThe View
1997 · Self
movieAfter the SIlence
1996 · Barbara
movieA Mother's Prayer
1995 · Ruby
movieA Place for Annie
1994 · Alice
tvFrasier
1993 · Dr. McCaskill
movieIt's Nothing Personal
1993 · Louise Waters
tvHere and Now
1992 · Claudia St. Marth
tvMann & Machine
1992 · Capt. Margaret Claghorn
Second Chances
1992 · Ruth Clayton
movieTerminator 2: Judgment Day
1991 · Tarissa Dyson
movieJacob's Ladder
1990 · Elsa
tvLaw & Order
1990 · Denise Winters, Anita Van Buren
movieNavy Seals
1990 · Jolena
movieMoe's World
1990
movieLoose Cannons
1990 · Rachel
moviePee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
1988 · Reba
tvLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988 · Self - Guest
tvPee-wee's Playhouse
1986 · Reba
movieShe's Gotta Have It
1986 · Doctor Jamison
tvThe Cosby Show
1984 · Elena
tvTony Awards
1956 · Self - Nominee
tvToday
1952 · Self
tvThe Emmy Awards
1949 · Self
Sexual Healing
— · Alberta Gay
After All
—