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

Law & Order

Law & Order

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Chicago Fire

Chicago P.D.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

The Good Wife

Chicago Med

All Movies (43)

• Eye for an Eye2025 · as May
• We Grown Now2024 · as Anita
• Desmond's Not Here Anymore2021 · as Selma
• Barbecue2020 · as Lillie Anne
• The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America2020 · as Belize
• Blood Sugar Rising2020 · as Narrator (voice)
• You Can Go2016 · as Mrs. Bryant
• Year by the Sea2016 · as Liz
• The Challenger2015 · as Jada
• Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee2014 · as Self
• The Gabby Douglas Story2014 · as Miss Caroline
• Peeples2013 · as Daphne Peeples
• Lincoln2012 · as Lydia Smith
• We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 19182010 · as Narrator (voice)
• Mother and Child2009 · as Ada
• The Six Wives of Henry Lefay2009 · as Effa
• Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun2008 · as Narrator (voice)
• Girl, Positive2007 · as Ariel Winters
• Slipstream2007 · as Bonnie
• Black Snake Moan2006 · as Angela
• The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays2006 · as Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
• Lackawanna Blues2005 · as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
• Jersey Girl2004 · as Doctor #1
• Radio2003 · as Maggie
• The Rising Place2001 · as Lessie Watson
• Random Hearts1999 · as Nea
• Paul Robeson: Here I Stand1999 · as Eslanda Robeson (voice)
• Exiled1998 · as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• An Unexpected Life1998 · as Beverly Hawkins
• After the SIlence1996 · as Barbara
• A Mother's Prayer1995 · as Ruby
• A Place for Annie1994 · as Alice
• It's Nothing Personal1993 · as Louise Waters
• Second Chances1992 · as Ruth Clayton
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day1991 · as Tarissa Dyson
• Jacob's Ladder1990 · as Elsa
• Navy Seals1990 · as Jolena
• Moe's World1990
• Loose Cannons1990 · as Rachel
• Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special1988 · as Reba
• She's Gotta Have It1986 · as Doctor Jamison
• Sexual Healing— · as Alberta Gay
• After All—

All TV Shows (24)

• Poker Face2023 · as Joyce Carter
• Chicago Med2015 · as Sharon Goodwin
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self
• Chicago P.D.2014 · as Sharon Goodwin
• Chicago Fire2012 · as Sharon Goodwin
• Finding Your Roots2012 · as Self
• The Good Wife2009 · as Judge Melanie Ellis
• Rachael Ray2006 · as Self
• The Closer2005 · as Dr. Rebecca Dioli
• Law & Order: Trial by Jury2005 · as Anita Van Buren
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent2001 · as Anita Van Buren
• The View1997 · as Self
• Frasier1993 · as Dr. McCaskill
• Here and Now1992 · as Claudia St. Marth
• Mann & Machine1992 · as Capt. Margaret Claghorn
• Law & Order1990 · as Denise Winters
• Law & Order1990 · as Anita Van Buren
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
• Pee-wee's Playhouse1986 · as Reba
• The Cosby Show1984 · as Elena
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Nominee
• Today1952 · as Self
• The Emmy Awards1949 · as Self