S. Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson

Age: 72 years old
Born: November 28, 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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 Bu...ren (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.
Eye for an Eye

Eye for an Eye

Movie | 2025
May
The Emmy Awards

The Emmy Awards

TV | 2025
Self
One Episode
We Grown Now

We Grown Now

Movie | 2024
Anita
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

TV | 2024
Self
One Episode
Poker Face

Poker Face

TV | 2023
Joyce Carter
One Episode
Desmond's Not Here Anymore

Desmond's Not Here Anymore

Movie | 2021
Selma
Blood Sugar Rising

Blood Sugar Rising

Movie | 2020
Narrator (voice)
Barbecue

Barbecue

Movie | 2020
Lillie Anne
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America

The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America

Movie | 2020
Belize
Finding Your Roots

Finding Your Roots

TV | 2019
Self
2 Episodes
Year by the Sea

Year by the Sea

Movie | 2016
Liz
You Can Go

You Can Go

Movie | 2016
Mrs. Bryant
Chicago P.D.

Chicago P.D.

TV | 2016
Sharon Goodwin
6 Episodes
The Challenger

The Challenger

Movie | 2015
Jada
Chicago Med

Chicago Med

TV | 2015
Sharon Goodwin
204 Episodes
Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire

TV | 2015
Sharon Goodwin
7 Episodes
The Gabby Douglas Story

The Gabby Douglas Story

Movie | 2014
Miss Caroline
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

Movie | 2014
Self
Peeples

Peeples

Movie | 2013
Daphne Peeples
The Good Wife

The Good Wife

TV | 2013
Judge Melanie Ellis
One Episode
Lincoln

Lincoln

Movie | 2012
Lydia Smith
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918

We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918

Movie | 2010
Narrator (voice)
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay

Movie | 2009
Effa
Mother and Child

Mother and Child

Movie | 2009
Ada
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

Movie | 2008
Narrator (voice)
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

TV | 2008
Self - Nominee
One Episode
Slipstream

Slipstream

Movie | 2007
Bonnie
Girl, Positive

Girl, Positive

Movie | 2007
Ariel Winters
The View

The View

TV | 2007
Self
One Episode
The Closer

The Closer

TV | 2007
Dr. Rebecca Dioli
3 Episodes
Black Snake Moan

Black Snake Moan

Movie | 2006
Angela
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Movie | 2006
Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
Today

Today

TV | 2006
Self
One Episode
LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

TV | 2006
Self - Guest
One Episode
Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray

TV | 2006
Self
One Episode
Lackawanna Blues

Lackawanna Blues

Movie | 2005
Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

TV | 2005
Self
One Episode
Law & Order: Trial by Jury

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

TV | 2005
Anita Van Buren
One Episode
Jersey Girl

Jersey Girl

Movie | 2004
Doctor #1
Radio

Radio

Movie | 2003
Maggie
Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

TV | 2002
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
One Episode
The Rising Place

The Rising Place

Movie | 2001
Lessie Watson
Frasier

Frasier

TV | 2000
Dr. McCaskill
One Episode
Random Hearts

Random Hearts

Movie | 1999
Nea
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Movie | 1999
Eslanda Robeson (voice)
An Unexpected Life

An Unexpected Life

Movie | 1998
Beverly Hawkins
Exiled

Exiled

Movie | 1998
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
Breaking Through

Breaking Through

Movie | 1996
Barbara
A Mother's Prayer

A Mother's Prayer

Movie | 1995
Ruby
A Place for Annie

A Place for Annie

Movie | 1994
Alice
It's Nothing Personal

It's Nothing Personal

Movie | 1993
Louise Waters
Law & Order

Law & Order

TV | 1993
Anita Van Buren
390 Episodes
Second Chances

Second Chances

Movie | 1992
Ruth Clayton
Mann & Machine

Mann & Machine

TV | 1992
Capt. Margaret Claghorn
9 Episodes
Here and Now

Here and Now

TV | 1992
Claudia St. Marth
15 Episodes
Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Movie | 1991
Tarissa Dyson
Law & Order

Law & Order

TV | 1991
Denise Winters
One Episode
Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

Movie | 1990
Elsa
Loose Cannons

Loose Cannons

Movie | 1990
Rachel
Moe's World

Moe's World

Movie | 1990
Navy Seals

Navy Seals

Movie | 1990
Jolena
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Movie | 1988
Reba
The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show

TV | 1988
Elena
One Episode
She's Gotta Have It

She's Gotta Have It

Movie | 1986
Doctor Jamison
Pee-wee's Playhouse

Pee-wee's Playhouse

TV | 1986
Reba
45 Episodes
Sexual Healing

Sexual Healing

Movie
Alberta Gay
After All

After All

Movie
Eye for an Eye

Eye for an Eye

Movie | 2025
May
We Grown Now

We Grown Now

Movie | 2024
Anita
Desmond's Not Here Anymore

Desmond's Not Here Anymore

Movie | 2021
Selma
Blood Sugar Rising

Blood Sugar Rising

Movie | 2020
Narrator (voice)
Barbecue

Barbecue

Movie | 2020
Lillie Anne
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America

The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America

Movie | 2020
Belize
Year by the Sea

Year by the Sea

Movie | 2016
Liz
You Can Go

You Can Go

Movie | 2016
Mrs. Bryant
The Challenger

The Challenger

Movie | 2015
Jada
The Gabby Douglas Story

The Gabby Douglas Story

Movie | 2014
Miss Caroline
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

Movie | 2014
Self
Peeples

Peeples

Movie | 2013
Daphne Peeples
Lincoln

Lincoln

Movie | 2012
Lydia Smith
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918

We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918

Movie | 2010
Narrator (voice)
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay

Movie | 2009
Effa
Mother and Child

Mother and Child

Movie | 2009
Ada
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

Movie | 2008
Narrator (voice)
Slipstream

Slipstream

Movie | 2007
Bonnie
Girl, Positive

Girl, Positive

Movie | 2007
Ariel Winters
Black Snake Moan

Black Snake Moan

Movie | 2006
Angela
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Movie | 2006
Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
Lackawanna Blues

Lackawanna Blues

Movie | 2005
Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
Jersey Girl

Jersey Girl

Movie | 2004
Doctor #1
Radio

Radio

Movie | 2003
Maggie
The Rising Place

The Rising Place

Movie | 2001
Lessie Watson
Random Hearts

Random Hearts

Movie | 1999
Nea
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Movie | 1999
Eslanda Robeson (voice)
An Unexpected Life

An Unexpected Life

Movie | 1998
Beverly Hawkins
Exiled

Exiled

Movie | 1998
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
Breaking Through

Breaking Through

Movie | 1996
Barbara
A Mother's Prayer

A Mother's Prayer

Movie | 1995
Ruby
A Place for Annie

A Place for Annie

Movie | 1994
Alice
It's Nothing Personal

It's Nothing Personal

Movie | 1993
Louise Waters
Second Chances

Second Chances

Movie | 1992
Ruth Clayton
Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Movie | 1991
Tarissa Dyson
Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

Movie | 1990
Elsa
Loose Cannons

Loose Cannons

Movie | 1990
Rachel
Moe's World

Moe's World

Movie | 1990
Navy Seals

Navy Seals

Movie | 1990
Jolena
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Movie | 1988
Reba
She's Gotta Have It

She's Gotta Have It

Movie | 1986
Doctor Jamison
Sexual Healing

Sexual Healing

Movie
Alberta Gay
After All

After All

Movie