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S. Epatha Merkerson
Actor, Director, ProducerBorn November 28, 1952 (72 years)
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.
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
S. Epatha Merkerson Filmography
| 2025 | Eye for an Eye · as May |
| 2023 | We Grown Now · as Anita |
| 2023 | Poker Face (TV Series) · as Joyce Carter |
| 2020 | Blood Sugar Rising · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2016 | You Can Go · as Mrs. Bryant |
| 2016 | Year by the Sea · as Liz |
| 2015 | Chicago Med (TV Series) · as Sharon Goodwin |
| 2015 | The Challenger · as Jada |
| 2014 | The Gabby Douglas Story · as Miss Caroline |
| 2014 | Chicago P.D. (TV Series) · as Sharon Goodwin |
| 2013 | Being Mary Jane (TV Series) · as Mark's Mother |
| 2013 | Peeples · as Daphne Peeples |
| 2013 | Deception (TV Series) · as Beverly |
| 2012 | Lincoln · as Lydia Smith |
| 2012 | Chicago Fire (TV Series) · as Sharon Goodwin |
| 2010 | We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918 · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2009 | Mother and Child · as Ada |
| 2009 | The Good Wife (TV Series) · as Judge Melanie Ellis |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva (TV Series) · as Judge Hiller |
| 2009 | The Six Wives of Henry Lefay · as Effa |
| 2007 | Girl, Positive · as Ariel Winters |
| 2007 | Slipstream · as Bonnie |
| 2006 | Black Snake Moan · as Angela |
| 2005 | The Closer (TV Series) · as Dr. Rebecca Dioli |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury (TV Series) · as Anita Van Buren |
| 2005 | Lackawanna Blues · as Rachel 'nanny' Crosby |
| 2004 | Jersey Girl · as Doctor #1 |
| 2003 | Radio · as Maggie |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) · as Anita Van Buren |
| 2001 | The Rising Place · as Lessie Watson |
| 2001 | A Girl Thing · as Lani (co-Worker) |
| 1999 | Random Hearts · as Nea |
| 1999 | Law and Order: Justice · as Anita Van Buren |
| 1998 | Exiled · as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren |
| 1998 | An Unexpected Life · as Beverly Hawkins |
| 1996 | Breaking Through · as Barbara |
| 1995 | A Mother's Prayer · as Ruby |
| 1994 | A Place for Annie · as Alice |
| 1993 | Frasier (TV Series) · as Dr. Mccaskill |
| 1993 | South Beach (1993) (TV Series) · as Madam Bouchard |
| 1993 | It's Nothing Personal · as Louise Waters |
| 1992 | Here and Now (TV Series) · as Claudia St. Marth |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | Mann & Machine (TV Series) · as Capt. Margaret Claghorn |
| 1991 | Terminator 2: Judgment Day · as Tarissa Dyson |
| 1990 | Jacob's Ladder · as Elsa |
| 1990 | Law & Order (TV Series) · as Anita Van Buren |
| 1990 | Navy Seals · as Jolena |
| 1990 | Equal Justice (TV Series) · as Mrs. Walters |
| 1990 | Loose Cannons · as Rachel |
| 1988 | Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse · as Reba |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Buntz (TV Series) · as Meter Maid |
| 1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse (TV Series) · as Jimmie |
| 1986 | Pee-wee's Playhouse (TV Series) · as Reba |
| 1986 | She's Gotta Have It · as Doctor Jamison |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Eslanda Robeson |
| 1984 | The Cosby Show (TV Series) · as Elena |
| 1972 | The ABC Afterschool Special (TV Series) · as Ruth Clayton |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2025 | The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2025 | Pee-Wee as Himself (TV Series) · as Self - Reba The Mail Lady |
| 2014 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | The Real Daytime (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | Finding Your Roots (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | Rocco's Dinner Party (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2010 | Family Feud (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 2009 | The 40th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2008 | Celebrity Family Feud (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant |
| 2008 | The 62nd Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2007 | 38th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2007 | Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2006 | Comic Relief 2006 · as Self |
| 2006 | Rachael Ray (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2006 | The 60th Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2006 | 2006 Independent Spirit Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2006 | 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Winner: Outstanding Female Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries |
| 2006 | The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2006 · as Self - Winner |
| 2005 | Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | The WIN Awards · as Self |
| 2005 | Infanity (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2005 | The Martha Stewart Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2005 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2004 | TV Land Moguls (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2003 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2001 | art21 (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1998 | Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1994 | Inside the Actors Studio (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1990 | The 44th Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Nominee & Performer |
| 1989 | Not the Same Person You Used to Know (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | National Memorial Day Concert (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1985 | Larry King Live (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1984 | Jeopardy! (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | SAG Foundation Conversations (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1956 | Tony Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Nominee |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1949 | The Emmy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | The Contradictions of Fair Hope · as Executive Producer |