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S. Epatha Merkerson

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 has also appeared in TV movies including A Place for Annie, A Mother's Prayer, Breaking Through, Lackawanna Blues, and The Gabby Douglas Story.

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We Grown Now

We Grown Now

2024

as Anita

Poker Face

Poker Face

2023

as Joyce Carter

Barbecue

Barbecue

2020

as Lillie Anne

The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America

The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America

2020

as Belize

Blood Sugar Rising

Blood Sugar Rising

2020

as Narrator (voice)

You Can Go

You Can Go

2016

as Mrs. Bryant

Year by the Sea

Year by the Sea

2016

as Liz

Chicago Med

Chicago Med

2015

as Sharon Goodwin

The Challenger

The Challenger

2015

as Jada

Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

2014

as Self

The Gabby Douglas Story

The Gabby Douglas Story

2014

as Miss Caroline

Chicago P.D.

Chicago P.D.

2014

as Sharon Goodwin

Peeples

Peeples

2013

as Daphne Peeples

Lincoln

Lincoln

2012

as Lydia Smith

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire

2012

as Sharon Goodwin

Finding Your Roots

Finding Your Roots

2012

as Self

We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918

We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918

2010

as Narrator (voice)

Mother and Child

Mother and Child

2009

as Ada

The Good Wife

The Good Wife

2009

as Judge Melanie Ellis

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay

2009

as Effa

Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

2008

as Narrator (voice)

Girl, Positive

Girl, Positive

2007

as Ariel Winters

Slipstream

Slipstream

2007

as Bonnie

Black Snake Moan

Black Snake Moan

2006

as Angela

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

2006

as Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")

The Closer

The Closer

2005

as Dr. Rebecca Dioli

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

2005

as Anita Van Buren

Lackawanna Blues

Lackawanna Blues

2005

as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby

Jersey Girl

Jersey Girl

2004

as Doctor #1

Radio

Radio

2003

as Maggie

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

2001

as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren

The Rising Place

The Rising Place

2001

as Lessie Watson

Random Hearts

Random Hearts

1999

as Nea

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

1999

as Eslanda Robeson (voice)

Exiled

Exiled

1998

as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren

An Unexpected Life

An Unexpected Life

1998

as Beverly Hawkins

After the Silence

After the Silence

1996

as Barbara

A Mother's Prayer

A Mother's Prayer

1995

as Ruby

A Place for Annie

A Place for Annie

1994

as Alice

Frasier

Frasier

1993

as Dr. McCaskill

It's Nothing Personal

It's Nothing Personal

1993

as Louise Waters

Here and Now

Here and Now

1992

as Claudia St. Marth

Mann & Machine

Mann & Machine

1992

as Capt. Margaret Claghorn

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

1991

as Tarissa Dyson

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

1990

as Elsa

Law & Order

Law & Order

1990

as Denise Winters

Law & Order

Law & Order

1990

as Anita Van Buren

Navy Seals

Navy Seals

1990

as Jolena

Moe's World

Moe's World

1990

Loose Cannons

Loose Cannons

1990

as Rachel

Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

1988

as Reba

Pee-wee's Playhouse

Pee-wee's Playhouse

1986

as Reba

She's Gotta Have It

She's Gotta Have It

1986

as Doctor Jamison

The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show

1984

as Elena

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956

as Self - Nominee

Desmond's Not Here Anymore

Desmond's Not Here Anymore

as Selma

Eye for an Eye

Eye for an Eye

Sexual Healing

Sexual Healing

as Alberta Gay

After All

After All