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.
Acted in
We Grown Now
2024
as Anita
Poker Face
2023
as Joyce Carter
Barbecue
2020
as Lillie Anne
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
2020
as Belize
Blood Sugar Rising
2020
as narrator
You Can Go
2016
as Mrs. Bryant
Year by the Sea
2016
as Liz
Chicago Med
2015
as Sharon Goodwin
The Challenger
2015
as Jada
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
2014
as Self
The Gabby Douglas Story
2014
as Miss Caroline
Chicago P.D.
2014
as Sharon Goodwin
Peeples
2013
as Daphne Peeples
Lincoln
2012
as Lydia Smith
Chicago Fire
2012
as Sharon Goodwin
Finding Your Roots
2012
as Self
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
2010
as Narrator (voice)
Mother and Child
2009
as Ada
The Good Wife
2009
as Judge Melanie Ellis
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
2009
as Effa
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
2008
as Narrator
Girl, Positive
2007
as Ariel Winters
Slipstream
2007
as Bonnie
Black Snake Moan
2006
as Angela
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
2006
as Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
The Closer
2005
as Dr. Rebecca Dioli
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
2005
as Anita Van Buren
Lackawanna Blues
2005
as Rachel "Nanny" Crosby
Jersey Girl
2004
as Doctor #1
Radio
2003
as Maggie
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
The Rising Place
2001
as Lessie Watson
Random Hearts
1999
as Nea
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
1999
as Eslanda Robeson (voice)
Exiled
1998
as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
An Unexpected Life
1998
as Beverly Hawkins
After the Silence
1996
as Barbara
A Mother's Prayer
1995
as Ruby
A Place for Annie
1994
as Alice
Frasier
1993
as Dr. McCaskill
It's Nothing Personal
1993
as Louise Waters
Here and Now
1992
as Claudia St. Marth
Mann & Machine
1992
as Capt. Margaret Claghorn
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1991
as Tarissa Dyson
Jacob's Ladder
1990
as Elsa
Law & Order
1990
as Denise Winters
Law & Order
1990
as Anita Van Buren
Navy Seals
1990
as Jolena
Moe's World
1990
Loose Cannons
1990
as Rachel
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
1988
as Reba
Pee-wee's Playhouse
1986
as Reba
She's Gotta Have It
1986
as Doctor Jamison
The Cosby Show
1984
as Elena
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Nominee
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
as Selma
Eye for an Eye
Sexual Healing
as Alberta Gay