S. Epatha Merkerson
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Law & Order
Anita Van Buren
1990
Series
Law & Order
Denise Winters
1990
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
Series
Chicago Med
Sharon Goodwin
2015
Series
Chicago Fire
Sharon Goodwin
2012
Series
Chicago P.D.
Sharon Goodwin
2014
Series
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Anita Van Buren
2001
Series
The Good Wife
Judge Melanie Ellis
2009
Series
Frasier
Dr. McCaskill
1993
Series
The Closer
Dr. Rebecca Dioli
2005
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee
1956
Series
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Series
The Cosby Show
Elena
1984
Series
Poker Face
Joyce Carter
2023
Film
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Tarissa Dyson
1991
Series
Finding Your Roots
Self
2012
Series
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Anita Van Buren
2005
Series
Today
Self
1952
Series
Rachael Ray
Self
2006
Series
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Reba
1986
Film
Lincoln
Lydia Smith
2012
Film
Jacob's Ladder
Elsa
1990
Film
Radio
Maggie
2003
Series
The Emmy Awards
Self
1949
Film
Eye for an Eye
May
2025
Film
Black Snake Moan
Angela
2006
Film
Navy Seals
Jolena
1990
Series
Mann & Machine
Capt. Margaret Claghorn
1992
Film
Random Hearts
Nea
1999
Film
Jersey Girl
Doctor #1
2004
Series
Here and Now
Claudia St. Marth
1992
Film
Slipstream
Bonnie
2007
Film
Barbecue
Lillie Anne
2020
Film
Mother and Child
Ada
2009
Film
Loose Cannons
Rachel
1990
Film
We Grown Now
Anita
2024
Film
Lackawanna Blues
Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
2005
Film
Exiled
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
1998
Sexual Healing
Alberta Gay
Film
She's Gotta Have It
Doctor Jamison
1986
Film
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
2006
Film
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
Effa
2009
Film
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Reba
1988
Film
Peeples
Daphne Peeples
2013
Film
The Challenger
Jada
2015
Film
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Self
2014
Film
After the SIlence
Barbara
1996
Film
A Place for Annie
Alice
1994
Film
An Unexpected Life
Beverly Hawkins
1998
Film
Moe's World
1990
Film
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
Belize
2020
Film
The Gabby Douglas Story
Miss Caroline
2014
Film
It's Nothing Personal
Louise Waters
1993
Film
A Mother's Prayer
Ruby
1995
Second Chances
Ruth Clayton
1992
After All
Film
You Can Go
Mrs. Bryant
2016
Film
Year by the Sea
Liz
2016
Film
The Rising Place
Lessie Watson
2001
Film
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
Narrator (voice)
2010
Film
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Eslanda Robeson (voice)
1999
Film
Girl, Positive
Ariel Winters
2007
Film
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
Narrator (voice)
2008
Film
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
Selma
2021
Film
Blood Sugar Rising
Narrator (voice)
2020