Acting
S. Epatha Merkerson
Born Nov 28, 1952 · 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 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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Acting
Eye for an Eye
2025
Horror
We Grown Now
2024
Drama
Poker Face
2023
Crime · Mystery
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
2021
Drama
Barbecue
2020
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
2020
Drama
Blood Sugar Rising
2020
Documentary
You Can Go
2016
Drama · Thriller
Year by the Sea
2016
Romance · Comedy · Drama
Chicago Med
2015
Drama
The Challenger
2015
Action · Drama
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
2014
Documentary
The Gabby Douglas Story
2014
TV Movie · Drama
Chicago P.D.
2014
Crime · Drama
Peeples
2013
Comedy
Lincoln
2012
History · Drama
Chicago Fire
2012
Drama
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
2010
Documentary
Mother and Child
2009
Drama · Romance
The Good Wife
2009
Drama
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
2009
Comedy
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
2008
Documentary
Girl, Positive
2007
TV Movie · Drama
Slipstream
2007
Fantasy · Drama
Black Snake Moan
2006
Drama
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
2006
Documentary
The Closer
2005
Crime · Drama · Mystery
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
2005
Drama
Lackawanna Blues
2005
Drama · Music · TV Movie
Jersey Girl
2004
Comedy · Romance · Drama
Radio
2003
Drama
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
Drama
The Rising Place
2001
Drama
Random Hearts
1999
Drama · Romance · Thriller
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
1999
Documentary
Exiled
1998
TV Movie · Crime · Drama
An Unexpected Life
1998
Drama · TV Movie
After the SIlence
1996
Drama · TV Movie
A Mother's Prayer
1995
Drama · TV Movie
A Place for Annie
1994
Drama · TV Movie
Frasier
1993
Comedy · Family
It's Nothing Personal
1993
Drama · Action · Thriller
Here and Now
1992
Comedy
Mann & Machine
1992
Crime · Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1991
Action · Thriller · Science Fiction
Jacob's Ladder
1990
Drama · Mystery · Horror
Law & Order
1990
Crime · Drama
Navy Seals
1990
Action · Adventure · Thriller
Moe's World
1990
Drama · TV Movie
Loose Cannons
1990
Comedy · Crime · Action
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
1988
Family · Comedy · TV Movie
Pee-wee's Playhouse
1986
Kids · Comedy
She's Gotta Have It
1986
Comedy · Romance
The Cosby Show
1984
Comedy · Family
Directed
The Contradictions of Fair Hope
2013
Documentary