S. Epatha Merkerson
Born
November 28, 1952 (age 73)
Birthplace
Saginaw, Michigan, USA

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.

Movies

Eye for an Eye
Eye for an Eye
2025 ★ 5.7
May
We Grown Now
We Grown Now
2024 ★ 6.7
Anita
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
2021
Selma
Barbecue
Barbecue
2020
Lillie Anne
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
2020 ★ 10.0
Belize
Blood Sugar Rising
Blood Sugar Rising
2020
Narrator (voice)
You Can Go
You Can Go
2016 ★ 5.0
Mrs. Bryant
Year by the Sea
Year by the Sea
2016 ★ 8.0
Liz
The Challenger
The Challenger
2015 ★ 5.9
Jada
The Gabby Douglas Story
The Gabby Douglas Story
2014 ★ 7.3
Miss Caroline
Peeples
Peeples
2013 ★ 5.6
Daphne Peeples
Lincoln
Lincoln
2012 ★ 6.9
Lydia Smith
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
2010 ★ 6.5
Narrator (voice)
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
2009 ★ 6.6
Ada
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
2009 ★ 5.2
Effa
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
2008 ★ 8.0
Narrator (voice)
Girl, Positive
Girl, Positive
2007 ★ 6.1
Ariel Winters
Slipstream
Slipstream
2007 ★ 4.9
Bonnie
Black Snake Moan
Black Snake Moan
2006 ★ 6.8
Angela
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
2006
Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
Lackawanna Blues
Lackawanna Blues
2005 ★ 5.7
Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
Jersey Girl
Jersey Girl
2004 ★ 6.2
Doctor #1
Radio
Radio
2003 ★ 7.3
Maggie
The Rising Place
The Rising Place
2001 ★ 6.0
Lessie Watson
Random Hearts
Random Hearts
1999 ★ 5.6
Nea
Law and Order: Justice
Law and Order: Justice
1999
Anita Van Buren
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
1999
Eslanda Robeson (voice)
Exiled
Exiled
1998 ★ 5.8
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
An Unexpected Life
An Unexpected Life
1998 ★ 4.0
Beverly Hawkins
After the SIlence
After the SIlence
1996 ★ 7.1
Barbara
A Mother's Prayer
A Mother's Prayer
1995 ★ 8.5
Ruby
A Place for Annie
A Place for Annie
1994 ★ 6.0
Alice
It's Nothing Personal
It's Nothing Personal
1993
Louise Waters
Second Chances
Second Chances
1992
Ruth Clayton
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1991 ★ 8.1
Tarissa Dyson
Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder
1990 ★ 7.4
Elsa
Navy Seals
Navy Seals
1990 ★ 5.4
Jolena
Moe's World
Moe's World
1990
Loose Cannons
Loose Cannons
1990 ★ 4.9
Rachel
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
1988 ★ 7.2
Reba
She's Gotta Have It
She's Gotta Have It
1986 ★ 6.6
Doctor Jamison
Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing
Alberta Gay
After All
After All

TV Series