S. Epatha Merkerson

Acting · Born 1952-11-28 in Saginaw, Michigan, USA

Biography

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,…

Filmography

• Terminator 2: Judgment Day as Tarissa Dyson
• Jacob's Ladder as Elsa
• Radio as Maggie
• Jersey Girl as Doctor #1
• Black Snake Moan as Angela
• Loose Cannons as Rachel
• Random Hearts as Nea
• She's Gotta Have It as Doctor Jamison
• The Six Wives of Henry Lefay as Effa
• Mother and Child as Ada

TV

• The Closer as Dr. Rebecca Dioli
• Frasier as Dr. McCaskill
• Chicago Med as Sharon Goodwin
• Chicago Fire as Sharon Goodwin
• Chicago P.D. as Sharon Goodwin
• Finding Your Roots as Self
• The Cosby Show as Elena
• Mann & Machine as Capt. Margaret Claghorn
• Here and Now as Claudia St. Marth
• Law & Order: Trial by Jury as Anita Van Buren