S. Epatha Merkerson
Actor
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, 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.
As Director
Filmography
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
as Tarissa Dyson 1991
Lincoln
as Lydia Smith 2012
Jacob's Ladder
as Elsa 1990
Jersey Girl
as Doctor #1 2004
Black Snake Moan
as Angela 2006
Radio
as Maggie 2003
Random Hearts
as Nea 1999
She's Gotta Have It
as Doctor Jamison 1986
Navy Seals
as Jolena 1990
Mother and Child
as Ada 2009
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
as Effa 2009
Loose Cannons
as Rachel 1990
Slipstream
as Bonnie 2007
Peeples
as Daphne Peeples 2013
The Gabby Douglas Story
as Miss Caroline 2014
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
as Reba 1988
The Challenger
as Jada 2015