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.
Born: 28 November 1952
Played In
Movie
Jul 2025
Eye for an Eye
May
Movie
Apr 2024
We Grown Now
Anita
TV Show
Jan 2023
Poker Face
Joyce Carter
Movie
Sep 2021
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
Selma
Movie
Dec 2020
Barbecue
Lillie Anne
Movie
Oct 2020
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
Belize
Movie
Apr 2020
Blood Sugar Rising
Narrator (voice)
Movie
Sep 2016
You Can Go
Mrs. Bryant
Movie
Apr 2016
Year by the Sea
Liz
TV Show
Nov 2015
Chicago Med
Sharon Goodwin
Movie
Mar 2015
The Challenger
Jada
Movie
Jun 2014
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Self
TV Show
Feb 2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
Movie
Feb 2014
The Gabby Douglas Story
Miss Caroline
TV Show
Jan 2014
Chicago P.D.
Sharon Goodwin
Movie
May 2013
Peeples
Daphne Peeples
Movie
Nov 2012
Lincoln
Lydia Smith
TV Show
Oct 2012
Chicago Fire
Sharon Goodwin
TV Show
Mar 2012
Finding Your Roots
Self
Movie
Jan 2010
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
Narrator (voice)
Movie
Nov 2009
Mother and Child
Ada
TV Show
Sep 2009
The Good Wife
Judge Melanie Ellis
Movie
Jun 2009
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
Effa
Movie
Aug 2008
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
Narrator (voice)
Movie
Jun 2007
Girl, Positive
Ariel Winters
Movie
Feb 2007
Slipstream
Bonnie
Movie
Dec 2006
Black Snake Moan
Angela
TV Show
Sep 2006
Rachael Ray
Self
Movie
May 2006
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
TV Show
Jun 2005
The Closer
Dr. Rebecca Dioli
TV Show
Mar 2005
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Anita Van Buren
Movie
Jan 2005
Lackawanna Blues
Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
Movie
Mar 2004
Jersey Girl
Doctor #1
Movie
Oct 2003
Radio
Maggie
TV Show
Sep 2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
TV Show
Sep 2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Anita Van Buren
Movie
Feb 2001
The Rising Place
Lessie Watson
Movie
Oct 1999
Random Hearts
Nea
Movie
Feb 1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Eslanda Robeson (voice)
Movie
Nov 1998
Exiled
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
Movie
Jun 1998
An Unexpected Life
Beverly Hawkins
TV Show
Aug 1997
The View
Self
Movie
Dec 1996
After the SIlence
Barbara
Movie
May 1995
A Mother's Prayer
Ruby
Movie
May 1994
A Place for Annie
Alice
TV Show
Sep 1993
Frasier
Dr. McCaskill
Movie
Feb 1993
It's Nothing Personal
Louise Waters
TV Show
Sep 1992
Here and Now
Claudia St. Marth
TV Show
Apr 1992
Mann & Machine
Capt. Margaret Claghorn
Movie
Apr 1992
Second Chances
Ruth Clayton
Movie
Jul 1991
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Tarissa Dyson
Movie
Nov 1990
Jacob's Ladder
Elsa
TV Show
Sep 1990
Law & Order
Anita Van Buren
TV Show
Sep 1990
Law & Order
Denise Winters
Movie
Jul 1990
Navy Seals
Jolena
Movie
Jul 1990
Moe's World
Movie
Feb 1990
Loose Cannons
Rachel
Movie
Dec 1988
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Reba
TV Show
Sep 1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
TV Show
Sep 1986
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Reba
Movie
Aug 1986
She's Gotta Have It
Doctor Jamison
TV Show
Sep 1984
The Cosby Show
Elena
TV Show
Apr 1956
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee
TV Show
Jan 1952
Today
Self
TV Show
Jan 1949
The Emmy Awards
Self
Movie
Sexual Healing
Alberta Gay
Movie
After All