Acting
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.
Filmography
Eye for an Eye
Film · 2025
We Grown Now
Film · 2024
Poker Face
Series · 2023
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
Film · 2021
Blood Sugar Rising
Film · 2020
Barbecue
Film · 2020
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
Film · 2020
Year by the Sea
Film · 2016
You Can Go
Film · 2016
The Challenger
Film · 2015
Chicago Med
Series · 2015
The Gabby Douglas Story
Film · 2014
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Film · 2014
Chicago P.D.
Series · 2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Series · 2014
Peeples
Film · 2013
Lincoln
Film · 2012
Finding Your Roots
Series · 2012
Chicago Fire
Series · 2012
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
Film · 2010
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
Film · 2009
Mother and Child
Film · 2009
The Good Wife
Series · 2009
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
Film · 2008
Slipstream
Film · 2007
Girl, Positive
Film · 2007
Black Snake Moan
Film · 2006
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Film · 2006
Rachael Ray
Series · 2006
Lackawanna Blues
Film · 2005
The Closer
Series · 2005
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Series · 2005
Jersey Girl
Film · 2004
Radio
Film · 2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Series · 2003
The Rising Place
Film · 2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Series · 2001
Random Hearts
Film · 1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Film · 1999
An Unexpected Life
Film · 1998
Exiled
Film · 1998
The View
Series · 1997
After the SIlence
Film · 1996
A Mother's Prayer
Film · 1995
A Place for Annie
Film · 1994
It's Nothing Personal
Film · 1993
Frasier
Series · 1993
Second Chances
Film · 1992
Mann & Machine
Series · 1992
Here and Now
Series · 1992
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Film · 1991
Jacob's Ladder
Film · 1990
Loose Cannons
Film · 1990
Moe's World
Film · 1990
Navy Seals
Film · 1990
Law & Order
Series · 1990
Law & Order
Series · 1990
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Film · 1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Series · 1988
She's Gotta Have It
Film · 1986
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Series · 1986
The Cosby Show
Series · 1984
Tony Awards
Series · 1956
Today
Series · 1952
The Emmy Awards
Series · 1949
Sexual Healing
Film
After All
Film