11/28/1952
Saginaw, Michigan, USA:
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.
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Eye for an Eye (2025) as May |
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We Grown Now (2024) as Anita |
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Desmond's Not Here Anymore (2021) as Selma |
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Barbecue (2020) as Lillie Anne |
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The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America (2020) as Belize |
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Blood Sugar Rising (2020) as Narrator (voice) |
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You Can Go (2016) as Mrs. Bryant |
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Year by the Sea (2016) as Liz |
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The Challenger (2015) as Jada |
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Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee (2014) as Self |
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The Gabby Douglas Story (2014) as Miss Caroline |
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Peeples (2013) as Daphne Peeples |
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Lincoln (2012) as Lydia Smith |
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We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918 (2010) as Narrator (voice) |
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Mother and Child (2009) as Ada |
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The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009) as Effa |
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Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun (2008) as Narrator (voice) |
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Girl, Positive (2007) as Ariel Winters |
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Slipstream (2007) as Bonnie |
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Black Snake Moan (2006) as Angela |
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The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (2006) as Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson") |
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Lackawanna Blues (2005) as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby |
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Jersey Girl (2004) as Doctor #1 |
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Radio (2003) as Maggie |
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The Rising Place (2001) as Lessie Watson |
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Random Hearts (1999) as Nea |
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Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999) as Eslanda Robeson (voice) |
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Exiled (1998) as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren |
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An Unexpected Life (1998) as Beverly Hawkins |
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After the SIlence (1996) as Barbara |
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A Mother's Prayer (1995) as Ruby |
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A Place for Annie (1994) as Alice |
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It's Nothing Personal (1993) as Louise Waters |
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Second Chances (1992) as Ruth Clayton |
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) as Tarissa Dyson |
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Jacob's Ladder (1990) as Elsa |
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Navy Seals (1990) as Jolena |
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Moe's World (1990) as |
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Loose Cannons (1990) as Rachel |
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Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988) as Reba |
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She's Gotta Have It (1986) as Doctor Jamison |
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After All () as |
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Sexual Healing () as Alberta Gay |
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The Contradictions of Fair Hope (2013) Director |