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S. Epatha Merkerson
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 A…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
Eye for an Eye
Movie May
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2024
We Grown Now
Movie Anita
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2023
Poker Face
TV show Joyce Carter
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2021
Desmond's Not Here Anymore
Movie Selma
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2020
Barbecue
Movie Lillie Anne
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2020
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
Movie Belize
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2020
Blood Sugar Rising
Movie Narrator (voice)
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2016
You Can Go
Movie Mrs. Bryant
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2016
Year by the Sea
Movie Liz
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2015
Chicago Med
TV show Sharon Goodwin
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2015
The Challenger
Movie Jada
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2014
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Movie Self
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2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV show Self
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2014
The Gabby Douglas Story
Movie Miss Caroline
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2014
Chicago P.D.
TV show Sharon Goodwin
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2013
Peeples
Movie Daphne Peeples
More credits
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2013
The Contradictions of Fair Hope
Movie Director
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2012
Lincoln
Movie Lydia Smith
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2012
Chicago Fire
TV show Sharon Goodwin
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2012
Finding Your Roots
TV show Self
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2010
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918
Movie Narrator (voice)
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2009
Mother and Child
Movie Ada
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2009
The Good Wife
TV show Judge Melanie Ellis
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2009
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
Movie Effa
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2008
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
Movie Narrator (voice)
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2007
Girl, Positive
Movie Ariel Winters
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2007
Slipstream
Movie Bonnie
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2006
Black Snake Moan
Movie Angela
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2006
Rachael Ray
TV show Self
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2006
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Movie Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
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2005
The Closer
TV show Dr. Rebecca Dioli
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2005
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
TV show Anita Van Buren
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2005
Lackawanna Blues
Movie Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
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2004
Jersey Girl
Movie Doctor #1
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2003
Radio
Movie Maggie
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2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV show Self
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2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV show Anita Van Buren
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2001
The Rising Place
Movie Lessie Watson
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1999
Random Hearts
Movie Nea
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1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Movie Eslanda Robeson (voice)
