S. Epatha Merkerson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
S. Epatha Merkerson
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Merkerson in 2017
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Sharon Epatha Merkerson
November 28, 1952 Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
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| Education | Wayne State University (BFA), |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | since 1976 |
S. Epatha Merkerson (born Sharon Epatha Merkerson; November 28, 1952) is an American actress. She has won many awards for her acting. These include an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She also has four NAACP Image Awards and two Obie Awards.
Merkerson is famous for playing Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the TV show Law & Order. She was on this NBC police show from 1993 to 2010. She appeared in 388 episodes, which is a lot! She also played Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee's Playhouse. Since 2015, she has played Sharon Goodwin in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med. She also appears as this character in Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D..
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Early Life and Education
Merkerson was born in Saginaw, Michigan. She grew up in Detroit. She is the youngest of five children. Her mother, Ann, worked for the post office.
Merkerson shared that her unique name, "Epatha," came from a teacher. This teacher helped her father stay in school. She finished Cooley High School in 1970. Then, she studied theatre at Wayne State University, graduating in 1976. In 2009, Wayne State University gave her an honorary degree.
Acting Career Highlights
In 1978, S. Epatha Merkerson moved to New York City to start her acting career.
Early TV Roles
Merkerson first appeared on TV as Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee's Playhouse. She also had a role on The Cosby Show.
She first appeared on the NBC police show Law & Order in 1991. She played a mother whose baby was accidentally shot. The show's producers were very impressed with her acting. Because of this, they chose her to play the police chief, Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. She joined the show in its fourth season. This was special because actors usually don't get a new main role after just one guest appearance.
Stage and Film Work
Merkerson's career grew after she starred in the play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. She then played Berniece in August Wilson's play The Piano Lesson. For this role, she was nominated for a Tony Award. She also won two Obie Awards for her work in other plays.
She has appeared in many movies. Some of these include Jacob's Ladder, She's Gotta Have It, and James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day. In 2006, she won a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. These were for her performance in the HBO movie Lackawanna Blues. In 2008, she received her second Tony Award nomination for the play Come Back, Little Sheba.
Leaving Law & Order and New Projects
After 17 seasons, Merkerson left Law & Order in 2010. Her last episode was also the show's final episode. She appeared in 395 episodes, more than any other actor on the show.
In 2012, Merkerson became the host of Find Our Missing. This TV show on TV One tells stories about missing people of color. She also acted in Steven Spielberg's 2012 movie Lincoln. She played Lydia Hamilton Smith, who was the housekeeper for Congressman Thaddeus Stevens.
In 2015, she joined the cast of the NBC medical drama Chicago Med. She plays Sharon Goodwin, who is the Chief of Patient and Medical Services. This show was created by Dick Wolf, who also created Law & Order. Merkerson also became a spokesperson for Merck America's Diabetes Challenge in 2014. She helps raise awareness about Type 2 diabetes among African Americans.
Personal Life
In 2019, Merkerson appeared on the TV show Finding Your Roots. On the show, she learned about her family history. She found out she is a descendant of Isaac Hawkins. He was one of 272 enslaved people sold by Jesuit priests in 1838. The money from this sale helped pay off debts for Georgetown College, which is now Georgetown University.
Filmography
Film Roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | She's Gotta Have It | Dr. Jamison |
| 1990 | Loose Cannons | Officer Rachel |
| 1990 | Jacob's Ladder | Elsa |
| 1990 | Navy SEALs | Jolena "Jo" |
| 1991 | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Tarissa Dyson |
| 1999 | Random Hearts | Nea |
| 2001 | The Rising Place | Lessie Watson |
| 2003 | Radio | Maggie |
| 2004 | Jersey Girl | Doctor |
| 2005 | Lackawanna Blues | Rachel "Nanny" Crosby |
| 2006 | Black Snake Moan | Angela |
| 2007 | Slipstream | Bonnie |
| 2009 | The Six Wives of Henry Lefay | Effa |
| 2009 | Mother and Child | Ada |
| 2012 | Find Our Missing | Herself |
| 2012 | Lincoln | Lydia Smith |
| 2013 | Tyler Perry Presents Peeples | Daphne Peeples |
| 2015 | The Challenger | Jada Miller |
| 2016 | Year by the Sea | Liz |
| 2023 | We Grown Now | Anita |
| 2025 | Eye for an Eye | May |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–1989 | Pee-wee's Playhouse | Reba, The Mail Lady | 16 episodes |
| 1988 | The Cosby Show | Book Club Member #5 | Episode: "Bookworm" |
| 1991 | Law & Order | Denise Winters | Episode: "Mushrooms" |
| 1992 | Mann & Machine | Captain Margaret Claghorn | 9 episodes |
| 1993–2010 | Law & Order | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren | 388 episodes |
| 1998 | Exiled | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren | TV movie |
| 2000 | Frasier | Dr. McCaskill | Episode: "Dark Side of the Moon" |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren | Episode: "Badge" |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren | Episode: "Skeleton" |
| 2005 | Lackawanna Blues | Rachel "Nanny" Crosby | TV movie |
| 2007 | The Closer | Dr. Rebecca Dioli | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Drop Dead Diva | Judge Hiller | Episode: "Lady Parts" |
| 2013 | The Good Wife | Judge Melanie Ellis | Episode: "Going for the Gold" |
| 2015–Present | Chicago Med | Sharon Goodwin | Main role |
| 2015–Present | Chicago Fire | Sharon Goodwin | 5 episodes |
| 2016–Present | Chicago P.D. | Sharon Goodwin | 5 episodes |
| 2023 | Poker Face | Joyce Carter | Episode: "Time of the Monkey" |
Awards and Recognition
S. Epatha Merkerson has won many awards throughout her career.
Major Awards Won
- 1992: Obie Award for her performance in I'm Not Stupid.
- 1999: Helen Hayes Award for The Old Settler.
- 2005: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for Lackawanna Blues.
- 2006: Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in Lackawanna Blues.
- 2006: Obie Award for her performance in Birdie Blue.
- 2006: NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Law & Order.
- 2006: NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Made for TV Movie for Lackawanna Blues.
- 2006: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie for Lackawanna Blues.
- 2010: NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Law & Order.
- 2011: NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Law & Order.
Honorary Degrees
- 2009: Honorary Doctor of Letters from Wayne State University.
- 2012: Honorary Doctor of Letters from University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
- 2013: Honorary Doctor of Letters from Montclair State University.
- 2017: Honorary Doctor of Letters from University of Pittsburgh.
See also
In Spanish: S. Epatha Merkerson para niños
