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S. Epatha Merkerson

Actress | Director | Producer

A native of Michigan, S. Epatha Merkerson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Wayne State University. In 1978, she moved to New York City to apply her craft on stage. Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law & Order... See full bio »

Born:

Sharon Epatha Merkerson
in Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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Steven Spielberg and S. Epatha Merkerson at event of Lincoln Still of David Alan Grier and S. Epatha Merkerson in Peeples S. Epatha Merkerson at event of Mother and Child S. Epatha Merkerson Steven Spielberg, Sally Field, Gloria Reuben, S. Epatha Merkerson and Tony Kushner at event of Lincoln David Hyde Pierce and S. Epatha Merkerson
61 photos | 46 videos | 221 news articles »

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Related News

Exclusive: Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington and David Allan Grier Talk Peeples
12 May 2013 9:13 PM, PDT | MovieWeb
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12 May 2013 8:00 AM, PDT | Collider.com
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Won Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 21 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActress (50 titles)
???? The Promise Keeper (pre-production)
Principle Montgomery
 
???? Sexual Healing (filming)
Alberta Gay
 
2013 Boomerang (TV movie) (post-production)
 
2013 The Challenger (post-production)
Jada
 
2013 Peeples
Daphne Peeples
 
2013 Deception (TV series)
Beverly
– I'll Start with the Hillbilly (2013) … Beverly
– You're the Bad Guy (2013) … Beverly
– Good Luck with Your Death (2013) … Beverly
 
2013 The Good Wife (TV series)
Judge Melanie Ellis
– Going for the Gold (2013) … Judge Melanie Ellis
 
2012 Second Coming?: Will Black America Decide the 2012 Election (TV movie)
Narrator
 
2012 Lincoln
Lydia Smith
 
2012 Drop Dead Diva (TV series)
Judge Hiller
– Lady Parts (2012) … Judge Hiller
 
1991-2010 Law & Order (TV series)
Lt. Anita Van Buren / Denise Winters
– Rubber Room (2010) … Lt. Anita Van Buren
– Immortal (2010) … Lt. Anita Van Buren
– Love Eternal (2010) … Lt. Anita Van Buren
– The Taxman Cometh (2010) … Lt. Anita Van Buren
– Crashers (2010) … Lt. Anita Van Buren
See all 391 episodes »
 
2009 Mother and Child
Ada
 
2009 Great Performances (TV series)
Narrator
– Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story (2009) … Narrator
 
2009 The Six Wives of Henry Lefay
Effa
 
1999-2008 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Eslanda Robeson / Narrator
– Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun (2008) … Narrator
– Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999) … Eslanda Robeson (voice)
 
2007 The Closer (TV series)
Dr. Rebecca Dioli
– Culture Shock (2007) … Dr. Rebecca Dioli
– Manhunt (2007) … Dr. Rebecca Dioli
– Four to Eight (2007) … Dr. Rebecca Dioli
 
2007 Girl, Positive (TV movie)
Ariel Winters
 
2007 Slipstream
Bonnie
 
2006 Black Snake Moan
Angela
 
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury (TV series)
Lt. Anita Van Buren
– Skeleton (2005) … Lt. Anita Van Buren
 
2005 Lackawanna Blues (TV movie)
Rachel "Nanny" Crosby
 
2004 Jersey Girl
Doctor #1
 
2003 Radio
Maggie
 
2003 Law & Order II: Double or Nothing (Video Game)
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (voice)
 
2002 Law & Order: Dead on the Money (Video Game)
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (voice)
 
2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV series)
Lt. Anita Van Buren
– Badge (2002) … Lt. Anita Van Buren
 
2001 The Rising Place
Lessie Watson
 
2001 A Girl Thing (TV movie)
Lani (Co-worker)
 
2000 Frasier (TV series)
Dr. McCaskill
– Dark Side of the Moon (2000) … Dr. McCaskill
 
1999 Random Hearts
Nea
 
1998 Exiled (TV movie)
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
 
1998 An Unexpected Life (TV movie)
Beverly Hawkins
 
1996 Breaking Through (TV movie)
Barbara
 
1995 A Mother's Prayer (TV movie)
Ruby
 
1994 A Place for Annie (TV movie)
Alice
 
1993 South Beach (TV series)
Madam Bouchard
– I Witness (1993) … Madam Bouchard
 
1993 It's Nothing Personal (TV movie)
Louise Waters
 
1992-1993 Here and Now (TV series)
Ms. St. Marth
– Pre-Ring Circus (1993) … Ms. St. Marth
– Pennies from Heaven (1993) … Ms. St. Marth
– Backsliding (1992) … Ms. St. Marth
– Take My Grandparents... Please (1992) … Ms. St. Marth
– A.J.'s Big Leap (1992) … Ms. St. Marth
See all 13 episodes »
 
1992 Mann & Machine (TV series)
Capt. Margaret Claghorn
– Cold, Cold Heart (1992) … Capt. Margaret Claghorn
– Billion Dollar Baby (1992) … Capt. Margaret Claghorn
– Mann's Fate (1992) … Capt. Margaret Claghorn
– Truth or Consequences (1992) … Capt. Margaret Claghorn
– Torch Song (1992) … Capt. Margaret Claghorn
See all 9 episodes »
 
1992 ABC Afterschool Specials (TV series)
Ruth Clayton
– Summer Stories: The Mall - Part 2 (1992) … Ruth Clayton
 
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Tarissa Dyson
 
1990/I Jacob's Ladder
Elsa
 
1990 Navy Seals
Jolena
 
1990 Equal Justice (TV series)
Mrs. Walters
– Pilot (1990) … Mrs. Walters
 
1990 Loose Cannons
Rachel
 
1990 Moe's World (TV movie)
Moe's Mother
 
1986-1989 Pee-wee's Playhouse (TV series)
Reba - Mail Woman / Reba
– Dr. Pee-wee and the Del Rubios (1989) … Reba - Mail Woman
– Pajama Party (1987) … Reba - Mail Woman
– Playhouse in Outer Space (1987) … Reba - Mail Woman
– Open House (1987) … Reba
– Monster in the Playhouse (1986) … Reba - Mail Woman
See all 8 episodes »
 
1989 CBS Summer Playhouse (TV series)
Jimmie
– Elysian Fields (1989) … Jimmie
 
1988 The Cosby Show (TV series)
Book Club Member #5
– Bookworm (1988) … Book Club Member #5
 
1986 She's Gotta Have It
Doctor Jamison (as Epatha Merkinson)
 
Show ShowDirector (1 title)
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
2012 The Contradictions of Fair Hope (executive producer)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
2006 Black Snake Moan (performer: "Balm In Gilead")
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
2008 Battlestar Galactica: The Phenomenon (TV documentary short) (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (38 titles)
2013 Made in Hollywood (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #8.28 (2013) … Herself
 
2013 Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 1 May 2013 (2013) … Herself
 
2012-2013 The Wendy Williams Show (TV series)
Herself - Guest
– Episode dated 11 March 2013 (2013) … Herself - Guest
– Episode dated 31 January 2012 (2012) … Herself - Guest
 
2012-2013 Find Our Missing (TV series documentary)
Herself - Host
– Bianca Green & TaDarius Jones (2013) … Herself - Host
– Alexis Patterson (2012) … Herself - Host
– Episode #1.4 (2012) … Herself - Host
– Jaliek Rainwalker (2012) … Herself - Host
– Pamela Butler/Hassani Campbell (2012) … Herself - Host
See all 9 episodes »
 
2011 Rocco's Dinner Party (TV series)
Herself
– French Cuisine (2011) … Herself
 
2011 The 56th Annual Obie Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Host
 
2011 Vine Talk (TV series)
Herself
– Navigating Napa Valley Cabernets (2011) … Herself
 
2010 Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Get the Facts (TV documentary)
Narrator
 
2010 We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918 (documentary)
Narrator (voice)
 
2009 Infanity (TV series documentary)
Herself
– Law & Order (2009) … Herself
 
2009 The 40th NAACP Image Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2009 TV Land Moguls (TV mini-series documentary)
Herself
– The 90s (2009) … Herself
 
2008 The 62nd Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Nominee: Best Leading Actress in a Play
 
2006-2008 Live with Kelly and Michael (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 9 June 2008 (2008) … Herself
– Episode dated 18 January 2006 (2006) … Herself
 
2008 Martha (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 19 February 2008 (2008) … Herself
 
2007-2008 The View (TV series)
Herself / Herself - Co-Host
– Episode dated 29 January 2008 (2008) … Herself
– Episode dated 2 March 2007 (2007) … Herself - Co-Host
 
2005-2007 Tavis Smiley (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 20 June 2007 (2007) … Herself
– Episode dated 10 February 2005 (2005) … Herself
 
2007 The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #4.86 (2007) … Herself
 
2006 Comic Relief 2006 (TV movie)
Herself
 
2006 Rachael Ray (TV series)
Herself
– Law & Order Day (2006) … Herself
 
2006 The 2nd Annual Quill Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2006 The 60th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter
 
2006 Inside the Actors Studio (TV series)
Herself
– The Cast of Law and Order (2006) … Herself
 
2006 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2006 The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV documentary)
Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
 
2005-2006 Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 13 January 2006 (2006) … Herself
– Episode dated 19 September 2005 (2005) … Herself
 
2005 The WIN Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
2005 Jerry Orbach Tribute (video short)
Herself
 
2005 Life & Style (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 3 February 2005 (2005) … Herself
 
2002 Inside TV Land: Cops on Camera (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2001 Hollywood Squares (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 30 March 2001 (2001) … Herself
– Episode dated 29 March 2001 (2001) … Herself
– Episode dated 28 March 2001 (2001) … Herself
– Episode dated 27 March 2001 (2001) … Herself
– Episode dated 26 March 2001 (2001) … Herself
 
2000 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (TV series)
Herself
– S. Epatha Merkerson (2000) … Herself
 
2000 Larry King Live (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 12 April 2000 (2000) … Herself
 
1999-2000 Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 3 February 2000 (2000) … Herself
– Episode dated 25 November 1999 (1999) … Herself
 
1999 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV special)
 
1990 The 44th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Featured Actress in a Play
 
1989 The More You Know (TV series)
Herself
 
1988 Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse (TV special)
Reba - Mail Woman
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (1 title)
2005-2006 Corazón de... (TV series)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Performed in "The Old Settler" at Washington DC's Studio Theatre (Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress, 1998). See more »

Publicity Listings:

4 Articles  | See more »

Official Sites:

Photo and Short Bio at MCA Website for "Law & Order" | See more »

Alternate Names:

Epatha Merkerson | Epatha Merkinson

Height:

5' 6" (1.68 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

My dad said he had a teacher named Epatha who was influential in keeping him in school. But my mother said it was an old girlfriend of his. So that's why she stuck in the Sharon Epatha. That's what the "S" stands for. Everyone knows now because some numbskull I went to high school with decided to put it on the Internet. See more »

Trivia:

Works with Justice Works Community, a group "advocating for humane policies towards women in prison, especially those with children." See more »

Star Sign:

Sagittarius