S. Epatha Merkerson
As an acclaimed performer with gritty but approachable style, actress S. Epatha Merkerson began her career on the stage both on and off-Broadway before moving to television, where she played the longest-running character on the seemingly eternal "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010). Prior to her run on the procedural, Merkerson was perhaps best known for her small, but memorable role as a screaming wife in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991) while continuing her onstage success with an OBIE Award for her performance in "I'm Not Stupid" (1992). But in 1993, Merkerson went from virtual unknown to household regular who, over the next 17 years, was seen portraying the tough, but determined Lt. Anita Van Buren on "Law & Order," a role she reprised in episodes of the spin-off series and a made-for-television movie. She had arguably her greatest critical success with her leading performance as the spirited "Nanny" Crosby in the acclaimed television movie "Lackawanna Blues" (HBO, 2005), a role that won the actress both a Golden Globe and Emmy Award. Because of her longevity on "Law & Order" and the praise received for "Lackawanna Blues," Merkerson emerged as a highly desirable character actress capable of delivering consistent quality performances.
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S. Epatha Merkerson
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
93% |
|
We Grown Now | Anita (Character) | $296.2K | 2023 |
50% |
|
Year by the Sea | Liz (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Challenger | Jada (Character) | $19.0K | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Gabby Douglas Story | Miss Caroline (Character) | - | 2014 |
39% |
|
Peeples | Daphne Peeples (Character) | $9.1M | 2013 |
90% |
|
Lincoln | Lydia Smith (Character) | $182.2M | 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Contradictions of Fair Hope |
Director, Executive Producer |
- | 2012 |
79% |
|
Mother and Child | Ada (Character) | $1.1M | 2009 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun | Narrator | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay | Effa (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
Girl, Positive | Ariel Winters (Character) | - | 2007 |
66% |
|
Black Snake Moan | Angela (Character) | $9.4M | 2007 |
75% |
|
Lackawanna Blues | Rachel "Nanny" Crosby (Character) | - | 2005 |
35% |
|
Radio | Maggie (Character) | $52.3M | 2003 |
13% |
|
The Rising Place | Lessie Watson (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Girl Thing | Lani (Co-worker) (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Exiled: A Law & Order Movie | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | An Unexpected Life | Beverly Hawkins (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Breaking Through | Barbara (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Breaking Free | Barbara (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Mother's Prayer | Ruby (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Place for Annie | Alice (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | It's Nothing Personal | Louise Waters (Character) | - | 1993 |
91% |
|
Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Tarissa Dyson (Character) | $552.8K | 1991 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | 75% | Chicago Med | Sharon Goodwin (Character) | 2015-2025 |
No Score Yet | 88% | Chicago Fire | Sharon Goodwin (Guest Star) | 2015-2017 2019 2023-2024 |
No Score Yet | 44% | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2024 |
98% | 81% | Poker Face | Joyce Harris (Guest Star) | 2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Antiques Roadshow | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Finding Your Roots | Guest | 2019-2020 |
No Score Yet | 88% | Chicago P.D. | Sharon Goodwin (Guest Star) | 2016 2018-2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Find Our Missing | Host | 2012-2013 |
37% | 73% | Deception | Beverly (Guest Star) | 2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wendy Williams Show | Guest | 2012-2013 |
93% | 90% | The Good Wife | Judge Melanie Ellis (Guest Star) | 2013 |
78% | 60% | Drop Dead Diva | Judge Hiller (Guest Star) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Law & Order | Lt. Anita Van Buren (Character) | 1993-2010 |
83% | 84% | The Closer | Dr. Rebecca Dioli (Guest Star) | 2007 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rachael Ray | Guest | 2006 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | 76% | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
95% | 95% | Frasier | Dr. McCaskill (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Daily Show | Guest | 2000 |
17% | No Score Yet | Here and Now | Claudia St. Marth (Character) | 1992-1993 |