S. Epatha Merkerson

Actor

Born: November 28, 1952 (age 73)
From: 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…

Filmography (44)

Eye for an Eye (2025)
May
We Grown Now (2024)
Anita
Desmond's Not Here Anymore (2021)
Selma
Barbecue (2020)
Lillie Anne
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America (2020)
Belize
Blood Sugar Rising (2020)
Narrator (voice)
You Can Go (2016)
Mrs. Bryant
Year by the Sea (2016)
Liz
The Challenger (2015)
Jada
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee (2014)
Self
The Gabby Douglas Story (2014)
Miss Caroline
Peeples (2013)
Daphne Peeples
The Contradictions of Fair Hope (2013)
Director
Lincoln (2012)
Lydia Smith
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918 (2010)
Narrator (voice)
Mother and Child (2009)
Ada
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009)
Effa
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun (2008)
Narrator (voice)
Girl, Positive (2007)
Ariel Winters
Slipstream (2007)
Bonnie
Black Snake Moan (2006)
Angela
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (2006)
Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")
Lackawanna Blues (2005)
Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
Jersey Girl (2004)
Doctor #1
Radio (2003)
Maggie
The Rising Place (2001)
Lessie Watson
Random Hearts (1999)
Nea
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999)
Eslanda Robeson (voice)
Exiled (1998)
Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
An Unexpected Life (1998)
Beverly Hawkins