S. Epatha Merkerson movies and series

November 28, 1952 (age 73) Saginaw, Michigan, USA
IMDb

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.

Her titles like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Jacob's Ladder, and Black Snake Moan - her biggest roles first. Last updated: October 3, 2026

Watched 0/31
Weighted average: 7.40 /10
  • 1
    1
    1991July 1991 by James Cameron
    Supporting as Tarissa Dyson
    Supporting as Tarissa Dyson
    7.87 Excellent 15.0k ratings
  • 2
    2
    1990November 1990 by Adrian Lyne
    Minor role as Elsa
    Minor role as Elsa
    6.93 Good+ 2,008 ratings
  • 3
    3
    2006December 2006 by Craig Brewer
    Supporting as Angela
    Supporting as Angela
    6.33 Good- 1,009 ratings
  • 4
    4
    2003October 2003 by Michael Tollin
    Supporting as Maggie
    Supporting as Maggie
    6.82 Good+ 936 ratings
  • 5
    5
    Airing since 2015 by Dick Wolf
    Minor role as Sharon Goodwin
    Minor role as Sharon Goodwin
    7.50 Excellent- 1,278 ratings
  • 6
    6
    2004March 2004 by Kevin Smith
    Minor role as Doctor #1
    Minor role as Doctor #1
    5.78 Okay+ 1,185 ratings
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  • 7
    7
    1986August 1986 by Spike Lee
    Supporting as Doctor Jamison
    Supporting as Doctor Jamison
    6.12 Good-- 372 ratings
  • 8
    8
    1990July 1990 by Lewis Teague
    Minor role as Jolena
    Minor role as Jolena
    5.42 Okay- 290 ratings
  • 9
    9
    2009November 2009 by Rodrigo García
    Supporting as Ada
    Supporting as Ada
    6.10 Okay++ 168 ratings
  • 10
    10
    2007February 2007 by Anthony Hopkins
    Supporting as Bonnie
    Supporting as Bonnie
    5.58 Okay 101 ratings
  • 11
    11
    2009June 2009 by Howard Michael Gould
    Minor role as Effa
    Minor role as Effa
    5.63 Okay 120 ratings
  • 12
    12
    2013May 2013 by Tina Gordon
    Supporting as Daphne Peeples
    Supporting as Daphne Peeples
    5.82 Okay+ <100 ratings
  • 13
    13
    2005January 2005 by George C. Wolfe
    Lead role as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
    Lead role as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby
    6.00 Okay++ <100 ratings
  • 14
    14
    1990February 1990 by Bob Clark
    Minor role as Rachel
    Minor role as Rachel
    5.54 Okay 119 ratings
  • 15
    15
    2014February 2014 by Gregg Champion
    Supporting as Miss Caroline
    Supporting as Miss Caroline
    6.27 Good-- <100 ratings
  • 16
    16
    2025July 2025 by Colin Tilley
    Supporting as May
    Supporting as May
    5.94 Okay++ <100 ratings
  • 17
    17
    2015March 2015 by Kent Moran
    Starring as Jada
    Starring as Jada
    5.98 Okay++ <100 ratings
  • 18
    18
    1986–1990 by Paul Reubens
    Supporting as Reba
    Supporting as Reba
    6.16 Good-- <100 ratings
  • 19
    19
    2024April 2024 by Minhal Baig
    Starring as Anita
    Starring as Anita
    6.05 Okay++ <100 ratings
  • 20
    20
    1988December 1988 by Paul Reubens
    Minor role as Reba
    Minor role as Reba
    6.19 Good-- <100 ratings
  • 21
    21
    1994May 1994 by John Gray
    Supporting as Alice
    Supporting as Alice
    6.03 Okay++ <100 ratings
  • 22
    22
    1998November 1998 by Jean de Segonzac
    Minor role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
    Minor role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
    6.01 Okay++ <100 ratings
  • 23
    23
    2007June 2007 by Peter Werner
    Supporting as Ariel Winters
    Supporting as Ariel Winters
    6.05 Okay++ <100 ratings
  • 24
    24
    1992 by Dick Wolf
    Starring as Capt. Margaret Claghorn
    Starring as Capt. Margaret Claghorn
    Needs more reviews
  • 25
    25
    1996December 1996 by Fred Gerber
    Minor role as Barbara
    Minor role as Barbara
    6.11 Okay++ <100 ratings
  • 26
    26
    1998June 1998 by David Hugh Jones
    Supporting as Beverly Hawkins
    Supporting as Beverly Hawkins
    Needs more reviews
  • 27
    27
    1995May 1995 by Larry Elikann
    Supporting as Ruby
    Supporting as Ruby
    Needs more reviews
  • 28
    28
    1992–1993 by Richard Vaczy
    Starring as Claudia St. Marth
    Starring as Claudia St. Marth
    Needs more reviews
  • 29
    29
    2001February 2001 by Tom Rice
    Supporting as Lessie Watson
    Supporting as Lessie Watson
    Needs more reviews
  • 30
    30
    2008August 2008 by Sam Pollard
    Starring as Narrator (voice)
    Starring as Narrator (voice)
    Needs more reviews
  • 31
    31
    2020April 2020 by David Alvarado
    Lead role as Narrator (voice)
    Lead role as Narrator (voice)
    Needs more reviews
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