Biography
S. Epatha Merkerson is an American actress. Born Sharon Epatha Merkerson on 28 November 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan, she earned a BFA in theatre from Wayne State University in 1976 and an MFA from New York University. She began her career on stage in New York before moving into film and television.
She is known for her long-running role as NYPD Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the NBC series Law & Order (1993–2010), appearing in 388 episodes. Merkerson played Tarissa Dyson in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee's Playhouse, and Sharon Goodwin on Chicago Med (from 2015). Other film credits include Jacob's Ladder (1990), Radio (2003), Black Snake Moan (2006) and Lincoln (2012).
Merkerson has received an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four NAACP Image Awards, two Obie Awards and two Tony Award nominations.
