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.

S. Epatha Merkerson (* 28. November 1952 in Detroit, Michigan als Sharon Epatha Merkerson) ist eine US-amerikanische Schauspielerin.

Sie gewann den Golden Globe Award, den Screen Actors Guild, den NAACP Image Award und den Emmy. Ferner wurde sie für den Tony Award nominiert. Besonders bekannt wurde sie durch ihre Rolle als Lieutenant Anita Van Buren in der langlebigen Krimiserie Law & Order, die sie von 1993 bis zum Ende der Serie 2010 innehatte.

Seit dem Jahr 2015 verkörpert sie in der Fernsehserie Chicago Med die Rolle der Hospitalleiterin Sharon Goodwin. Die gleiche Rolle übernimmt Merkerson in Chicago Fire und Chicago P.D., die beide im gleichen Serienuniversum spielen.

Quelle: Wikipedia