S. Epatha Merkerson Biography
S. Epatha Merkerson is an American film, stage, and television actress who was born in Saginaw, Michigan, the United States as Sharon Epatha Merkerson. She received various high-profile accolades for her work, such as an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four NAACP Image Awards, two Obie Awards as well as two Tony Award nominations.
She is well known for her award-winning portrayal of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the NBC police procedural drama series Law & Order, a role she performed from 1993 to 2010, appearing in 395 episodes of the series. Also, she is known for playing Sharon Goodwin in Chicago Med.
10 Quick Facts About S. Epatha Merkerson
S. Epatha Merkerson Age
Merkerson is 68 years old as of 2020, she was born on 28 November 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. He celebrates his birthday on 28 November every year and her birth sign is Sagittarius.
S. Epatha Merkerson Height
Merkerson stands at a height of 5 feet 5 inches.
S Epatha Merkerson Weight Loss
Merkerson has a moderate weight, however, she has not shared information about his weight loss. However, we are keeping tabs and we shall update this section as soon as the information is available.
S. Epatha Merkerson Education
Epatha Merkerson graduated in 1970, from Cooley High School. Initially, Merkerson attended Eastern Michigan University as a dance major and later transferring to Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1976 she completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre at Wayne State University.
In May 2009, Merkerson has conferred an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Wayne State University and received the same distinction from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2012; Montclair State University in 2013 and the University of Pittsburgh in 2017.
S. Epatha Merkerson Family
S. Epath was born to her parents Ann Merkerson(mother), a postal worker, and Toussaint L. Jones(father)a social worker and therapist.
When S. Epatha Merkerson was five years old her parents separated, being one of five children raised by a single mother who worked for the United States Postal Service, Merkerson grew up in what she called to be a majority-white neighborhood in Detroit.
S. Epatha Merkerson Husband
Merkerson was married to Toussaint L. Jones. The couple married in 1994 and divorced in 2006.
S Epatha Merkerson Salary Per Episode
Merkerson’s salary per episode is not known. We are keeping tabs and we shall update this section as soon as the information is available.
S Epatha Merkerson Net Worth
Merkerson has an estimated net worth of $11 million dollars as of 2021. This includes her assets, money, and income. Her primary source of income is her career as a film, stage, and television actress. Through his various sources of income, Merkerson has been able to accumulate good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle
S. Epatha Merkerson Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about S. Epatha Merkerson.
S. Epatha Merkerson Wiki
- Full Names: Sharon Epatha Merkerson
- Popular As: Film actress
- Gender: Female
- Occupation / Profession: Film, stage, and television actress
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: White
- Religion: Not Known
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
S. Epatha Merkerson Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 68 years old as of 2020
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Date of Birth: 28 November 1952
- Place of Birth:Saginaw, Michigan, United States.
- Birthday: 28 November
S. Epatha Merkerson Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: 1.67 m
- Weight: Moderate
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Black
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Dress Size: Not Available
- Breast Size: Not Available
- Waist Size: Not Available
- Hip Size: Not Available
S. Epatha Merkerson Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Toussaint L. Jones
- Mother: Ann Merkerson
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Not Known
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Husband/Spouse: Married to Toussaint L. Jones(1994-2006)
- Dating / Boyfriend: Single
- Children: Sons (Not known) Daughter(s) (Not known)
S. Epatha Merkerson Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $11 million dollars as of 2021
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: Film, stage, and television actress
Law And Order
Merkerson performed in 2014, in the Primary Stages production of While I Yet Live, which was written by Billy Porter. In the year 2015, she joined the cast of NBC medical drama Chicago Med as Sharon Goodwin, Chief of Medical Services.
The series was conceived as well as written by Law and Order creator Dick Wolf alongside Matt Olmstead, Derek Haas, and Michael Brandt. Also, in the year 2014, Merkerson became a spokesperson for Merck America’s Diabetes Challenge, to increase Type 2 diabetes awareness among African Americans.
It was confirmed on 1 April 2010, that after 17 seasons, Merkerson would leave Law & Order at the end of the show’s twentieth season. Merkerson’s departure from Law & Order, which aired on May 24, 2010, was also the show’s final episode.
S Epatha Merkerson Actress
Merkerson star began to rise after she assumed the lead role in the one-woman play, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. She was also nominated for a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Play as Berniece in August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Piano Lesson for her performance.
S Epatha Merkerson Finding Your Roots
Merkerson was featured on the television series of Henry Louis Gates’ Finding Your Roots on 5 February 2019 (Season 5, Episode 5), in which he disclosed that she was a descendant of Isaac Hawkins and eight others of the 272 enslaved people who were sold in the 1838 Jesuit slave sale by Jesuit priests.
These priests owned plantations on which the enslaved people tilled tobacco; proceeds from the sale were used to pay off the debts of the Jesuit-operated Georgetown College (now Georgetown University).
S Epatha Merkerson Emmy
Merkerson won a Golden Globe Award in the year 2006, an Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild award for her performance in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues.
She starred as Lola Delaney in the Los Angeles stage production of William Inge’s Come Back, in 2007, Little Sheba, playing the role made famous by Shirley Booth. The production opened a successful run on Broadway in January 2008 and earned Merkerson her second Tony nomination.
S. Epatha Merkerson Cancer
S. Epatha Merkerson is an outspoken advocate against smoking and for lung cancer research and awareness. She also assured her fans that her health is fine. “It’s Lt. Van Buren who’s going through cervical cancer, not me.”
however, Merkerson is on a serious anti-smoking crusade: “If someone had told me that two close friends who celebrated my 40th birthday would not be around to celebrate my 50th, I would have said they were lying. I miss them.”
S. Epatha Merkerson Movies
- 1986 She’s Gotta Have It Doctor Jamison
- 1990 Loose Cannons Rachel
- 1990 Jacob’s Ladder Elsa
- 1990 Navy Seals Jolena
- 1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Tarissa Dyson
- 1999 Random Hearts Nea
- 2001 The Rising Place Lessie Watson
- 2003 Radio Maggie
- 2004 Jersey Girl Doctor
- 2006 Black Snake Moan Angela
- 2007 Slipstream Bonnie
- 2009 The Six Wives of Henry Lefay Effa
- 2009 Mother and Child Ada
- 2012 Find Our Missing Herself
- 2012 Lincoln Lydia Smith
- 2013 Tyler Perry Presents Peeples Daphne Peeples 2015
- The Challenger, Jada
- The 2016 Year by the Sea Liz
S. Epatha Merkerson TV Shows
- 1986–1989 Pee-wee’s Playhouse Reba the Mail Woman
- 1988 The Cosby Show Book Club Member #5
- 1989 CBS Summer Playhouse Jimmie
- 1990 Equal Justice Mrs. Walters
- 1991 Law & Order Denise Winters
- 1992 Mann & Machine Capt. Margaret Claghorn
- 1992–1993 Here and Now Ms. St. Marth
- 1993–2010 Law & Order Anita Van Buren
- 1994 A Place for Annie Alice
- 1995 A Mother’s Prayer Ruby
- 1998 Exiled Anita Van Buren
- 2000 Frasier Dr. McCaskill
- 2001 Art:21 Herself
- 2001 A Girl Thing Lani
- 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Anita Van Buren
- 2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Anita Van Buren
- 2005 Lackawanna Blues Rachel “Nanny” Crosby
- 2007 The Closer Dr. Rebecca Dioli
- 2007 Girl, Positive Ariel Winters
- 2012 Drop Dead Diva Judge Hiller
- 2013 The Good Wife Judge Melanie Ellis
- 2013 Deception Beverly
- 2014 The Gabby Douglas Story Miss Caroline
- 2015 Being Mary Jane Mark’s mother
- 2015–Present Chicago Fire Sharon Goodwin
- Chicago Med
- 2016–Present Chicago P.D.
S. Epatha Merkerson Awards
- 1992 Obie Award Outstanding Performance (I’m Not Stupid)
- 1999 Helen Hayes Award Outstanding Lead Actress-Resident Play (The Old Settler)
- 2002 Regulus Award For her dedication to lung cancer awareness and education
- 2005 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2006 SunDeis Film Festival at Brandeis University Entertainer of the Year Award
- 2006 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or
- Miniseries (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2006 PRISM Award Performance in a TV-Movie or Miniseries (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2006 Obie Award Outstanding Performance (Birdie Blue)
- 2006 NAACP Image Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Law & Order)
- 2006 NAACP Image Award Best Actress in a Made for TV Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special (LackawannaBlues)
- 2006 Gracie Allen Award Outstanding Female Lead – Miniseries (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for
- Television (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2006 Black Reel Award Best Actress in a Made for TV Movie or Miniseries (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2010 NAACP Image Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Law & Order)
- 2011 NAACP Image Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Law & Order)
- 2013 Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters, Montclair State University.
S. Epatha Merkerson Nominations
- 1990 Helen Hayes Award Best Actress, Non-Resident Play (The Piano Lesson)
- 1990 Drama Desk Award Best Actress, Lead Role-Play (The Piano Lesson)
- 1990 Tony Award Best Actress, Featured Role-Play (The Piano Lesson)
- 1997 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Law & Order)
- 1998 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Law & Order)
- 1999 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Law & Order)
- 2005 Satellite Award Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television
- (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2006 Vision Award Best Dramatic Performance (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2006 Lucille Lortel Award Best Actress (Birdie Blue)
- 2006 Independent Spirit Award Best Female Lead (Lackawanna Blues)
- 2006 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance (Birdie Blue)
- 2007 NAACP Image Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Law & Order)
- 2008 NAACP Image Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Law & Order)
- 2008 NAACP Image Award Best Actress in a Made for TV Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special (Girl,Positive)
- 2008 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play (Come Back, Little Sheba)
- 2008 NAACP Theatre Award Best Lead Female – Equity (Come Back, Little Sheba)
Frequently Asked Questions About S. Epatha Merkerson
Who is Epatha Merkerson?
S. Epatha Merkerson is a well-known actress, film, stage, and television actress. Merkerson is notable for her award-winning portrayal of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the NBC police procedural drama series Law & Order, a role she played from 1993 to 2010.
How old is Epatha Merkerson?
Merkerson is an American national born on 28 November 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan, United States.
How tall is Epatha Merkerson?
Merkerson stands at a height of 1.67 m.
Is Epatha Merkerson married?
Yes, Merkerson was married to Toussaint L. Jones from 1994 to 2006. They had dated from 1975. After a decade of marriage, their relationship could not work out and they called it quits. In 2006, S. Epatha Merkerson and her husband divorced.
How much is Epatha Merkerson worth?
S. Epatha Merkerson has a net worth of $11 million. Credits to her acting career for enabling accumulate such a net worth. She has been in the show business for almost 33 years.
How much does Epatha Merkerson make?
Merkerson’s salary per episode is not known. We are keeping tabs and we shall update this section as soon as the information is available.
Where does Epatha Merkerson live?
Merkerson is a resident of New York City, USA, we shall upload pictures of his house as soon as we have them.
Is Epatha Merkerson dead or alive?
Epatha Merkerson is still alive and in good health. There have been no reports of her being sick or having any health-related issues.
How do you pronounce S Epatha?
First off, it’s pronounced “ee-PAY-thuh.”
Where is S. Epatha Merkerson Now?
Merkerson is still an active participant in the creative entertainment industry.
- Youtube
- Tiktok
- Website
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