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Sharon Epatha Merkerson is an American film, stage, and television actress. She has received numerous high-profile accolades for her work, including an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four NAACP Image Awards, two Obie Awards and two Tony Award nominations. Merkerson is also the recipient of 4 honorary doctorate degrees. She is best known 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. She appeared in 395 episodes of the series.
Birth Name
Sharon Epatha Merkerson
Born
Friday, 28 November 1952
Links
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| We Grown Now | Anita | 2024 |
| Poker Face | Joyce Harris | 2023 |
| Blood Sugar Rising | Narrator | 2020 |
| Year by the Sea | Liz | 2016 |
| Chicago Med | Sharon Goodwin | 2015 |
| The Challenger | Jada | 2015 |
| Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee | Self | 2014 |
| The Gabby Douglas Story | Miss Caroline | 2014 |
| Chicago P.D. | Sharon Goodwin | 2014 |
| Being Mary Jane | Mark's Mother | 2013 |
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| We Grown Now | Anita | 2024 |
| Poker Face | Joyce Harris | 2023 |
| Blood Sugar Rising | Narrator | 2020 |
| Year by the Sea | Liz | 2016 |
| Chicago Med | Sharon Goodwin | 2015 |
| The Challenger | Jada | 2015 |
| Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee | Self | 2014 |
| The Gabby Douglas Story | Miss Caroline | 2014 |
| Chicago P.D. | Sharon Goodwin | 2014 |
| Being Mary Jane | Mark's Mother | 2013 |
| Peeples | Daphne Peeples | 2013 |
| Deception | Beverly | 2013 |
| Lincoln | Lydia Smith | 2012 |
| Chicago Fire | Sharon Goodwin | 2012 |
| Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. | Self | 2012 |
| Find Our Missing | Self - Host | 2012 |
| Rocco's Dinner Party | Self | 2011 |
| Through The Grape Vine | Self | 2011 |
| Mother and Child | Ada | 2009 |
| The Good Wife | Judge Melanie Ellis | 2009 |
| Drop Dead Diva | Judge Hiller | 2009 |
| The Six Wives of Henry Lefay | Effa | 2009 |
| Celebrity Family Feud | Self - Celebrity Contestant | 2008 |
| The 62nd Annual Tony Awards | Self - Nominee | 2008 |
| Girl, Positive | Ariel Winters | 2007 |
| Black Snake Moan | Angela | 2007 |
| Slipstream | Bonnie | 2007 |
| Comic Relief 2006 | Self | 2006 |
| Rachael Ray | Self | 2006 |
| The 60th Annual Tony Awards | Self - Presenter | 2006 |
| The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays | Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson") | 2006 |
| Made in Hollywood | Self | 2005 |
| The Closer | Dr. Rebecca Dioli | 2005 |
| Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren | 2005 |
| Lackawanna Blues | Rachel "Nanny" Crosby | 2005 |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Self - Guest | 2005 |
| TV Land Moguls | Self | 2004 |
| Jersey Girl | Doctor #1 | 2004 |
| Radio | Maggie | 2003 |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren | 2001 |
| Art in the Twenty-First Century | Self | 2001 |
| The Rising Place | Lessie Watson | 2001 |
| A Girl Thing | Lani (Co-worker) | 2001 |
| Random Hearts | Nea | 1999 |
| Paul Robeson: Here I Stand | Eslanda Robeson (voice) | 1999 |
| Exiled | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren / Anita Van Buren | 1998 |
| An Unexpected Life | Beverly Hawkins | 1998 |
| Breaking Through | Barbara | 1996 |
| The Daily Show | Self | 1996 |
| Inside the Actors Studio | Self | 1994 |
| A Place for Annie | Alice | 1994 |
| Frasier | Dr. McCaskill | 1993 |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Herself | 1993 |
| South Beach | Madam Bouchard | 1993 |
| Homicide: Life on the Street | Lieutenant Anita Van Buren | 1993 |
| Here and Now | Ms. St. Marth / Claudia St. Marth | 1992 |
| Mann & Machine | Capt. Margaret Claghorn / Captain Margaret Claghorn | 1992 |
| Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Tarissa Dyson | 1991 |
| Jacob's Ladder | Elsa | 1990 |
| Law & Order | Anita Van Buren / Lieutenant Anita Van Buren / Mrs. Denise Winters | 1990 |
| Navy Seals | Jolena | 1990 |
| The 44th Annual Tony Awards | Self - Nominee & Performer | 1990 |
| Equal Justice | Mrs. Walters | 1990 |
| Loose Cannons | Rachel | 1990 |
| Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse | Reba | 1988 |
| Beverly Hills Buntz | Meter Maid | 1987 |
| CBS Summer Playhouse | Jimmie | 1987 |
| Pee-wee's Playhouse | Reba | 1986 |
| She's Gotta Have It | Doctor Jamison | 1986 |
| American Masters | Narrator / Eslanda Robeson | 1986 |
| The Cosby Show | Elena | 1984 |
| ABC Afterschool Specials | Ruth Clayton | 1972 |
| Great Performances | Narrator | 1971 |
| Jeopardy! | Herself - Celebrity Contestant | 1964 |
Director Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
Producer Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 2006 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Won |
| 2005 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | Won |
