S. Epatha Merkerson's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Closer Dr. Rebecca… Law & Order Lt. Anita V… Here and Now Ms. St. Marth Life & Style S. Epatha M… South Beach (1993) Madam Bouch…

Main Movie Roles 2010 - Mother and Child 2009 - The Six Wives of Henry Lefay 2007 - Slipstream 2006 - Black Snake Moan 2004 - Jersey Girl 2003 - Radio 1999 - Random Hearts 1991 - Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1990 - Loose Cannons 1990 - Navy Seals 1990 - Jacob's Ladder 1986 - She's Gotta Have It

BIOGRAPHY:

A native of Michigan, S. Epatha Merkerson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Wayne State University. In 1978, she moved to New York City to apply her craft on stage. Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama "Law & Order" (1990), she has a long list of Broadway and off-Broadway credits and honors that include Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nominations for Best Actress for her performance in the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson (1995) (TV), a 1992 Obie Award for her performance in "I'm Not Stupid," and a 1998 Helen Hayes Award for her starring role in the Studio Theater production in Washington, DC, of the John Henry Redwood play "The Old Settler." Her first appearance on television was a guest-starring role on an episode of "The Cosby Show" (1984). Her earliest regular role in television, however, was that of Reba the Mail Woman on "Pee-wee's Playhouse" (1986). Merkerson remains a theatrical force on the stage and on the screen and has the distinction of having been nominated for an Image Award in the Outstanding-Lead-Actress-in-a-Drama category for "Law & Order" (1990) for three consecutive years by the NAACP.


TRIVIA:

• As Lt. Anita Van Buren, Merkerson has done over 300 episodes and is the longest-running African-American character on television. Male or female.
• Smoked for twenty years before quitting.
• Nominated for the 2008 NAACP Theatre Award (Best Lead Female) for her performance as Lola in a revival of "Come Back, Little Sheba." The other three nominees, 'Jeannette Bayardelle' (qv), 'Felicia Fields' (qv) and 'Michelle Williams (I)' (qv), were all nominated for the work in "The Color Purple".
• Her parents are originally from the South, and came to Michigan (Merkerson's birthplace) in search of work.
• Nominated for the Drama League's Distinguished Performance Award for her work in "Fucking A" (2003), "Birdie Blue" (2006) and "Come Back, Little Sheba" (2008).
• Her favorite _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv) episode is the first season show "Mushrooms," in which she plays Denise Winters, a woman whose son is mistakenly killed by a boy who, unable to read, fires shots into the wrong apartment.
• Won her second Village Voice Obie Award in 2006 for her work in "Birdie Blue."
• With 'Jerry Orbach' (qv)'s departure from _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv) in 2004 after playing the role of Detective Lennie Briscoe for twelve years, she is now the longest-running cast member. She joined the series as Lt. Anita Van Buren in 1993 at the beginning of the show's fourth season.