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S. Epatha Merkerson

Age: 56
Height: 5' 6"

Birth Place: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Born: Nov. 28th, 1952

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S. Epatha Merkerson's Main TV Roles

Show	Character(s)
Law & Order	Lt. Anita Van&hellip
The Closer	Dr. Rebecca D&hellip
Mann & Machine	Capt. Margare&hellip
Here and Now	Ms. St. Marth
Life & Style	S. Epatha Mer&hellip
South Beach (1993)	Madam Bouchard

NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at IMDB

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:

Along with 'Jerry Orbach' (qv) and 'Annie Parisse' (qv), 'Diane Neal' (qv), and 'Milena Govich' (qv) one of at least 5 _"Law & Order" (1990)_ (qv) cast members to play a different character in an episode before joining the cast in a later season. ('Michael Imperioli' (qv) also played multiple roles, but was not a permanent addition to the cast as Det. Falco.).
Was nominated for Broadway's 1990 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for 'August Wilson' (qv)'s "The Piano Lesson."
Was nominated for Broadway's 2008 Tony Award for Best Performance By a Leading Actress in a Play for "Come Back, Little Sheba".
Before studying Acting, she majored in Dance at Wayne State University.
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".
When walking the streets of New York she is frequently approached by members of the NYPD, who jokingly ask how they can be transferred to her precinct.
Her parents are originally from the South, and came to Michigan (Merkerson's birthplace) in search of work.
Works with Justice Works Community, a group "advocating for humane policies towards women in prison, especially those with children."