S. Epatha Merkerson Add to My Celebs Age 59 Birthday Nov. 28th, 1952 Born in Saginaw, Michigan, USA Height 5' 6"

S. Epatha Merkerson's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Law & Order Lt. Anita V… The Closer Dr. Rebecca… 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

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:

• Has been nominated twice for the 'Helen Hayes (I)' (qv) Award, first in 1990 for "The Piano Lesson" (Outstanding Lead Actress-Nonresident Production) and in 1999 for "The Old Settler" (Outstanding Lead Actress-Resident Play), for which she won the award.
• 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.
• In April 2006, co-star 'Jesse L. Martin' (qv) presented Merkerson with the Entertainer of the Year Award at the SunDeis Film Festival at Brandeis Universty.
• 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.
• Is the youngest of five children.
• Her sister is a lung-cancer survivor.
• 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".

S. Epatha Merkerson Photos

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