ACTOR · BORN 1952
S. Epatha Merkerson
- Born
- 28 November 1952, Saginaw, Michigan, USA
- Known for
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Black Snake Moan (2006), Law & Order (1990), Radio (2003)
16 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
S. Epatha Merkerson (born 28 November 1952) is an actor best known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Black Snake Moan and Law & Order.
16 Interesting Facts About S. Epatha Merkerson
Interesting Facts (3)
- #001
When Jerry Orbach left Law & Order in 2004, S. Epatha Merkerson became the series' longest-serving cast member. Orbach had played Detective Lennie Briscoe for twelve years, while Merkerson joined the show in 1993 at the start of the fourth season as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren.
- #002
S. Epatha Merkerson works actively with Justice Works Community, a group that advocates humane policies for women in prison, especially those with children. Through this collaboration she aims to draw attention to the difficulties faced by women in the prison system.
- #003
On the June 11, 2005 episode of the NPR program "Wait wait... Don't tell me!" Merkerson claimed that her first name was "Sweet," not Sharon. The claim was most likely a joke, though the actress insisted on it.
Behind the Scenes (8)
- #004
On the Law & Order set, S. Epatha Merkerson wore a wig to cover her natural twist-locs, a hairstyle she later cut short. The wig was used to preserve the character's formal, serious police image.
- #005
Merkerson was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress (Play) in 2008 for her performance in the play 'Come Back, Little Sheba'. The play is one of William Inge's classics, and the character Lola, whom Merkerson portrayed, was an important opportunity for her to display her dramatic talent.
- #006
In 2006, Merkerson won the Village Voice Obie Award for the second time for her performance in the play 'Birdie Blue'. This award is a prestigious honour given to off-Broadway theatre productions.
- #007
In 2012, Merkerson was invited to join the Actors branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This invitation is an important honor showing her standing and success in the film world. Academy membership is one of the most prestigious positions actors can reach in their careers. This invitation reinforced her reputation in the industry.
- #008
Merkerson appeared in a commercial for the medication Coricidin. This commercial is one of the jobs she took in the early days of her television career. Such commercial work is a common path actors take to make a living and advance their careers. This experience is regarded as one of her first steps in the industry.
- #009
Merkerson was nominated for the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in 'Come Back, Little Sheba.' This award is an important one given by theater critics outside New York. This nomination shows her success in the theater world and the critics' appreciation. This performance is regarded as one of the important productions of her career.
- #010
Merkerson was nominated for the 2007 Drama League Distinguished Performance Award for her performance in 'Come Back, Little Sheba.' The play was a Center Theatre Group production staged on Broadway in New York as a Manhattan Theatre Club presentation. This nomination shows her success in her theater career and the critics' appreciation. This performance is regarded as one of the important productions of her career.
- #011
Merkerson was nominated for the 2007-2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in 'Come Back, Little Sheba.' The play was a Center Theatre Group production staged on Broadway in New York as a Manhattan Theatre Club presentation. This nomination shows her success in the theater world and the critics' appreciation. This performance is regarded as one of the important productions of her career.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #012
S. Epatha Merkerson is frequently stopped by NYPD officers while walking the streets of New York, who jokingly ask her how they can transfer to her precinct. She has said she finds these encounters both entertaining and an honor, and the anecdote shows how widely recognized her on-screen role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren is in real life.
- #013
S. Epatha Merkerson is one of at least six actors who played a different character in an episode of Law & Order before joining the cast in a later season. These actors also include Jerry Orbach, Annie Parisse, Diane Neal, Milena Govich and Jeremy Sisto. Michael Imperioli also played more than one role but did not join the permanent cast as Detective Falco.
Career & Awards (2)
- #014
Before training as an actor, S. Epatha Merkerson studied dance at Wayne State University. That dance training strengthened her stage presence and body language, and it provided an important foundation for her transition into acting while instilling discipline. This background also influenced the physical expressiveness of her performances.
- #015
S. Epatha Merkerson has said she owes much of her success to casting director Meg Simon. Meg Simon was instrumental in her landing the Law & Order role, a major turning point in her career.
Life & Family (1)
- #016
S. Epatha Merkerson's favorite Law & Order episode is "Mushrooms," which aired in the first season. In it she played Denise Winters, a woman who loses her son when a boy who cannot read fires into the wrong apartment.
Related pages
- Christopher Meloni — S. Epatha Merkerson comes up in the facts on that page
- J.K. Simmons — S. Epatha Merkerson comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work