Skip to content
MovieCove
S. Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson

Actor · Born November 28, 1952 (73) · Saginaw, Michigan, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · Golden Globe winner · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · 1 other major award body

S. Epatha Merkerson (born Sharon Epatha Merkerson) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She has won a Golden Globe, Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, Obie Award, 4 NAACP Image Awards, and 2 Tony Award nominations. She is best known for her role as NYPD Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (1993–2010) on the long-running NBC police procedural drama series Law & Order, as well as the Law & Order TV movie Exiled. She appeared in 390 episodes of the series, more than any other cast member. She has a starring role as Sharon Goodwin on NBC's Chicago Med. She also had a recurring role as Reba (the mail carrier) on Pee-wee's Playhouse, and Ms. St. Marth on the TV series Here and Now. She has appeared in feature films including She's Gotta Have It, Loose Cannons, Jacob's Ladder, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Random Hearts, Radio, Black Snake Moan, Lincoln (2012), and Peeples. She has also appeared in TV movies including A Place for Annie, A Mother's Prayer, Breaking Through, Lackawanna Blues, and The Gabby Douglas Story.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 28, 1952 (73)
From
Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 57 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

What are S. Epatha Merkerson's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
24%
Self
24%
Morality
18%
Survival
15%
Society
13%
Ideas
4%
Power
2%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 6 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 10 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 10 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 10
Mentor
3 of 10
Herald
1 of 10
Threshold guardian
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Hopeful
12
Melancholic
7
Warm
6
Contemplative
8
Other
18

How their films linger

Hopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous5
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch S. Epatha Merkerson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for S. Epatha Merkerson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

57 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Eye for an Eye(2025)

    as May

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • We Grown Now(2023)

    as Anita

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Poker Face(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Joyce Carter

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Desmond's Not Here Anymore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Selma

  • Barbecue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Lillie Anne

  • The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Belize

  • Blood Sugar Rising(2020)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • You Can Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Mrs. Bryant

  • Year by the Sea(2016)

    as Liz

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Chicago Med(2015)

    Show 220 episodes · as Sharon Goodwin

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Challenger(2015)

    as Jada

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Gabby Douglas Story(2014)

    as Miss Caroline

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Chicago P.D.(2014)

    Show 7 episodes · as Sharon Goodwin

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Peeples(2013)

    as Daphne Peeples

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Contradictions of Fair Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Lincoln(2012)

    as Lydia Smith

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Chicago Fire(2012)

    Show 9 episodes · as Sharon Goodwin

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Mother and Child(2009)

    as Ada

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Melanie Ellis

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Six Wives of Henry Lefay(2009)

    as Effa

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Girl, Positive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Ariel Winters

  • Slipstream(2007)

    as Bonnie

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Black Snake Moan(2006)

    as Angela

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Berniece (segment "The Piano Lesson")

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Rebecca Dioli

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Trial by Jury(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Anita Van Buren

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Lackawanna Blues(2005)

    as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Jersey Girl(2004)

    as Doctor #1

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Radio(2003)

    as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Anita Van Buren

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Rising Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Lessie Watson

  • Random Hearts(1999)

    as Nea

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Eslanda Robeson (voice)

  • Exiled(1998)

    as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • An Unexpected Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Beverly Hawkins

  • Breaking Through(1996)

    as Barbara

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • A Mother's Prayer(1995)

    as Ruby

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Place for Annie(1994)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. McCaskill

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • It's Nothing Personal(1993)

    as Louise Waters

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Here and Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 15 episodes · as Claudia St. Marth

  • Mann & Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 9 episodes · as Capt. Margaret Claghorn

  • Second Chances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ruth Clayton

  • Terminator 2: Judgment Day(1991)

    as Tarissa Dyson

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Jacob's Ladder(1990)

    as Elsa

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 390 episodes · as Anita Van Buren · as Denise Winters

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Navy Seals(1990)

    as Jolena

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Moe's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Loose Cannons(1990)

    as Rachel

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse(1988)

    as Reba

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Pee-wee's Playhouse(1986)

    Show 45 episodes · as Reba

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • She's Gotta Have It(1986)

    as Doctor Jamison

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Cosby Show(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Elena

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • After All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Sexual Healing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Alberta Gay

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles, 55 of them dated from 1984 to 2025; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

$518M worldwide

Highest rated

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Law & Order (1990)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
19842025

Peak 1990 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting56 of 57: 56 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score76thDirecting1 of 57: 1 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s4 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s11 · 10 acting · 1 crew2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 5% of 19 roles
869106

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award from 13 major nominations, 1995–2006.

WinNomination
  1. 2006
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Female Lead
  2. 2005
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
  3. 2004
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  4. 2002
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  5. 2001
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  6. 2000
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  7. 1999
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  8. 1998
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Show 3 earlier years
  1. 1997
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  2. 1996
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 1995
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do S. Epatha Merkerson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Year by the Sea (2016)

83rd percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is S. Epatha Merkerson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles23–75 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles24–73 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles38–75 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles26–61 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles41–68 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does S. Epatha Merkerson work with?

People who share at least 2 of S. Epatha Merkerson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Lee Rose shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers