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S. Epatha
Merkerson
as Lt. Anita Van Buren |
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S. Epatha Merkerson, entering her 15th season on the perennial hit series “Law & Order,” received a 2006 NAACP Image Award and 2007 NAACP Image Award Nomination for her portrayal of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. An Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award winner, Merkerson has won critical acclaim for her brilliant work in theatre, television and film.
Starring in the HBO film “Lackawanna Blues” as Rachel “Nanny” Crosby, Merkerson also garnered a 2006 NAACP Image Award, a Gracie Allen Award and an IFP Spirit nomination. Other film credits include: "The Rising Place,” “Radio" (Cammie Award), "Jersey Girl," "Random Hearts," "Terminator II: Judgment Day," "Jacob’s Ladder," "Navy Seals" and "Loose Cannons."
On stage, she can be seen as Lola in “Come Back Little Sheba” which will run from June 24 – July 15th at the Kirk Douglas Theater. Michael Pressman will direct the new production of William Inge’s tender drama about a fragile marriage steeped in delusion and longing.
In film, she recently starred in "Black Snake Moan" with Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake. She will next be seen in the independent film “Slipstream” written and directed by Anthony Hopkins. She stars opposite Anthony Hopkins, Fionnula Flanagan, Jeffrey Tambor and Camryn Manheim. The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
Merkerson has co-starred in numerous television movies including "A Mother’s Prayer” with Linda Hamilton, "An Unexpected Life" and "It’s A Girl Thing” with Stockard Channing, and "A Place for Annie” with Mary-Louise Parker and Sissy Spacek. In 1998, she reprised her role as Lt. Anita Van Buren for the NBC movie "Exiled" with Chris Noth.
Prior to "Law & Order," Merkerson was a series regular on "Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” (where she played Reba The Mail Lady), Dick Wolf's "Mann and Machine” and the "Cosby" spin-off "Here and Now" with Malcolm Jamal Warner. She also filmed pilots "Moe’s World,” "Elysian Fields" and "Equal Justice," and made guest appearances on the NBC comedies "The Cosby Show" and "Frasier."
On stage, Merkerson has performed on and off-Broadway in productions including Suzan Lori-Parks' "F**king A" (Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress); August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Piano Lesson" (Tony, Drama Desk and Helen Hayes nominations for Best Actress); the Young Playwrights Festival's production of "I’m Not Stupid" (Obie Award) and "The Old Settler" (Helen Hayes Award). She most recently performed in Cheryl West's play "Birdie Blue" (Obie Award, Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress and Drama League Distinguished Performance Award) at Second Stage Theatre in New York City.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Merkerson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wayne State University. She lives in New York City.
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