S. Epatha Merkerson - Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
An Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award winner, S. Epatha Merkerson has won critical acclaim for her brilliant work in theatre, television and film.
Currently in her 15th season on the perennial hit series "Law & Order," Merkerson has received a 2006 NAACP Image Award and NAACP Image Award Nominations in 2007 and 2008 for her portrayal of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren.
On stage, Merkerson was recently seen in "Come Back Little Sheba" on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre for which she received a Tony nomination, a Drama League nomination and an Outer Critics Circle nomination. Michael Pressman directed the new production of William Inge's tender drama about a fragile marriage steeped in delusion and longing. Merkerson played Lola, a woman lost in her memories and caught in a stale, hapless 25-year marriage with Doc, a man who has his own struggles with the past. Lola opens their home to Marie, a fresh-faced young boarder, and soon the precarious balance of the couple's relationship is shaken by Marie's youthful sexuality and vivaciousness. She starred in the LA production of this at the Kirk Douglas Theater in summer 2007.
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: Judgement Day," "Jacobs Ladder," "Navy Seals," "Loose Cannons" and "Black Snake Moan" with Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake.
She was most recently 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 story is a noir comedy about an actor and would-be screenwriter who, at the very moment of his meeting with fate, comes to discover that life is random and fortune is sightless as he is thrown into a vortex where time, dreams and reality collide in an increasingly whirling slipstream. The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and opened in LA and New York on October 26th.
Merkerson has co-starred in numerous television movies including "Girl, Positive" (for which she is nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award), "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 "Peewee'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 Fileds" and "Equal Justice." She has made guest appearances on "The Cosby Show" the NBC comedy "Frasier" and can be seen in a 3-episode arc of "The Closer."
On stage Merkerson has performed in productions On and Off Broadway 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); "The Old Settler" (Helen Hayes Award) and Cheryl West's' play "Birdie Blue" (Obie Award, Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress and Drama League Distinguished Performance Award).
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Merkerson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wayne State University.
She lives in New York City.
