S. Epatha Merkerson Net Worth

August 2024 · 14 minute read

Sharon Epatha Merkerson net worth is
$5 Million

Sharon Epatha Merkerson Wiki Biography

Sharon Epatha Merkerson was born on the 28th November 1952, in Saginaw, Michigan USA. She is a stage, television and film actress, probably best recognized from starring in the role of Anita Van Buren in the TV drama series “Law & Order” (1993-2010), playing Rachel “Nanny” Crosby in “Lackawanna Blues” (2005), and as Ariel Winters in “Girl, Positive” (2007). She is also known for being a TV host. Her career has been active since 1986.

So, have you ever wondered how rich S. Epatha Merkerson is? It has been estimated by sources that the size of Merkerson’s net worth is over $5 million as of mid- 2016, which has been accumulated through her successful involvement in the entertainment industry not only as an actress, but also as a host. Another source is coming from her career as a teacher of drama at the City College of New York. Additional to all of these, she has also appeared in several commercials, which has also contributed to her net worth.

S. Epatha Merkerson Net Worth $5 Million

S. Epatha Merkerson is the youngest of five children raised by a single mother, Ann, who worked in the post office, as her father left them in 1957. She went to Cooley High School, and right after matriculation in 1970, she enrolled at Wayne State University in Detroit, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Later, in 2009, she was rewarded with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Wayne State University.

Speaking about her acting career, upon graduation from the college, she moved to Albany, New York, where she started her acting career initially on the stage, joining a children’s theater company, and began appearing in off-Broadway productions.

Subsequently, she made her debut television appearance in 1986, with the role as Reba the Mail Lady in a TV show entitled “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” (1986-1989). With this role her net worth was established, and her popularity began to grow. During the 1980s, she had several more appearances, such as those in “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986), and “Christmas At Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” (1988).

Merkerson continued successfully into the 1990s, securing several notable roles, including as Anita Van Buren in the TV drama series “Law & Order” (1991-2010), appearing in more than 300 episodes, which certainly increased her net worth considerably, but also this role celebrated her as an actress. During the 1990s, she had several more roles in the films and series such as “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991), with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton in lead roles, “Mann & Machine” (1992), “Here And Now” (1992-1993), “A Place For Annie” (1994), and “Random Hearts” (1999). All of there appearances contributed steadily to her net worth.

Although the role of Anita became the main source of her net worth, she still searched for new roles, and as a result she appeared in films “The Rising Place” (2001), Radio” (2003), “Lackawanna Blues” (2005), “Black Snake Moan” (2006), “Splitstream” (2007), and “Mother And Child” (2009), among others, which also added to her net worth.

After “Law & Order” ended, she continued to feature in TV series and films, such as “Peeples” (2013), “The Challenger” (2015), and most recently “Chicago Fire” (2015), “Chicago Med” (2015-2016) and “Chicago PD. Epatha will also appear in the film “Sexual Healling”, which is set to be released in late 2016.

Thanks to her skills, she received several prestigious awards, including the Golden Globe award in the category Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television for her work on “Lackawanna Blues”, and she also won the Primetime Emmy in the category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for the same film. Furthermore, she received two Image Awards in the category Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work on “Law & Order”, among many others.

Apart from her acting career, she is also recognized for being the host of a reality TV show named “Find Our Missing” in 2012, which also increased her overall net worth.

Speaking about her personal life, S. Epatha Merkerson was married to Toussaint L. Jones, Jr. from March 1994 to February of 2006. Currently she is single and resides in the Washington Heights section of New York City. She is also known for being an outspoken advocate against smoking.


Full NameS. Epatha Merkerson
Net Worth$5 Million
Date Of BirthNovember 28, 1952
Place Of BirthSaginaw, Michigan, United States
Height5' 6" (1.68 m)
ProfessionActress, Director, Producer
EducationCooley High School, Wayne State University in Detroit
NationalityAmerican
SpouseToussaint Louverture Jones, Jr.
ParentsAnn Merkerson, Ann Merkerson
SiblingsBarrie Merkerson
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/s_epatha
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0580924/
AwardsNAACP Image Awards, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress (2005), Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress (2006), Screen Actors Guild Award, Obie Award, Helen Hayes Awards
NominationsHonorary Doctor of Humane Letters (Wayne State University)
Movies“The Rising Place” (2001), Radio” (2003), “Lackawanna Blues” (2005), “Black Snake Moan” (2006), “Splitstream” (2007), “Mother And Child” (2009)
TV Shows“Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” (1986-1989), “Law & Order” (1993-2010), “Lackawanna Blues” (2005), “Girl, Positive” (2007), “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986), “Christmas At Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” (1988)
#Quote
1On playing Lola in "Come Back Little Sheba": I'm usually typecast as strong, authoritative, so to find that kind of vulnerability is a real challenge. But Lola is not so far from me, either. I was married, and I understand how to be lonely in a marriage. I believe she's in menopause. And that alone, hormonally, can send a woman into a tailspin. Add in her alcoholic husband, and (you've got) a decent person who's just, um ... stuck. In the past. But she's muuuch stronger than she thinks.
2My dad said he had a teacher named Epatha who was influential in keeping him in school. But my mother said it was an old girlfriend of his. So that's why she stuck in the Sharon Epatha. That's what the "S" stands for. Everyone knows now because some numbskull I went to high school with decided to put it on the Internet.
#Fact
1She was nominated for a 2007-2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Actress in a Play for "Come Back, Little Sheba," was performed in a Manhattan Theatre Club presentation of a Center Theatre Group production on Broadway in New York City.
2She was nominated for a 2008 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for "Come Back, Little Sheba," was performed in a Manhattan Theatre Club presentation of a Center Theatre Group production on Broadway in New York City.
3She was nominated for a 2007 Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance Award for "Come Back, Little Sheba," was performed in a Manhattan Theatre Club presentation of a Center Theatre Group production on Broadway in New York City.
4She was nominated for a 1990 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for "The Piano Lesson" on Broadway in New York City.
5Appeared in a commercial for Coricidin. [2009]
6Playing "Lola Delaney" in "Come Back Little Sheba" by William Inge at the Biltmore Theatre on Broadway for a limited run. [January 2008]
7Performing the lead role in "Birdie Bues" in New York City. [July 2005]
8She appeared in 391 episodes of Law & Order (1990), more than anyone else. Consequently, Lt. Anita Van Buren is the most prolific female character in the history of US primetime television.
9She has played the same character (Lt. Anita Van Buren) in three different television series: Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) and Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005).
10Was nominated for Broadway's 2008 Tony Award for Best Performance By a Leading Actress in a Play for "Come Back, Little Sheba".
11Nominated 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, Felicia Fields and Michelle Williams, were all nominated for the work in "The Color Purple".
12Nominated for the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her performance in "Come Back, Little Sheba".
13Nominated for the Drama League's Distinguished Performance Award for her work in "Fucking A" (2003), "Birdie Blue" (2006) and "Come Back, Little Sheba" (2008).
14As Lt. Anita Van Buren, Merkerson has done over 300 episodes and is the longest-running African-American character on television. Male or female.
15When 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.
16Along with Jerry Orbach and Annie Parisse, Diane Neal, Milena Govich, and Jeremy Sisto one of at least 6 Law & Order (1990) cast members to play a different character in an episode before joining the cast in a later season. (Michael Imperioli also played multiple roles, but was not a permanent addition to the cast as Det. Falco.).
17Won her second Village Voice Obie Award in 2006 for her work in "Birdie Blue."
18In April 2006, co-star Jesse L. Martin presented Merkerson with the Entertainer of the Year Award at the SunDeis Film Festival at Brandeis Universty.
19Is the youngest of five children.
20Her parents are originally from the South, and came to Michigan (Merkerson's birthplace) in search of work.
21Her favorite Law & Order (1990) episode is the first season show "Mushrooms," in which she plays Denise Winters, a woman whose son is mistakenly killed by a boy who, unable to read, fires shots into the wrong apartment.
22Owes much of her success to casting director Meg Simon.
23Her sister is a lung-cancer survivor.
24Works with Justice Works Community, a group "advocating for humane policies towards women in prison, especially those with children."
25Before studying Acting, she majored in Dance at Wayne State University.
26Smoked for twenty years before quitting.
27On a June 11, 2005, episode of the NPR show "Wait wait... Don't tell me!" she claimed that her first name was not Sharon, but rather was "Sweet." This may well have been a jest, but she repeatedly stuck with it.
28Her Law & Order (1990) character, Lt. Anita Van Buren, whom she has played since 1993, is the longest running African American character in an American television drama.
29Has been nominated twice for the Helen Hayes 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.
30In 2002, she received the Regulus Award from the Cancer Care organization for her dedication to lung-cancer awareness and education. The award was presented by her Law & Order (1990) co-star, Jesse L. Martin.
31Was nominated for Broadway's 1990 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson."
32With Jerry Orbach's departure from Law & Order (1990) 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.
33She wears a wig on Law & Order (1990) to cover up her "twist-locs", which have since been cut off and replaced by short-length hair.

All pictures

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Exiled1998TV MovieLieutenant Anita Van Buren
An Unexpected Life1998TV MovieBeverly Hawkins
Breaking Through1996TV MovieBarbara
A Mother's Prayer1995TV MovieRuby
A Place for Annie1994TV MovieAlice
South Beach1993TV SeriesMadam Bouchard
It's Nothing Personal1993TV MovieLouise Waters
Here and Now1992-1993TV SeriesMs. St. Marth
Mann & Machine1992TV SeriesCapt. Margaret Claghorn
ABC Afterschool Specials1992TV SeriesRuth Clayton
Terminator 2: Judgment Day1991Tarissa Dyson
Moe's World1990TV MovieMoe's Mother
Jacob's Ladder1990/IElsa
Navy Seals1990Jolena
Equal Justice1990TV SeriesMrs. Walters
Loose Cannons1990Rachel
Pee-wee's Playhouse1986-1989TV SeriesReba - Mail Woman Reba
CBS Summer Playhouse1989TV SeriesJimmie
Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse1988TV MovieReba - Mail Woman
The Cosby Show1988TV SeriesElena
She's Gotta Have It1986Doctor Jamison (as Epatha Merkinson)
Sexual HealingannouncedAlberta Gay
Chicago Med2015-2017TV SeriesSharon Goodwin
Chicago Fire2015-2017TV SeriesSharon Goodwin
Chicago P.D.2016TV SeriesSharon Goodwin
You Can Go2016ShortMrs. Bryant
Year by the Sea2016Liz
The Challenger2015/IJada
Being Mary Jane2015TV SeriesMark's Mother
The Gabby Douglas Story2014TV MovieMiss Caroline
Peeples2013Daphne Peeples
Deception2013TV SeriesBeverly
The Good Wife2013TV SeriesJudge Melanie Ellis
Boomerang2013TV Movie
Lincoln2012Lydia Smith
Drop Dead Diva2012TV SeriesJudge Hiller
Law & Order1991-2010TV SeriesAnita Van Buren / Mrs. Winters
Mother and Child2009Ada
Great Performances2009TV SeriesNarrator
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay2009Effa
American Masters1999-2008TV Series documentaryNarrator / Eslanda Robeson
The Closer2007TV SeriesDr. Rebecca Dioli
Girl, Positive2007TV MovieAriel Winters
Slipstream2007Bonnie
Black Snake Moan2006Angela
Law & Order: Trial by Jury2005TV SeriesAnita Van Buren
Lackawanna Blues2005TV MovieRachel "Nanny" Crosby
Jersey Girl2004Doctor #1
Radio2003Maggie
Law & Order II: Double or Nothing2003Video GameLieutenant Anita Van Buren (voice)
Law & Order: Dead on the Money2002Video GameLieutenant Anita Van Buren (voice)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent2002TV SeriesAnita Van Buren
The Rising Place2001Lessie Watson
A Girl Thing2001TV MovieLani (Co-worker)
Frasier2000TV SeriesDr. McCaskill
Random Hearts1999Nea

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Peeples2013performer: "Turn You On Unplugged"
Black Snake Moan2006performer: "Balm In Gilead"

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Contradictions of Fair Hope2012

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Contradictions of Fair Hope2012executive producer

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Battlestar Galactica: The Phenomenon2008TV Short documentary special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Entertainment Tonight2015TV SeriesHerself
Today2015TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee2014DocumentaryHerself
Made in Hollywood2013TV SeriesHerself
Reel Junkie2013TV SeriesHerself
Up Close with Carrie Keagan2013TV SeriesHerself
The Wendy Williams Show2012-2013TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Find Our Missing2012-2013TV Series documentaryHerself - Host
Second Coming?: Will Black America Decide the 2012 Election2012TV MovieHerself - Narrator
Rocco's Dinner Party2011TV SeriesHerself
The 56th Annual Obie Awards2011TV SpecialHerself - Host
Vine Talk2011TV SeriesHerself
Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Get the Facts2010TV Movie documentaryNarrator
25th Film Independent Spirit Awards2010TV SpecialHerself
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 19182010DocumentaryNarrator (voice)
Infanity2009TV Series documentaryHerself
The 40th NAACP Image Awards2009TV SpecialHerself
TV Land Moguls2009TV Mini-Series documentaryHerself
The 62nd Annual Tony Awards2008TV SpecialHerself - Nominee: Best Leading Actress in a Play
Live with Kelly and Michael2006-2008TV SeriesHerself
Martha2006-2008TV SeriesHerself
The View2007-2008TV SeriesHerself / Herself - Co-Host
Tavis Smiley2005-2007TV SeriesHerself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson2007TV SeriesHerself
38th NAACP Image Awards2007TV SpecialHerself
Comic Relief 20062006TV Special documentaryHerself
Rachael Ray2006TV SeriesHerself
The 2nd Annual Quill Awards2006TV SpecialHerself
The 60th Annual Tony Awards2006TV SpecialHerself - Presenter: Best Play Montage
Inside the Actors Studio2006TV SeriesHerself
2006 Independent Spirit Awards2006TV Movie documentaryHerself
The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards2006TV Movie documentaryHerself - Winner: Best Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show2005-2006TV SeriesHerself
The WIN Awards2005TV SpecialHerself
The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards2005TV SpecialHerself - Winner: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Jerry Orbach Tribute2005Video shortHerself
Life & Style2005TV SeriesHerself
Romare Bearden at the High2005TV MovieHerself
Inside TV Land: Cops on Camera2002TV Movie documentaryHerself
Art in the Twenty-First Century2001TV Series documentaryHerself
Hollywood Squares2001TV SeriesHerself
The Daily Show2000TV SeriesHerself
Larry King Live2000TV SeriesHerself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien1999-2000TV SeriesHerself
Jeopardy!1999TV SeriesHerself - Celebrity Contestant
5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards1999TV SpecialHerself
The 44th Annual Tony Awards1990TV SpecialHerself - Performer & Nominee: Best Featured Actress in a Play
The More You Know1989TV SeriesHerself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2016Best EnsembleBest Actors Film FestivalFeature DramedyYear by the Sea (2016)
2011Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2010Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2006Golden GlobeGolden Globes, USABest Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for TelevisionLackawanna Blues (2005)
2006Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsBest Actress - TelevisionLackawanna Blues (2005)
2006GracieGracie Allen AwardsOutstanding Female Lead - MiniseriesLackawanna Blues (2005)
2006Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2006Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Actress in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialLackawanna Blues (2005)
2006Prism AwardPrism AwardsPerformance in a TV-Movie or MiniseriesLackawanna Blues (2005)
2006ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or MiniseriesLackawanna Blues (2005)
2005Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieLackawanna Blues (2005)
2005CamieCharacter and Morality in Entertainment AwardsRadio (2003)
2005Gold Derby TV AwardGold Derby AwardsTV Movie/Mini Lead ActressLackawanna Blues (2005)
2005OFTA Television AwardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Actress in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesLackawanna Blues (2005)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2013Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsBest Independent DocumentaryThe Contradictions of Fair Hope (2012)
2009Gold Derby TV AwardGold Derby AwardsTV Movie/Mini Actress of the DecadeLackawanna Blues (2005)
2009Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2008Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialGirl, Positive (2007)
2008Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2007Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2006Independent Spirit AwardIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Female LeadLackawanna Blues (2005)
2006Vision AwardNAMIC Vision AwardsBest Dramatic PerformanceLackawanna Blues (2005)
2005Satellite AwardSatellite AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for TelevisionLackawanna Blues (2005)
2005WIN AwardWomen's Image Network AwardsActress in Made-for-TV Movie/MiniseriesLackawanna Blues (2005)
2004ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2002ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2001Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2001ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
2000ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
1999Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
1999ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
1998Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
1998ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
1997Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
1997ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
1996ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)
1995ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order (1990)

Known for movies


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