S Epatha Merkerson Biography
S Epatha Merkerson is a celebrated American actress acclaimed for her comprehensive work in television and theater. She is popular for her part as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC’s long-running series, Law & Order, where she holds the record as the longest-running African-American character on TV.
10 Quick Facts About S Epatha Merkerson
- Name: S Epatha Merkerson
- Age: 72 Years Old
- Birthday: November 28
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches (1.67 m)
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Actress
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Salary: Under Review
- Net worth: $12 million
S Epatha Merkerson Age
Merkerson is 72 years old. She was born on November 28, 1952, in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. He celebrates his birthday on 28 November every year, and her birth sign is Sagittarius.
S Epatha Merkerson Height
Merkerson stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.67 m).
S Epatha Merkerson Weight Loss
Merkerson weighs 61.2 kg (135 lbs). She previously weighed 78.9 kg (174 lbs) before she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the age of 50. She was able to lose weight through proper diet and regular exercise.
Early Life and Education
Merkerson was born on November 28, 1952, in Saginaw, Michigan, United States, as the daughter of her mother, Ann Merkerson, a postal worker, and her unknown father. She grew up alongside her four siblings: Linda Merkerson, Barrie Merkerson, Zephry Merkerson, and Debbie Merkerson-Gooch.
Merkerson attended Cooley High School and graduated in 1970. She then enrolled at Wayne State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre in 1976. She proceeded to attain her master’s degree in fine arts from New York University in 1978.
Rise to Fame and Breakthrough Moment
- Merkerson rose to fame for her role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC’s long-running series, Law & Order, where she holds the record as the longest-running African-American character on TV.
- She also became famous for her part as Sharon Goodwin in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med and Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
Major Achievements and Contributions
- In May 2009, Merkerson was made an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters four times, first by Wayne State University in May 2009, the second in 2012 by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the third in 2013 by Montclair State University, and the another in 2017 by the University of Pittsburgh.
- She was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in the play The Piano Lesson.
- She also won a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Emmy Award for her performance in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues.
- Merkerson became a representative for Merck America’s Diabetes Challenge to raise Type 2 diabetes awareness among African-Americans.
Personal Life
S Epatha Merkerson Family, Parents
Merkerson was born in Saginaw, Michigan, United States, as the daughter of her mother, Ann Merkerson, a postal worker, and her unknown father. She is the youngest of the five kids raised by her mother single-handedly. However, she has not revealed the identity of her father to the public.
S Epatha Merkerson Siblings
Merkerson has four siblings, namely, Linda Merkerson, Barrie Merkerson, Zephry Merkerson, and Debbie Merkerson-Gooch.
S Epatha Merkerson Husband
Merkerson is divorced. She was earlier married to Toussaint L. Jones. The couple married in 1994 and, unfortunately, divorced in 2006.
S Epatha Merkerson Children
After doing our research, details about Merkerson’s children are not known to the public it is also not known if she has any children. However, this information will be updated as soon as it is publicly available
S Epatha Merkerson Net Worth
S Epatha Merkerson has an estimated net worth of $12 million dollars. This includes her assets, money, and income. Her primary source of income is her career as an Actress. Through his various sources of income, Merkerson has been able to accumulate good fortune, but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle
Facts: Everything You Need to Know About S Epatha Merkerson
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Merkerson.
S Epatha Merkerson Bio.
- Full Names: Sharon Epatha Merkerson
- Popular As: Actress
- Gender: Female
- Occupation / Profession: Actress
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: White
- Religion: Not Available
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 72 Years Old
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Date of Birth: November 28, 1952
- Place of Birth: Saginaw, Michigan, United States
- Birthday: November 28
Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 6 inches (1.67 m)
- Weight: 61.2 kg (135 lbs)
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Black
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Dress Size: Not Available
- Chest Size: Not Available
- Waist Size: Not Available
- Hip Size: Not Available
Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Not Available
- Mother: Ann Merkerson
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Linda Merkerson, Barrie Merkerson, Zephry Merkerson, and Debbie Merkerson-Gooch
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Husband/Spouse: Toussaint L. Jones (m.1994-2006)
- Dating / Boyfriend: Not Available
- Children: Sons (Not Available), Daughter(s) (Not Available)
Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $12 million
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: Actress
Law and Order
Law and Order is an acclaimed American police legal and procedural drama TV series produced by Universal Television, created by Dick Wolf, and launched by Wolf Entertainment. The series Law and Order aired its full run on NBC, premiering on September 13, 1990, and ending its 20th season on May 24, 2010.
After an 11-year break, NBC announced that the series would be back for a 21st season, which premiered on February 24, 2022. The series has been nominated and has won numerous accolades over the years.
Merkerson played the role of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC’s long-running series, Law and Order, where she holds the record as the longest-running African-American character on TV.
Leaving Law and Order
On April 1, 2010, NBC confirmed that after 17 seasons, Merkerson would depart Law and Order at the end of the show’s 20th season. Her exit from Law and Order, which aired on May 24, 2010, was also the show’s last episode. Merkerson appeared on the series for 17 successive seasons with 395 episodes in total.
Contacts
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