S. Epatha Merkerson
Starring in the HBO film LACKAWANNA BLUES as Rachel Nanny Crosby Ms.
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, JACOBS LADDER, NAVY SEALS and LOOSE CANNONS.
In addition to BLAKE SNAKE MOAN, she recently wrapped production on 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.
Ms. Merkerson has co-starred in numerous television movies including A MOTHER'S PRAYER with Linda Hamilton, AN UNEXPECTED LIFE, 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 AND 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 FIELDS and EQUAL JUSTICE and made guest appearances on THE COSBY SHOW, and the NBC comedy 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); 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.
S. Epatha Merkerson Facts
Birth Name | Sharon Epatha Merkerson |
Occupation | Actress |
Birthday | November 28, 1952 (70) |
Sign | Sagittarius |
Birthplace | Saginaw, Michigan, USA |
Height | 5' 6" (1m68) How tall is S. Epatha Merkerson compared to you? |
Awards | 2006 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie (for Lackawanna Blues) |
2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Best Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries (for Lackawanna Blues) | |
2005 Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (for Lackawanna Blues) |
Selected Filmography
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Chicago Med: Season One | ||
The Green Branch | ||
Help Wanted | ||
Mushrooms | ||
Fame | ||
Called Home | ||
Pee-Wee's Playhouse: The Complete Series | ||
Badge | ||
Lackawanna Blues | ||
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