How Much is S. Epatha Merkerson Worth? S. Epatha Merkerson's Assets & Salary - Is the Star a Billionaire? Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

Many fans are curious about S. Epatha Merkerson's financial success in 2026. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What is S. Epatha Merkerson's Net Worth and Salary?

S. Epatha Merkerson is an American actress who has a net worth of $12 million. S. Epatha Merkerson is probably best-known for her long-running role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC's "Law & Order". She appeared in 395 episodes of the franchise (including guest appearances in sister shows) between 1993 and 2010. For many years Merkerson held the record for the longest-running African-American character on television. That record was overtaken byIce T, who achieved the feat on "Law & Order: SVU." After Since leaving "Law & Order" in 2010, she has continued to appear in a wide variety of film, television, and theater projects. She has won numerous awards, including an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, an Obie, and four NAACP Image Awards. She has also been nominated for two Tony Awards. In 2015 she began appearing as a main cast member of the "Chicago" series of shows (Fire, Med, P.D.). Merkerson has also appeared in many films, including "She's Gotta Have It," "Jacob's Ladder," "Lackawanna Blues," "Lincoln," and "Year by the Sea."

Early Life and Education

Sharon Epatha Merkerson was born on November 28, 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan and grew up in Detroit. She has four older siblings named Linda, Debbie, Barrie, and Zephry; the kids were raised by their mother Ann, a post office worker. Merkerson was educated at Cooley High School, from which she graduated in 1970. She went on to attend Wayne State University, earning her BFA degree in theatre in 1976. After that, Merkerson obtained her MFA from New York University in 1978.

Television Career

Merkerson began her television career in 1986 playing Reba the Mail Lady on the CBS Saturday morning show "Pee-wee's Playhouse." She remained on the show until 1989. After that, Merkerson appeared in the pilot episode of "Equal Justice"; she also made her first appearance on "Law & Order," playing the grief-stricken mother of a slain baby. In 1992, she had main roles on two short-lived NBC series: the science-fiction police drama "Mann & Machine" and the sitcom "Here and Now."

Merkerson landed her biggest role the next year when she joined "Law & Order" in its fourth season. Her guest performance earlier in the show's run impressed producers so much that they chose her to replaceDann Florekas the detective squad chief. Merkerson went on to play Lieutenant Anita Van Buren for 17 seasons of "Law & Order" through 2010, when the show ended. For her work, she earned multiple SAG and NAACP Image Award nominations, winning three NAACP Image Awards overall.

Merkerson had many other credits during the run of "Law & Order." In the 90s, she appeared in the television films "A Place for Annie" and "A Mother's Prayer." She gave one of her most acclaimed performances in 2005, starring as boarding house lady Rachel "Nanny" Crosby in the HBO television film "Lackawanna Blues," based on the eponymous play. Merkerson won a slew of laurels for her performance, including Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG, and NAACP Image Awards. Following that, she appeared on "The Closer" and in the Lifetime television movie "Girl, Positive." Merkerson's next main role came in 2015, when she began playing Sharon Goodwin on NBC's "Chicago Med." She also appeared in the role in some episodes of "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D."

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Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.