S. Epatha Merkerson: Movies & Box Office
- films
- 21
- on screen
- 1988–2025
- box office
- $68.7M
- average score
- 74
- Born
- November 28, 1952 (age 73)
- Birthplace
- Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
- Full name
- Sharon Epatha Merkerson
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actress
- Years active
- 1976-present
The Best S. Epatha Merkerson Movies
The films of S. Epatha Merkerson that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: Radio (2003) leads with $53.3M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
S. Epatha Merkerson's Career in Numbers
S. Epatha Merkerson's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres S. Epatha Merkerson works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (1988) to Eye for an Eye (2025), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.
S. Epatha Merkerson Movies by Decade
- 1980s 1
- 1990s 6
- 2000s 5
- 2010s 5
- 2020s 3
The 1990s were S. Epatha Merkerson's busiest decade, with 6 films.
S. Epatha Merkerson Movies by Genre
- Drama 10
- Documentary 3
- Tv movie 2
- Comedy 2
- Horror 1
- Crime 1
- Family 1
Drama is the genre S. Epatha Merkerson has worked in most, with 10 films, ahead of documentary (3).
S. Epatha Merkerson Career Milestones
- First film
- Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special 1988
- Biggest box office hit
- Radio $53.3M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Eye for an Eye Movie Echo Score 90
- Newest film
- Eye for an Eye 2025
S. Epatha Merkerson Filmography: Every Movie
Every film S. Epatha Merkerson is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 74. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
S. Epatha Merkerson Movies as an Actor
20- 2025
Eye for an Eye as May Roberts · Horror Worldwide box office: $206K Movie Echo Score: 90 - 2024
We Grown Now as Anita · Drama Worldwide box office: $297K Movie Echo Score: 80 - 2021
Desmond’s Not Here Anymore as Selma · Drama - 2017
Year by the Sea as Liz · Drama Movie Echo Score: 52 - 2016
You Can Go as Mrs. Bryant · Drama - 2014
The Gabby Douglas Story as Miss Caroline · Tv movie - 2013
Peeples Comedy Worldwide box office: $9.31M - 2010
We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918 as Narrator (voice) · Documentary - 2009
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay as Effa · Comedy - 2008
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun as Narrator (voice) · Documentary - 2007
Girl, Positive as Ariel Winters · Drama - 2005
Lackawanna Blues as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby · Drama - 2003
Radio Drama Worldwide box office: $53.3M - 1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand as Eslanda Robeson (voice) · Documentary - 1998
An Unexpected Life as Beverly Hawkins · Tv movie - 1996
Breaking Through as Barbara · Drama - 1995
A Mother’s Prayer as Ruby · Drama - 1994
A Place for Annie as Alice · Drama - 1990
Loose Cannons as Rachel · Crime Worldwide box office: $5.59M - 1988
Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special as Reba · Family
S. Epatha Merkerson in Documentaries & Specials
1
Who Is S. Epatha Merkerson?
S. Epatha Merkerson was born in Saginaw, Michigan, U.S. in 1952 and is 73 years old. Credited on films since 1988, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
S. Epatha Merkerson, born as Sharon Epatha Merkerson on November 28, 1952, is a highly acclaimed American actress. Her work on stage and screen has earned her an array of accolades, including an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four NAACP Image Awards, two Obie Awards, and two Tony Award nominations. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of NYPD Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the NBC police procedural drama series Law & Order, appearing in 388 episodes from 1993 to 2010. Merkerson is also recognized for her role as Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee's Playhouse and as Sharon Goodwin in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med since 2015. Prior to gaining fame, Merkerson graduated from Wayne State University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre. A passionate advocate for education, she received honorary Doctorates from multiple universities. With the debut of her character on Pee-wee's Playhouse, Merkerson started her illustrious career. She had various roles on television series and moved to Broadway, which led to multiple award-winning portrayals. After 17 seasons on Law & Order, she left the show only to continue her career in series such as Find Our Missing and widely acclaimed films like Steven Spielberg's Lincoln.
Who S. Epatha Merkerson Makes Movies With
The actors and directors S. Epatha Merkerson shares the most films with. David Alan Grier comes first, with 2 films together, followed by RuPaul (2).
S. Epatha Merkerson: Questions & Answers
How many movies S. Epatha Merkerson has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has S. Epatha Merkerson been in?
S. Epatha Merkerson is credited on 21 films, from 1988 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is S. Epatha Merkerson's highest-grossing movie?
Radio (2003) is S. Epatha Merkerson's biggest box office hit, with $53.3M worldwide, ahead of Peeples (2013) ($9.31M). Across every film with box office figures, S. Epatha Merkerson's movies have made $68.7M.
S. Epatha Merkerson's biggest hits What is the best S. Epatha Merkerson movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, S. Epatha Merkerson's best-rated film is Eye for an Eye (2025) with a score of 90, followed by We Grown Now (2024) (80).
Best S. Epatha Merkerson movies, ranked How old is S. Epatha Merkerson?
S. Epatha Merkerson is 73 years old, born on November 28, 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan, U.S..
What is S. Epatha Merkerson's newest movie?
The most recent film on S. Epatha Merkerson's filmography is Eye for an Eye (2025), in the role of May Roberts.
Who does S. Epatha Merkerson work with most often?
S. Epatha Merkerson shares the most films with David Alan Grier (2 films), RuPaul (2 films) and Thomas Kopache (2 films).
The Best S. Epatha Merkerson Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 21 credits.
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