S. Epatha Merkerson

The youngest of five children raised by a single mother in Detroit. Made her big-screen debut in director Spike Lee's first feature, 1986 romantic comedy  She's Gotta Have It . Theater honors include an Obie Award in 1991 for I'm Not Stupid and a Helen Hayes Award in 1999 for The Old Settler . Covered her unprocessed hair with a wig to play New York police lieutenant Anita Van Buren on  Law & Order . A former smoker who quit cold turkey after losing a close friend to lung cancer, she has become… Show more a spokesperson for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. First name is really Sharon, but she jokes that the "S" stands for "Sweet." ~ Rovi

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