In an interview with the Television Academy,Merkerson talked about her youth growing up in Detroit, the youngest of five siblings, raised by her mother after her parent's divorce. Who is the actress with the last name Merkerson? 'Law & Order' actress S. Epatha Merkerson suing her Riverside Drive co But my mother said it was an old girlfriend of his. I was married, and I understand how to be lonely in a marriage. Van Buren was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the season, and since . In season 17, she is forced to accept Nina Cassady as the replacement for Det. Merkerson also explained that Anita's cancer storyline was among the reasons she felt like it was a good time to depart the series. S. Epatha Merkerson. (used by Rey Curtis, Cyrus Lupo, and Kevin Bernard) and "Lieu" (used by Lennie Briscoe and Ed Green). After her diagnosis, she divorces Donald and begins dating a man named Frank (Ernie Hudson). And it was a no-brainer when they asked.". "I love the work, but the work has been enhanced by the relationships that I've made with the people here. "The thing I realize too is the shame that comes with it," she says. Now Merkerson is returning to television to play hospital administrator Sharon Goodwin in the new NBC drama Chicago Med. Her parents separated when she was five. However, in the final episode of the season (and ultimately the series), "Rubber Room", her health appears to have improved: she receives a call from her doctor, looks back at her colleagues and whispers "Thank youThank you" to herself. Although she never went back to school after getting her BFA, she has been awarded four honorary doctorates. As reported in USA Today, Merkerson checks her blood sugar twice a day and tracks how she's doing with regular doctor visits. S. Epatha Merkerson. They're not just faceless people.". Though they may be gone, they are no longer forgotten.". "He's a good guy, and he started laughing. Competence: Directed by Fred Gerber. In the final episode of the 20th season, it is revealed that she and Frank are engaged. Through 20 seasons, the message of Law & Order was always about living to fight another day. Although diabetes runs in her family, Merkerson says they didn't talk about it. Merkerson took action. They stayed married for almost 12 years. Merkerson thought he wanted a photograph or autograph. While some cast members from previous seasons were in talks to reprise their roles in the revival Anthony Anderson had signed a one-year deal to come back as Detective Kevin Bernard Merkerson didn't ultimately return. After a difficult treatment journey, Anita's health improves. . At the time, Merkerson was playing the iconic Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC's "Law & Order.". It's paid off. 'Law & Order': Lieutenant Van Buren Actor Shares Tear - Outsider For example, her work schedule can often vary: She may have a 5 a.m. call one day for work and a 4:30 p.m. call the next. After this information was revealed to Merkerson, she tearfully said, "They have names. Everyone knows now because some numbskull I went to high school with decided to put it on the Internet. She talked to someone about exercise, cooked something healthy, and had her blood sugar tested at the Howard University table while on camera. They got divorced in 2006. Lt. Anita Van Buren (Law & Order) : r/LawAndOrder - Reddit The Question & Answer (Q&A) Knowledge Managenet. The doctor asked her to come back after she finished filming for the day, taking her blood sugar again. The roof, she alleges, was in such bad shape that she had to move out while it was being repaired. She was diagnosed on March 20, 1995, and by April 10 she was dead. In an interview with the Television Academy, Merkerson shared how this acting gig led to her being a big fan of the show. When she returned, though, the doctor said, "I want to take your blood sugar again. (John Lamparski/WireImage). While eating on set, Merkerson says it's tough to make good choices, but she works hard at it. Epatha Merkerson in Come Back, Little Sheba . Her work has appeared on The Mary Sue, Digital Spy, and The Guardian. Van Buren had a "hand-picked" replacement for Fontana who was much more experienced than Cassady. As for her private life, Anita is married to Donald Van Buren, portrayed by Charles Dumas, and the couple has two children together, Stefan and Ric. "Its time to move on. She also featured in episodes of 'Chicago Fire' and 'Chicago P.D.'. The Real Reason S. Epatha Merkerson Left 'Law And Order' - TheThings Two of her closest friends died from the disease. This Is Why All These Actors Had To Leave Law & Order - TheList.com The following year, Merkerson also won a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe for her performance as Nanny in the HBO film, as well as a Black Reel award for Best Actress. Did the captain on law and order really have cancer? Anita Van Buren - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia He truly cares about my health." After the camera was off, the doctor asked Merkerson to come back when she was finished working. S. Epatha Merkerson - IMDb She is best known for her role as NYPD Lieutenant Anita Van Buren from 1993 to 2010 on the long-running NBC police procedural drama series Law & Order. S. Epatha Merkerson has been a guest on the PBS series "Finding Your Roots" not once but twice. There was a reason why I was hearing this dialogue, because it was this show coming up. who got one last, great scene as crazy-angry Jack McCoy, yelling at a lawyer to Get out of my way so that justice could be done. This was an emotional revelation. Merkerson's sister, Debbie, was also diagnosed but thankfully recovered. Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law & Order (1990), she has a long list of Broadway and off-Broadway credits and honors that include Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nominations for Best Actress for her performance in the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson Did she really have cancer or was it in the script for Law and Order? Full range WITHIN story & context while her time on the series still stayed in its bread & butter lane of plot focused stories week to week. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Sharon Epatha Merkerson ( / ipe /; born November 28, 1952) is an American film, stage, and television actress. The lieutenants shoulders heaved, and we were left in awful Award-winning actress, S. Epatha Merkerson, returns to television on a new exciting hospital drama. Elaborate back stories dont make characters any less two-dimensional. The following are the medals and service awards worn by Lieutenant Van Buren, as seen in "Gunplay" (season 15, episode 5). "He was at the end of his rope. What skills are marketing employers looking for? [1] In the 20th season episode "Fed" she is seen carrying a Glock 19. After graduating from Wayne State, S. Epatha Merkerson moved to Albany, New York, where she worked in a children's theater. organization for her dedication to lung-cancer awareness and education. On 'Law and Order' season 20, which marks Merkerson's final appearance in the role, Anita goes to a gynecologist where she is diagnosed with stage II cervical cancer, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Merkerson, whose character was diagnosed with cancer earlier this season, says she doesnt know yet if Lt. Van Buren will live or die. Bravo to BOTH her & the writers for giving Anita Van Buren the moments, lines, arc she & the series deserved! The 'Chicago' franchise is created by Dick Wolf, also behind the prolific 'Law and Order' franchise, which has included six police/courtroom dramas and four international spin-off series. The series was spectacularly received, winning multiple awards, including Daytime Emmys, gaining a following with children and adults alike. A veteran of 'Law and Order', Merkerson had appeared in 17 out of 21 seasons total, featuring in 390 episodes of the original show and two episodes in the franchise, namely in spin-offs 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' and 'Law and Order: Trial By Jury'. acting ensembles on television. her role in NBC's "Law & Order" as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren, Merkerson's role the longest-running character in the series. The actress is, however, on a serious anti-smoking crusade: "If . Merkerson, whose character Lt. Anita Van Buren was diagnosed with cancer in the final season of the show, is seeking as much as $9 million in damages, along with a court order to complete. What does the S stand for in S. Epatha Merkersons name? Arts Degree from Wayne State University. Stefania is a film and TV writer based in London, UK. She claims it was a robbery attempt, and that there's a second, armed suspect on the loose. My uncle had amputations," she says. ArtsBeat, a blog about arts and culture, has been archived. But Merkerson learned more about these ancestors. She'd quit smoking in 1994, but hadn't changed her eating habits or exercise, and she had gained weight. Sharon Epatha Merkerson (the S once stood for Sharon and now legally stands for nothing) is taking Van Buren and her life force and exiting the show. This is a problem "Find Our Missing" directly addressed. Now I'm here in Chicago doing "Chicago Med," and Chicago is a great walking city as well," says Merkerson, who checks her blood twice daily but doesn't take insulin. Why did S Epatha Merkerson Leave Law & Order? Next: The Real Reason Why Christopher Meloni Left 'Law & Order: SVU'. S. Epatha Merkerson is an American actress best known for her role in NBC's "Law & Order" as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren and her more recent role as Sharon Goodwin on "Chicago Med," "Chicago Fire," and "Chicago P.D.". Merkerson went from weighing 174 pounds to 135. "But it's something we never discussed. Most certainly, you can eat better, you can exercise, and you can do things to try to prevent it. In 2002, she received the Regulus Award from the Cancer Care Merkerson is an outspoken advocate against smoking and for lung cancer research and awareness. Born Sharon Epatha Merkerson, November 28, 1952, in Saginaw, MI; daughter of Ann (a postal worker); married Toussaint L. Jones Jr. (a social worker), March, 1994 (divorced). Did Anita Van Buren really have cancer? - Learn Answer She says he kept telling her what she needed to do to take care of herself, but she wasn't doing it. It took several years, but Merkerson eventually changed her diet and exercise routine, losing a significant amount of weight. Did she really have cancer or was it in the script for Law and Order? As Merkerson said in an interview with HuffPost, "a lot of the missing young women [are] between the ages of 11 and 17 so it becomes more important that we have a national forum to discuss these stories and these cases." Her screen acting career began in 1986 when she was cast as Doctor Jamison in Spike Lee's comedy "She's Gotta Have It." Find our latest recaps and our full archive here. With Jerry Orbach, Chris Noth, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston. S. Epatha Merkerson has been advocating for the campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and other cancer organizations for years. Addresses: Agent David Nesmith, PMK/HBH Public Relations, 650 5th Avenue, 33rd Fl., New York, NY 10019. While chatting with the Television Academy, Epatha talked about her high school, Cooley High, being 90% white when she began as a freshman and 50% white by the time she graduated as a senior.