She eats well and regularly; she walks a lot, and she keeps herself busy with her hobby sewing. Merkerson recalls the appointment that made a difference. But walking did. For 16 years, Merkerson would play Anita Van Buren, deciding to leave her role mid-season when Merkerson realized her contract was up and the storyline of her character having cancer seemed like a good time to leave the show. Merkerson is an outspoken advocate against smoking and for lung cancer research and awareness. Many young women who go missing are victims of human trafficking. The following are the medals and service awards worn by Lieutenant Van Buren, as seen in "Gunplay" (season 15, episode 5). As reported on the TV One website, "African Americans make up about 12 percent of the U.S. population, but are almost one-third of all missing person cases reported each year. "He's a good guy, and he started laughing. What is a child of a Titan and a human called? in the precinct. She has received numerous high-profile accolades for her work, 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. 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." Later, Maryland Eastern University, Montclair State University, andthe University of Pittsburgh awarded her additional honorary doctorates. "Law & Order" star S. Epatha Merkerson has filed a lawsuit against the co-op board and manager of her Riverside Drive building, alleging that they endangered her life by recklessly renovating her apartment. 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. In 1978, she moved to New York She is so dedicated to her job that she refuses to use medical marijuana because, at the time, it is illegal; however, she starts using it after the Chief of Detectives, a testicular cancer survivor, says he will look the other way if she keeps it discreet. "The number was like 250, 275. The devastating effects of lung cancer are never too far from S. Epatha Merkersons heart and mind. Van Buren joins the cast in the 1993 episode "Sweeps", succeeding Capt. The board allowed the manager to seal off the ventilation to Merkerson's gas stove without telling her in 2008, creating the risk of an explosion, the suit alleges. ", She asked, "What does that mean?" 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. From 1994 to 2006, Merkerson was married to Toussaint L. Jones. It was high. Van Buren kills an intellectually disabled, unarmed teenager at an ATM. After this information was revealed to Merkerson, she tearfully said, "They have names. In "Chicago Med," she plays Sharon Goodwin, a strong doctor who also happens to have Type 2 diabetes. After she returned to New York, Merkerson saw her internist who referred her to an endocrinologist. Lieutenant Anita Van Buren is a fictional character on NBC's long-running police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order, portrayed by S. Epatha Merkerson.Van Buren appeared in 390 episodes of Law & Order and is the second longest-running regular character in the Law & Order franchise, behind Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), and the fourth longest-character in the Law & Order . Did she really have cancer or was it in the script for Law and Order? "The thing I realize too is the shame that comes with it," she says. Add in her alcoholic husband, and (you've got) a decent person who's just, um stuck. Bravo to BOTH her & the writers for giving Anita Van Buren the moments, lines, arc she & the series deserved! Now Merkerson is returning to television to play hospital administrator Sharon Goodwin in the new NBC drama Chicago Med. As a cameraman from an NBC affiliate followed and filmed her, she cooked a healthy meal with a chef, talked with someone demonstrating exercises, and had her blood tested by a doctor at Howard University's table. No action is taken against Van Buren, but the scandal continues to haunt her.[4]. Merkerson had her first Tony nomination for her role in "The Piano Lesson." She had not been married to him for at least 5 years. Finally, her endocrinologist said, "I've been telling you for a couple of years now you have to start paying attention, Epatha. very happy with how they were portrayed. "New York is a great place to walk. Van Buren was diagnosed with Stage-II cervical cancer caused by HPV - the human papillomavirus. Merkerson as the iconic Lieutenant Anita Van Buren in 2008. It's paid off. smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV Related: Fans Forgot That These Stars Appeared On Law & Order: SVU. Merkerson told Foundation Interviews that he was sick for roughly ten years. Van Buren was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the season, and since Merkerson had said she was leaving the show after 17 years, there had been considerable speculation about what would. The disparity between coverage of whites who go missing and people of color in America has been a heated topic of debate. Once upon a time, she was just a little girl from Michigan with a big dream and a bright future. suspense until she said a whispered thank you and walked back in to her colleagues at the bar. . She ate less because of the chemo treatments. Despite her character being a fan-favorite, Merkerson didn't return for the 'Law and Order' revival. Joe Fontana upon his retirement. Who was Henry George and where was he born? I was married, and I understand how to be lonely in a marriage. [1] In another, she nearly loses her job when she sues the NYPD for promoting a white woman with less seniority ahead of her. Well, no, Mama Pearl has diabetes.". Van Buren was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the season, and since . Growing up, her family always called her Epatha, never calling her by her first name, Sharon. He knew it would rile me up. Van Buren is known for being a no-nonsense and tough policewoman. There are two things you can do: You can either do better or you could actually lose your life or an extremity, and then what will you do?" In an interview with The Television Academy, Merkerson joked her first initial stands for "Sweet" before admitting a classmate from high school divulged her first name, making it public knowledge. Besides diabetes, Merkerson had high blood pressure. ee-PAY-thuh First off, it's pronounced "ee-PAY-thuh." Award-winning actress, S. Epatha Merkerson, returns to television on a new exciting hospital drama. Van Buren is a hell of a character. ", As for her diabetes, she's not worried by it. The series was spectacularly received, winning multiple awards, including Daytime Emmys, gaining a following with children and adults alike. What does the S stand for in S. Epatha Merkersons name? As Lt. Anita Van Buren, Merkerson has done over 300 episodes and is the longest-running African-American character on television. Fans Forgot That These Stars Appeared On Law & Order: SVU, Merkerson decided to leave the procedural at the end of season 20, Donald Trump Is The Reason This 'Law & Order: SVU' Episode Didn't Air, The Richest Stars Of 'Law and Order SVU' Season 23, Ranked By Net Worth, The Real Reason Why Christopher Meloni Left 'Law & Order: SVU'. It was always, 'Mama Pearl has a touch of sugar.' In an interview with the Television Academy, Merkerson shared how this acting gig led to her being a big fan of the show. The lawsuit is eventually dismissed. During the pandemic, Merkerson has kept up with her regimen. Mitchell's performance as the late US Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in the play RBG: Of Many, One was a sell out and won her standing ovations. Merkerson, who got her start on TV playing Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee's Playhouse and holds a record for playing one of the longest-running Black characters on prime time TV as Lt. Van Buren, has an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four NAACP Image Awards, two Obie Awards and two Tony Award nominations. This is someone who has gotten to know me. As reported by USA Today, Merkerson said, "As an African American, I knew Type 2 diabetes was a significant health concern among our community, but I was unaware of the signs and symptoms, let alone that I might be displaying them.". March 20, 1994 - February 14, 2006 (divorced), The Great Work Begins. Her screen acting career began in 1986 when she was cast as Doctor Jamison in Spike Lee's comedy "She's Gotta Have It." If her ancestors could see her now, they would be so proud of all her accomplishments and the woman she has become. S. Epatha Merkerson. As USA Today reported in 2014, Merkerson wasn't the only big star to get their start on the children's show; Laurence Fishburne was cast as Cowboy Curtis. But she wasn't always an award-winning actress living in a city that never sleeps. "One of them passed away in 1995; the other in '97. The character in Law and Order, Lt. Anita Van Buren, was diagnosed with cancer in the last season of the show.. In the episode, Merkerson says, "It boggles the mind these are men of the cloth." It was 16 years of employment actors rarely have that experience. Epatha Merkerson in Come Back, Little Sheba . The devastating effects of lung cancer are never too far from S. Epatha Merkersons heart and mind. In the final episode of the 20th season, it is revealed that she and Frank are engaged. NBC's police procedural 'Law and Order' has seen a great cast turnover with several actors departing the show and returning in special appearances throughout the years. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? Hot yoga and cycling didn't work for her. Merkerson, however, doesn't appear in the main series' latest season, following a tragic storyline for her character Anita back when the show aired its 20th season in 2010. Van Buren lost hair, conducted short telephone skirmishes with her insurance carrier and tried to keep her illness completely separate from her life As the series in now in its 21st season, we're looking back on one of its most popular characters, Lieutenant Anita Van Buren, played by S. Epatha Merkerson. He spent time at Tulsa VA Hospital in Oklahoma and his wife later claimed that he would have died if it had not been for the excellent care that he received from the medical staff. The character in Law and Order, Lt. Anita Van Buren, was diagnosed with cancer in the last season of the show. Within a year of quitting, she got involved in sharing her story. Merkerson was born in Saginaw, Michigan. "I just got the results of my last bloodwork, and my A1C was 6%. television. 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. That's how Anita finds out that her husband has been cheating on her, resulting in her divorcing him and starting to date Frank ('Ghostbusters' star Hernie Hudson). What looks good on a resume for law school? Did she really have cancer or was it in the script for Law and Order? The award was presented by her. The actress is, however, on a serious anti-smoking crusade: "If . "People think that diabetes is something you can prevent. She is investigated, and absolved, by the Internal Affairs Bureau. 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. The award was presented by her Law & Order (1990) co-star, Jesse L. Martin. The expert, a friend of Van Buren's, had been falsifying various other reports and is tried for her actions, saying that she was just doing what Van Buren wanted. Now Merkerson is returning to television to play hospital administrator Sharon Goodwin in the new NBC drama Chicago Med. As The Philadelphia Tribune reported, Merkerson describes her film as "a fascinating albeit disturbing story of what happens when a community steeped in mutual care and concern loses its way and begins to put the 'almighty dollar' ahead of benevolence. But it's something we never discussed. When she returned, though, the doctor said, "I want to take your blood sugar again. She covers health, celebrities, profiles, humor, and anything else that strikes her fancy. 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. She eventually learns to tolerate (and perhaps accept) Cassady as a member of her squad. But, she also mentionsmany advantages to living in the city, like having opportunities to see dance performances and plays, sparking an early interest in the arts and entertainment in Epatha. Merkerson's involvement with the 'Chicago' series is proof that she departed 'Law and Order' on good terms with the production. "You've seen what this disease can do. That's what the "S" stands for. Who is s.epatha Merkerson and what does she do? In Season 20, Van Buren sees an OB/GYN and is diagnosed with Stage II cervical cancer, caused by the sexually-transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV)which she contracted from Donald, who had been cheating on her. 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). [15] [12] She is opposed to the Iraq War[13] and disapproves of hunting.[14]. Merkerson decided to leave the procedural at the end of season 20, as it was reported in 2010. As she shared with WebMD in 2008, "I'm an actor, so what I do is run my mouth. (March 20, 1994 - February 14, 2006) (divorced), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. FirstTacoInSpace 10 mo. On NBC's medical drama, the actress plays Sharon Goodwin, a former OR nurse and the chief administrator of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. the beach. (Photo/Virginia Sherwood/NBC). A native of Michigan, S. Epatha Merkerson earned a Bachelor of Fine In court filings Merkerson notes extensive water damage, as well as an architect who told her that the building's exterior brick walls have cracked. My uncle had amputations. On Monday night she was overheard applying for a personal loan to cover her treatment. Merkerson recalls looking at the camera and saying, "That didn't even hurt." she thought. 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. Addresses: Agent David Nesmith, PMK/HBH Public Relations, 650 5th Avenue, 33rd Fl., New York, NY 10019. you!" Lieutenant Van Buren was passed over for captain for a less qualified white woman and sued the department for discrimination. Arts Degree from Wayne State University. Don Cragen (Dann Florek) as commander of the 27th Precinct Detective Squad after Cragen transfers to the Anti-Corruption Task Force. So let me just say it like this: You're fat! By the time she reached high school, her family had moved to a predominantly white area, being the second Black family to move to the neighborhood. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Although best known since 1993 as the And her experience is both personal and devastating. In an interview with the Television Academy, Merkerson said this job was "probably the worst job I've ever had," but later shared that the highlight of this experience had been traveling to Rome and Israel with the theater troupe to perform. Two of her closest friends died from the disease. Van Buren had a "hand-picked" replacement for Fontana who was much more experienced than Cassady. They would often joke that they would portray their characters even in old age. And then there was the best finale of all: the show that ended with a very sick police lieutenant excusing herself to take a phone call and getting good news. In 1978, she moved to New York Was nominated for Broadway's 1990 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for August Wilson 's "The Piano Lesson." In 2002, she received the Regulus Award from the Cancer Care organization for her dedication to lung-cancer awareness and education. Competence: Directed by Fred Gerber. This series used reenactments, archival and police evidence to raise awareness of Black missing persons whose stories haven't been given mainstream media coverage. When Merkerson first arrived in New York after graduating college, she found work in Black theater, first in musicals and then as an understudy. A possible 22nd season of 'Law and Order' hasn't been confirmed yet. What skills are marketing employers looking for? So that's why she stuck in the Sharon Epatha. In 2006, Merkerson told Real Health Magazinethatshe was once a three-pack-a-day smoker who had tried to quit for years, "I woke up that morning, and it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. Monday nights episode was the shows last, it would have been business as usual some phone calls, some wisecracks, a lot of da-dums, a few beers. Michele "Wojo" Wojciechowski is a national award-winning writer and author of the humor book "Next Time I Move, They'll Carry Me Out in a Box." A "My health is fine," Merkerson, 57, assures us. I'm producing and directing a documentary about African-American benevolent societies. Thats what happens when you focus on the writing and the acting for, say, 20 years. In her place, 'Ghost Whisperer' star Camryn Manheim was cast to play Lieutenant Kate Dixon, Anita's successor. While eating on set, Merkerson says it's tough to make good choices, but she works hard at it. crime drama. Im doing other things and this will be a great way to leave what has been an extraordinary gig.". People should not feel ashamed because they're diabetic.". You have twenty two years in, a pension. Merkerson's sister, Debbie, was also diagnosed but thankfully recovered. Where was Lance Armstrong born and where was he raised? Although most of us only know Merkerson as a television actress, she has a wealth of acting experience on both the big and small screens and the stage. She has received numerous high-profile accolades for her work, 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. "That's the hardest part how to balance out and do the same thing [eating and exercising] every day, no matter what my schedule is," she explains. "Being a Type 2 diabetic is not a death sentence. They're not just faceless people.". Two of her closest friends died from the disease. S. Epatha Merkerson was born in 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan. When walking the streets of New York she is frequently approached by members of the NYPD, who jokingly ask how they can be transferred to her precinct. S. Epatha Merkerson. They stayed married for almost 12 years. You suspect that even if Dick Wolf, creator and overseer of the show and its spinoffs, had known that NOTE: She won the. "So when TV One called and asked me to host, I thought to myself, 'Wow, some things happen for a reason.' Van Buren is a hell of a character. My uncle had amputations," she says. Her endocrinologist prescribed metformin as well as a statin. The stakes were slightly higher than usual becausethis was, after all, supposed to be a season finale: Detectives Lupo and Bernard found themselves face to face with the gun- and pipe-bomb-wielding teacher. She began eating better and tried different types of exercise to see what she'd like best. However, this acceptance does not seem to last long; in the seventeenth season finale "The Family Hour", Van Buren berates the detective for her inability to keep her temper in check and suggests that Cassady has no future in the 27th Squad. What hadnt been business as usual throughout Season 20 was the battle with cancer fought by Lt. Anita Van Buren, the shows longest-tenured character. " (John Lamparski/WireImage). On this day, Merkerson learned she had Type 2 diabetes. This was an emotional revelation. Merkerson said, "It was. crime drama, Stage: Appeared in "The Old Settler" at Washington DC's Studio Theatre. For almost the entire duration of the series, Van Buren carries a Smith & Wesson Model 36 revolver as her duty weapon. I was actually there when Yvette took her last breath We found out Billie had cancer in June, and she was dead by December. Did Anita Van Buren really have cancer? She discovered walking is an exercise she actually enjoys. Its a great way to send off the character.". I'm sure it will be emotional, but right now I'm just really happy for having had the opportunity.". Sharon Epatha Merkerson Sharon Epatha Merkerson (/ipe/; born November 28, 1952) is an American film, stage, and television actress. Her character succeeded Captain Don Cragen (Dann Florek) as commander of the 27th Precinct Detective Squad after Cragen gets transferred to the Anti-Corruption Task Force. In total, Merkerson has won nine awards for her role in the 2005 flick. Sharon Epatha Merkerson "It was a combination of things," she said, adding: "To me it felt like good timing. ArtsBeat, a blog about arts and culture, has been archived. She appeared in 391 episodes of the seriesmore than any other cast member. She'd quit smoking in 1994, but hadn't changed her eating habits or exercise, and she had gained weight. The lieutenants shoulders heaved, and we were left in awful By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies.