Emmy Award-Winning Actress; Known for Law and Order and Chicago Med
S. Epatha Merkerson: Biography at a Glance
- S. Epatha Merkerson is best known for her 17-season run as Lt. Anita Van Buren on Law & Order, portraying a leader making high-stakes decisions under constant pressure.
- As Sharon Goodwin on Chicago Med, she brings a nuanced perspective on leading through crisis, balancing empathy with accountability, and guiding teams in fast-moving, high-stress environments.
- An Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award winner for Lackawanna Blues, she pairs credibility with powerful storytelling and delivers messages that are both emotionally resonant and highly relatable across audiences.
- With a career spanning television, film, and Broadway—including work on Lincoln—she offers rare insight into performing and delivering at the highest level within elite, collaborative teams.
- Beyond acting, her work as a filmmaker and her ability to connect leadership, resilience, and humanity make her a compelling speaker who resonates equally with corporate leaders, healthcare professionals, students, and community groups.
Videos
Biography
S. Epatha Merkerson is a versatile, critically acclaimed performer in theatre, television, and film. She is best known for her 17-season run as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC’s Law and Order winning three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama for her work. She is also known for her work as "Sharon Goodwin" on Dick Wolf’s Chicago series on NBC. She won a Best Actress Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Emmy Award for her role in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues. Her films include Peeples, Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, Year by the Sea, The Challenger, and Sexual Healing. She has made other appearances on television with HBO’s The Gabby Douglas Story, NBC’s Deception, and The Good Wife.
Ms. Merkerson also has an extensive background in theatre. She was seen on stage in While I Yet Live at Primary Stages. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway revival of Come Back Little Sheba. Ms. Merkerson's first feature documentary, The Contradictions of Fair Hope, which she executive produced/co-directod, has received numerous awards from various film festivals across the globe.
Topics
Leading Under Pressure: Lessons from the Front Lines
Drawing from her iconic roles on Law & Order and Chicago Med, S. Epatha Merkerson explores what it takes to lead with clarity, composure, and conviction when the stakes are high. Through powerful stories from her career and learnings from her roles, she shares insights on building trust, making tough decisions, and showing up as a steady, human-centered leader in moments that matter most.
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FAQs
How do I book S. Epatha Merkerson for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book S. Epatha Merkerson to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is S. Epatha Merkerson's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for S. Epatha Merkerson’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all S. Epatha Merkerson in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact S. Epatha Merkerson's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check S. Epatha Merkerson's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list S. Epatha Merkerson, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is S. Epatha Merkerson's speaking fee?
S. Epatha Merkerson's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, S. Epatha Merkerson's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for S. Epatha Merkerson's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book S. Epatha Merkerson as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book S. Epatha Merkerson as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- S. Epatha Merkerson's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for S. Epatha Merkerson's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact S. Epatha Merkerson for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all S. Epatha Merkerson speaking engagements.
Official contact for S. Epatha Merkerson bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/s-epatha-merkerson
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking S. Epatha Merkerson.
Is S. Epatha Merkerson available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, S. Epatha Merkerson speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
S. Epatha Merkerson's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining S. Epatha Merkerson's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for S. Epatha Merkerson's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book S. Epatha Merkerson for?
Book S. Epatha Merkerson for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. S. Epatha Merkerson customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
S. Epatha Merkerson engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how S. Epatha Merkerson can customize their presentation for your specific event.
S. Epatha Merkerson booking information and availability
Check S. Epatha Merkerson's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure S. Epatha Merkerson for your preferred event date.
Book S. Epatha Merkerson keynote speaker through CAA
Book S. Epatha Merkerson through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for S. Epatha Merkerson, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to S. Epatha Merkerson's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book S. Epatha Merkerson for your next event.
Will S. Epatha Merkerson speak at private events?
Yes, S. Epatha Merkerson speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for S. Epatha Merkerson's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking S. Epatha Merkerson?
CAA Speakers responds to S. Epatha Merkerson booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book S. Epatha Merkerson?
Book S. Epatha Merkerson 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get S. Epatha Merkerson pricing information?
Get S. Epatha Merkerson pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.
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For speaker-related inquiries, email speakers@caa.com, or send us a message using the form below.
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