NBC. Search instead in Creative? Title In 1997, the Orlando Sentinel wanted to know why so many actors left the show seemingly so suddenly. As Alessandra Stanley wrote last week, the show's treatment of it was graceful but unblinking. Her television movies include "A Mother's Prayer," "A Place for Annie," "Breaking Free," Lifetime's "The Gabby Douglas Story" and NBC's "Exiled," which featured former "Law & Order" cast member Chris Noth.In early 2012, Merkerson completed "The Contradictions of Fair Hope," marking her first feature documentary as executive producer/co-director. (L&O: "Boy Gone Astray") By the end of the season, she appeared to have been cured of her cancer. Name 27th Precinct (1993-2010) You will receive a verification email shortly. She also helped to put away the other robber for the young man's death with the help of the mother of the kid she killed. It is revealed in L&O: "Boy Gone Astray", that she has not been eating much since she began chemotherapy; her son tries to help by offering her some medical marijuana, which she initially rejects because it is a crime in New York and she is a sworn police officer. As a result, two innocent suspects were imprisoned and one of them died before they could be exonerated. "Law & Order" Vendetta (TV Episode 2004) S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. She finishes it for him. (commonly used by. Search instead in. Producers switched out his partners several times, as well. So I thought, legitimately, everybody could be whispering in that scene, he said. The couple did not have any children together. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Van Buren is divorced from Donald, who owns a hardware store. Natalee was a resident of Mountain Brook, Alabama who was seen alive on or about May 30, 2005 in the company of van der Sloot on the day of her disappearance. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2a8bd71e372f20 S. Epatha Merkerson came on as a series regular on "Law & Order" in 1993 and stayed in her role as Lieutenant Anita Van Burenuntil the show was abruptly canceled in 2010. At a party, Van Buren introduces Gibson to the squad before Van Buren announced to the squad that she was getting engaged to Frank. She gave one of her most acclaimed performances in 2005, starring as boarding house lady Rachel "Nanny" Crosby in the HBO television film "Lackawanna Blues," based on the eponymous play. Anita Van Buren - Personal Life Personal Life A graduate of John Jay College (as is Ron Carver from Law & Order: Criminal Intent ), Van Buren is divorced from Donald, who owns a hardware store ( L&O: "Scoundrels"). NYPD 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. In 1994, during an attempted robbery on her while at an ATM, Van Buren shot one of her robbers in the arm, but the bullet passed through and killed the other robber, a mentally disabled kid who was unarmed. She's not a doctor, lawyer, or detective, but watches a lot of them in primetime. Sometimes, it would lead to arguments, which Merkerson says she appreciated because it let her know that her bosses cared about her input. Like the other cops in her squad, she knows that her life is on the line every day, and her very survival can be at stake. She is well known for her 17-season run as Lt. Anita Van Buren on NBC's "Law & Order" (winning her three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a drama).Her role in the HBO film "Lackawanna Blues" earned her an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG Award, Gracie Allen Award, NAACP Image Award and IFP Spirit Award nominations. Lieutenant Anita Van Buren was the commanding officerof the 27th Precinctfor almost 20 years. Merkerson made it through until the show was canceled more than a decade later. In 1992, she had main roles on two short-lived NBC series: the science-fiction police drama "Mann & Machine" and the sitcom "Here and Now.". Kate Dixon is needed to fill Lt. Van Burens due (at least in part) to S. Epatha Merkersons unavailability to reprise her role, which isnt the case for some other Law & Order stars who are returning for the revival. Family She has four older siblings named Linda, Debbie, Barrie, and Zephry; the kids were raised by their mother Ann, a post office worker. The 2-7 got its new boss in Lieutenant Anita Van Buren played by S. Epatha Merkerson. She started in Season 4 and carried all the way through to the initial final season in 2010. Played by Jerry Orbach, Briscoe added levity to the show and at times some serious sadness. And even though "Law & Order" finally ended its run in 2010, Merkerson's character has remained a memorable TV icon, and will certainly be remembered for years to come something that Merkerson herself has commented upon a few times. Law & Order: What Happened to Don Cragen and Paul Robinette. Van Buren has been a cop for over 30 years. S. Epatha Merkerson is an American actress who has a net worth of $12 million. She has also been nominated for two Tony Awards. She also appeared in the role in some episodes of "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D. Merkerson played Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on 17 seasons of NBC's beloved procedural until she mysteriously vanished. Scream VI Has Screened, Heres What People Are Saying About The Latest Ghostface Movie, Following New Hellboy Casting, The Upcoming Reboot Has Added Some Yellowstone And Resident Evil Stars, After Kaia Gerber's Nepo Baby Comments, Cindy Crawford's Son Opens Up About Mental Health Troubles And Raising Awareness, Wood Harris Recalls Losing Roles In The Best Man and Denzel Washington's Fallen. No further details about Dixons character have been released at the time of writing, but S. Epatha Merkerson was a longtime member of the cast as Van Buren during its original run on NBC. Next, Merkerson played the mother of Kerry Washington's character in the 2013 romcom "Peeples." For its premiere date (which may be bad news for another show), as well as the other Law & Order shows, be sure to check out our 2022 winter and spring premiere schedule. 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 The case would have gone unsolved, with the primary suspect in the murder dead within a couple of years. In her final season, Van Buren was diagnosed with Stage II Cervical cancer. On stage, Merkerson had her breakthrough in early 1987 in the one-woman play "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," in which she played famous singer Billie Holiday. S. Epatha Merkerson Theyve both remained busy according to their IMDb pages. She remained on the show until 1989. Van Buren was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting as she didn't intentionally kill the young man, but it continued to haunt her. "Rubber Room" The NYPD's Anita Van Buren has led the detective squad at Manhattan's 27th Precinct on "Law and Order" since 1993. "So Dick let two of the guys go, and he brought on two women. DeMore Barnes is another notable one, as he appeared in One Chicago as one character before joining SVU as a different series regular. Don Cragen (Dann Florek)after the show's fourth season to take on the role of leading the 27th Precinct Detective Squad. Her sister lives in Queens (L&O : "Whiplash"). However, she's arguably best known for being the longest-running character on "Law & Order"portraying Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the show for 17 seasons (via NPR). Browse 299 anita van buren stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Frank Gibson is the fiance of Anita Van Buren. Alive (retired) FirstTacoInSpace 10 mo. "Rubber Room". Deceit" Episode 17 -- Aired -- Pictured: S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren -- Photo by: Robert Gilberg/NBCU Photo Bank . Law & Orders director and producers went back and forth on what they should do. She also served as host of "Find Our Missing" for TVOne. In 2015 she began appearing as a main cast member of the "Chicago" series of shows (Fire, Med, P.D.). There's no one who sits at our table who sits from my perspective,"Merkerson said. While there's no word yet on who from the original cast will be returning, avid viewers are hoping thatSam Waterson will be reprising his role as DA Jack McCoy. In 2012, Merkerson portrayed Lydia Smith, the housekeeper of Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, in Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-winning biopic "Lincoln." "Merkerson has completed filming on three upcoming independent films: "The Challenger" with Michael Clark Duncan; "Sexual Healing," a biopic about Marvin Gaye with Jesse L. Martin; and "Year by the Sea," opposite Joan Allen.Her theater credits include the 2008 Broadway revival of "Come Back Little Sheba," (Tony nomination); August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson," (Tony, Drama Desk, Helen Hayes Award nominations); "Birdie Blue" and "I'm Not Stupid," (Obie Awards); "The Old Settler (Helen Hayes Award); "F*cking A" and "While I Yet Live" (Lucille Lortel nomination).On television, she was a series regular on "Pee-wee's Playhouse," "The Cosby Show" spin-off "Here and Now" and Dick Wolf's "Mann & Machine." Now that "Law & Order" has been renewed for Season 21, could Merkerson return to play Van Buren? Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. In the 90s, she appeared in the television films "A Place for Annie" and "A Mother's Prayer." The revival of the original Law & Order is just a few months away, and star Anthony Anderson already confirmed that filming has begun. Merkerson's fearless take on Van Buren's character helped showcase the delicate balance between professional and personal life that can define "Law & Order." Merkerson actually started out as a guest star on the show 1990 and was hired as a series regular in 1993. In another fun twist, Kate Dixon for the Law & Order revival isnt Camryn Manheims only appearance in Wolf Entertainment to date. It was Lupo's idea after he overheard Van Buren's phone conversation in which she mentioned increasing medical bills. In the third season of the show, one of the most important additions to the show made his debut: Detective Lennie Briscoe. But her resulting actions could put the case in jeopardy. Law & Order writer, Walon Green recalled Orbachs final moments on set in a 2018 interview. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. S. Epatha Merkerson says portraying Anita Van Buren gave her a voice. By episode count, she is the longest-running character on the original show. NBC press releases at the time of the character's departure mentioned that Robinette had moved to a Park Avenue law firm. Affiliation Kate Dixon is needed to fill Lt. Van Buren's due (at least in part) to S. Epatha Merkerson's. Most times, I lose but sometimes Iwin. She appeared in 391 episodes of the seriesmore than any other cast member. 2023 Getty Images. So I said, Lets get everybody back and loop the scene so that everybody whispers. And it worked.. However, in the final episode of 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. Frank Gibson ", In 1986, the same year she first appeared on television, Merkerson made her film debut in Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It." ( L&O: "Fed") Briscoe's revolver Ben Stone the lead district attorney left the show and was replaced with Sam Waterston. Due to the chemotherapy, she has lost her hair and begun using a wig (L&O: "Human Flesh Search Engine"). 1929), John Browns career for the last six weeks of his life was meteor-like, flashing through the darkness in which we live. Status After that, Merkerson appeared in the pilot episode of "Equal Justice"; she also made her first appearance on "Law & Order," playing the grief-stricken mother of a slain baby. 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. In a 2015 interview with "The Today Show"(via E! I'm Black, I'm female and I'm in my 50s. But dont fret for Florek and Brooks. "It's a graceful way to go," she told Entertainment Weekly at the time. Merkerson is currently a series regular on another show set in the same universe as Law & Order, thanks to her longtime role as Sharon Goodwin on Chicago Med, and Med is just a few degrees of separation away from Law & Order under the Wolf Entertainment banner. That longevity earned her the distinction of being TV's longest-running Black female character in primetime (via Mental Floss).Before Ice-T started his 18th season on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," Van Buren had also . It was quite a tragic end for her, and fans were sad to see her character suffer. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. He spent time at Tulsa VA Hospital in Oklahoma (L&O: "Over Here"). (L&O: "Rubber Room"). 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. They have two sons, Ric (who is diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of six in 1995) and Stefan. TV Shows. New York, Lieutenant Frank Gibson is the fiance of Anita Van Buren. "Merkerson is an accomplished actress who has won critical acclaim for her work in theater, television and film. "When I see my argument on screen, it's an amazing feeling to know that you're part of something. The show, which premiered in 1990 and has since launched spinoffs like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," was named the 36th best show of all time by Rolling Stone and lives on in reruns. Lieutenant Anita Van Buren was the commanding officer of the 27th Precinct for almost 20 years. This is mine," the show's creator Dick Wolf told Deadlineabout "Law & Order" being renewed. [] And Van Buren remained in that position until the show's final episode during its 20th season. (L&O: "Rubber Room") She presumably retired sometime afterward; as of 2013, Toni Howard was head of the Two-Seven until 2022, where Kate Dixon took over. Twenty-nine actors appeared in the permanent cast over the 20 seasons of Law & Order. During her lengthy tenure as squad leader of the Two-Seven, she commanded various detectives; this included Lennie Briscoe, Mike Logan, Tony Profaci, Rey Curtis, Morris LaMotte, Sammy Kurtz, Ed Green, Reina Perez, Ana Cordova, Joe Fontana, Nick Falco, Nina Cassady, Cyrus Lupo, and Kevin Bernard. Dann Florek starred in the first 15 seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as his original character. Last Appearance After Since leaving "Law & Order" in 2010, she has continued to appear in a wide variety of film, television, and theater projects. Kincaid was killed by a drunk driver in an episode. "There are very few things in life that are literally dreams come true. The actress is currently starring on another Dick Wolf series, "Chicago Med," so it seems that anything is possible (via IMDb). Family . But even with Law & Order over, Merkerson is still working with Dick wolf. Thats why when fans were stunned when they turned on season 4 to find Captain Don Cragen and ADA Paul Robinette were gone. Actor There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Read more about this topic: Anita Van Buren, The dialectic between change and continuity is a painful but deeply instructive one, in personal life as in the life of a people. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Her whereabouts have been unknown. Later in the episode, it is revealed that she decided to try the potential remedy, as the Chief of Detectives stops by and tells her that someone in the building smelled marijuana on her. "They were going to cancel 'Law & Order' I think in its third season, because NBC wanted women on the show," Merkerson recalled to NPR. That longevity earned her the distinction ofbeing TV's longest-running Black female character in primetime (via Mental Floss). To her surprise, the Chief gives her mints and directs her to someone who sells medicinal drugs and is careful and discreet. Merkerson went on to play Lieutenant Anita Van Buren for 17 seasons of "Law & Order" through 2010, when the show ended. via: NBC 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. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. From 1994 until their divorce in 2006, Merkerson was married to Toussaint Jones Jr. "Sometimes, I win. NBC canceled the show in 2010, but it still has two surviving spinoffs and a third spinoff on the way. What hadn't been business as usual throughout Season 20 was the battle with cancer fought by Lt. Anita Van Buren, the show's longest-tenured character. HBO Maxs Penguin Series Has Cast Its Sal Maroni, So Does This Mean Two-Face Is Coming To The Batman Universe. Cyrus Lupo and Kevin Bernard call her "L.T. Her parents separated when she was five. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Heres how it works. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Merkerson made an important mark on the show with her role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the original Law & Order series, which aired from 1990 to 2010. . Camryn Manheim has joined the cast of Law & Order Season 21 to play a character by the name of Lt. Kate Dixon, according to Deadline, which reports that Dixon will function as a successor to Lt. Van Buren. To see the light too often has meant rejecting the treasures found in darkness.Adrienne Rich (b. Van Buren lost hair, conducted short telephone skirmishes with her insurance carrier and . (, Her father was wounded in Wasu, Koreaduring the Korean Warin 1952. That record was overtaken by Ice T, who achieved the feat on "Law & Order: SVU." He left SVU in 2013. My very first job on television was on Law & Order, so it feels like Im coming home. Sharon Epatha Merkerson was born on November 28, 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan and grew up in Detroit. Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using the site, you consent to these cookies. In Season 20, Van Buren was diagnosed with Stage-II cervical cancer, caused by the sexually-transmitted human papillomavirus which she had contracted from Donald, who had been cheating on her. So, then I got the scene and I knew what I was going to do at the beginning. Through 20 seasons she has broken through many barriers, including sexism. She went on to attend Wayne State University, earning her BFA degree in theatre in 1976. Up until then, there weren't very many or really any full-time female actresses in Law & Order. Brooks Paul Robinette returned to Law & Order several times over the course of the shows 20 seasons. Manhattan North Homicide SquadNarcotics Division (formerly) For many years Merkerson held the record for the longest-running African-American character on television. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. ", a nickname Briscoe and Curtis had been using by that time since at least Season Eight (L&O: "Navy Blues"). Really, the point is that I come from a specific background. Another fan favorite that could be making an appearance is S. Epatha Merkerson, whoplayed Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. Her father was wounded in Wasu, Korea during the Korea War in 1952. Her character replaced Capt. She WAS L&O as much as Sam Waterston! They have two sons, Ric (who is diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of six in 1995) and Stefan. First Appearance But since this is TV and primetime can cure anything, Anita Van Buren could be alive and well and still affiliated with Law & Order. For her work, she earned multiple SAG and NAACP Image Award nominations, winning three NAACP Image Awards overall. I know of nothing so miraculous in our history.Henry David Thoreau (18171862). Please refresh the page and try again. One of the donations came from the head of a teacher's union that the police had clashed with during their case who brought with him donations from the Police Commissioner and the Mayor, stating that Van Buren had a lot of friends standing with her. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. ( L&O: "Sweeps") Contents 1 History 2 Officer-involved shootings 3 Trivia 4 Appearances History She was replaced with Angie Harmons tough-talking Texan ADA Abbie Carmichael. S. Epatha Merkerson stars as Sharon Goodwin, the head of the hospital, on the NBC drama "Chicago Med. New York, here I come! Status At a party, Van Buren introduces Gibson to the squad before Van Buren announced to the squad that she was getting engaged to Frank. The two faces of the series! Anita Van Buren was able to come to the tail end of Deborah's funeral and meet with Curtis, who revealed to Van Buren that he had spoken with Briscoe just before his death and that Lennie was his old wisecracking self right up to the end. She has had roles in productions such as "Lincoln," "Lackawanna Blues" and, most recently, on "Chicago Med." The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. This project received numerous awards, including the 2012 Best Documentary Award from the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival and San Diego Black Film Festival, the Dikalo Award from the Festival International du Film Panafricain (Cannes), the Teaneck International Film Festival's Jury Award, the Roxbury International Film Festival's Henry Hampton Award and the Paul Robeson Award for Best Documentary from the Newark Black Film Festival.A native of Detroit, Merkerson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wayne State University and three honorary doctorates.She lives in New York City. It was really that simple.". Police officer S. Epatha Merkerson came on as a series regular on "Law & Order" in 1993 and stayed in her role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren until the show was abruptly canceled in 2010. (L&O: "Myth of Fingerprints"), In 2002, she assisted A.D.A. At the party where she appeared to get the good news, she also announced her engagement to her boyfriend Frank Gibson and received donations from all of her friends to help pay for Van Buren's treatment. He spent time atTulsa VA Hospitalin, Some of her detectives often addressed her affectionately by two shortened versions of her rank: "L.T." Van Buren was a resilient and determined leader who wasn't afraid to make hard decisions, and deal with their subsequent (often even harder)consequences. She oversees the work of detectives such as Lennie Briscoe, Mike Logan, Rey Curtis, Ed Green, Joe Fontana, Nick Falco, Nina Cassady, Cyrus . S. Epatha Merkerson is probably best-known for her long-running role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC's "Law & Order". Last Appearance 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. Anyone who watched the original Law & Order knows the casts line-up was shaken up like a snow globe every few years. Ron Carver in setting up a sting operation to arrest another former acquaintance, Terry Randolph, for murder. Anita Van Buren Other credits include "Radio," which garnered her a Cammie Award, "Black Snake Moan," "Terminator II: Judgment Day," "Random Hearts," "Navy SEALs," "Mother and Child," "The Six Wives of Henry Lefay" "Peeples" and "Lincoln. She replaced Captain Donald Cragen as head of the precinct in 1993. Occupation Anita Van Buren succeeded Captain Don Cragen as commander of the 27th Precinct Detective Squad after Cragen transferd to the Anti-Corruption Task Force. (L&O: "Competence"), In 1997, she sued the NYPD after a white woman with less experience was promoted over her. Camryn Manheim is credited with not just one, but three different characters on Law & Order prior to the news of her revival role as a series regular. All net worths are calculated using data drawn from public sources. ago. Risk it and hope he recovers enough, even though they knew Orbach was dying or scrap most of his dialogue. She is well known for her 17-season run as Lt. Anita Van Buren on NBC's "Law & Order" (winning her three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a drama). Division Showing Editorial results for anita van buren. She didn't return to the big screen until 1990, when she appeared in three films: the action comedy "Loose Cannons," the psychological horror film "Jacob's Ladder," and the military action film "Navy SEALS." ", How S. Epatha Merkerson Really Feels About Her Law & Order Character. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Van Buren was in charge of the detectives of the27th Precinct. Fans of the original "Law & Order" are thrilled that NBC has renewed the series for Season 21 more than a decade after the network canceled the series. The 2-7 got its new boss in Lieutenant Anita Van Buren played by S. Epatha Merkerson. Law & Order as well as SVU have been running for such a long time that there are bound to be examples of actors returning for different parts. In that same episode, her boyfriend Frank (portrayed by Ernie Hudson) appears for the first time. It's time to move on. However, it seems that a huge aspect of why Merkerson enjoyed her role, as revealed in a2009 panel interview at the Paley Centerback when "Law & Order" was still on the air, was that the showrunners allowed her to voice her opinion. She also valued how "integral" her role on the series was, both onscreen and off. She appeared in 395 episodes of the franchise (including guest appearances in sister shows) between 1993 and 2010. But early on, the show didnt have that reputation. ("I play it cool / I dig all jive / That's the reason / I stay alive"). Menu. Her other credits include the sports drama "The Challenger" and the dramedy "Year by the Sea.". The show always used an ensemble cast of six characters, split between the cops and the attorneys. And the show has cast an actress with extensive experience in a legal drama to occupy the role as a series regular: The Practice alum Camryn Manheim. Van Buren appeared in 390 episodes of Law & Order. In "For the Defense", van Buren regained her appetite for the first time in six weeks. She had interestingly already decided to leave the show before its 2010 cancellation, and her character may not even be alive right now. I chose 'Van Buren' from our eighth president, Martin Van Buren, because I liked the aristocratic, old-family ring." "She went by 'Abby' in her personal and professional life, unlike Ann Landers . Anita Van Buren (fiance) Showing Editorial results for anita van buren. Movies. ", In the early 00s, Merkerson had supporting roles in "The Rising Place," "Radio," and "Jersey Girl." NY 10036. She was affectionately addressed by two shortened versions of her rank: earlier on, many of her detectives, including Ed Green, Lennie Briscoe and Rey Curtis, called her "Lieu"; Dets. And it was in a hallway outside a courtroom. But I got the scene. Merkerson's next main role came in 2015, when she began playing Sharon Goodwin on NBC's "Chicago Med." Name See how Camryn Manheim fits into the Law & Order cast as Lt. Kate Dixon when the series returns after more than ten years in 2022. Merkerson was educated at Cooley High School, from which she graduated in 1970. In her post on Instagram celebrating the news that she has joined the cast of the upcoming revival, Manheim wrote: I am over the moon to be joining the cast of Law & Order as Lt. Kate Dixon. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, This is far from unprecedented, and not just because of S. Epatha Merkersons role as Van Buren followed by her role as Goodwin. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Before Ice-T started his 18th season on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," Van Buren had also beenTV's longest-running Black character in primetime.