S. Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson (born Sharon Epatha Merkerson on November 28, 1952) is an American Golden Globe-, Screen Actors Guild-, NAACP Image Award- and Emmy Award-winning actress. She has also received two Tony Award nominations. She is known for her roles as Reba the Mail Lady on Pee Wee's Playhouse in the 1980s, and as the no-nonsense supervisor, Lt. Anita Van Buren (1993-present), on the long-running television crime drama Law & Order. She has appeared on the show longer than any other cast member and on May 14, 2008, she appeared in her 345th episode of Law & Order, surpassing Michele Lee's record of 344 episodes for an actress on a single series (for Knots Landing).