S Epatha Merkerson husband Toussaint L Jones was married to the Chicago Med actress from 1994 to 2006. Toussaint was a social worker in West Virginia.
Merkerson is an American actress best known for her performance on shows like Chicago Med and Law & Order. She played the role of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren in 391 episodes of Law & Order from 1991 to 2010.
Likewise, Epatha appeared as Sharon Goodwin in the NBC drama show, Chicago Med. She reprised her role as Goodwin in crossover episodes of Chicago PD and Chicago Fire. Chicago PD consists of a talented cast including Jesse Leee Soffer, Sophia Bush, J Alphonse Nicholson, Patrick Flueger, and Marina Squerciati.
Merkerson made her acting debut as Doctor Jamison in the 1986 movie, She’s Gotta Have It. Throughout her career of nearly four decades, the actress has been a part of 59 movies and TV shows.
Some of her famous credits include The Good Wife, Drop Dead Diva, The Closer, Frasier, The Cosby Show, Poker Face, and Deception, among others.
Merkerson Was Married To Toussaint L Jones
S Epatha Merkerson husband Toussaint L Jones married the actress in 1994. Merkerson and Jones were together for 12 years before divorcing in 2006.
The former couple exchanged their wedding vows on March 20, 1994. At the time of her marriage, Epatha was 44 years old.
Merkenson and Jones remained together for over a decade but eventually parted ways in 2006. Neither of the two have revealed the reason for their divorce.
The ex-couple met in the late 70s in Albany, New York. However, the duo didn’t start a romantic relationship for over a decade after their first meeting.
The actress’s former partner is not involved in showbiz; hence, very little is known about him at the moment. Reportedly, he worked as a social worker at the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) in South Charleston, West Virginia.
Originally from Rand, West Virginia, he currently resides in Fort Washington, Maryland. Jones initially attended DuPont Hig School in Belle, West Virginia, before joining West Virginia University for his college education. He graduated from the university in 1971.
He is on Facebook as Toussaint Jones but rarely updates his personal info on the social networking platform.
Does S Epatha Merkerson Have A Son?
S Epatha Merkerson son or daughter remains a mystery to all. The woman has not shared about her children yet.
Once, her husband uploaded a photo with a young child back in January 2017.
The kid appears to be his grandson; but due to a lack of a caption or related comments, the child’s relation to Jones can’t be verified just yet.
Merkerson Family Was Raised By A Single Mother
S Epatha Merkerson family was settled in Michigan when she was a young child. Merkerson grew up with four siblings in Detroit.
Epatha’s parents split when she was still young after which her mother Ann raised the five Merkerson children as a single mom. Ann Merkerson supported the five kids on a salary of a postal worker in Michigan.
Epatha’s four siblings are Linda D Merkerson, Zephry Merkerson, Debbie Merkerson-Gooch, and Barrie Merkerson. Among the four, Linda is the eldest; she is a retired school teacher in Detroit. Moreover, Linda has a son and has been in a relationship since 2013.
The Chicago Med’s actress second sister Debbie also resides in Detroit, Michigan. Likewise, her brother Barrie is a 1967 graduate of Chadsey High School. He is a lawyer and currently works as a Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel for the city of Detroit.
Epatha’s younger brother Zephry currently works for the US Military. He studied Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Settled in Houston, Texas, Zephry is raising a young daughter.
Diabetes Runs Deep In Merkerson Family
The Merkerson clan has a history of diabetes in their bloodline. Several members, including Epatha, suffer from the condition.
Epatha’s father lost his life from complications arising out of diabetes. Likewise, her grandfather lost her eyesight, and her uncle got his leg amputated due to the disease.
Merkerson was also on the verge of suffering serious consequences from her health condition and lavish lifestyle. During her youth, the Law & Order actress was a heavy smoker and embraced a party lifestyle.
By, 1994, she had quit smoking but hadn’t changed her food habits. She was eventually diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes around 2003.
After learning of her diagnosis, she vowed to drastically change her lifestyle. She started eating healthy and regularly exercised. Epatha enjoyed taking long walks and regularly checked her blood sugar levels.
Sharon’s sacrifices paid off as she was able to make a significant weight loss. She dropped from 174 lbs to 135 lbs within a few months.
Epatha Is A Part Of Memorial Day Concert 2023
S Epatha Merkerson Memorial Day Concert appearance was announced by PBS on May 18. The actress was featured shortly during the 90-minute event.
Merkerson appeared alongside actors and singers like Trace Adkins, John Slattery, Megan Hilty, Dule Hill, Jo Dee Messina, Chosen Jacobs, Yolanda Adams, and more.
The 70-year-old actress was featured in a brief segment where she paid tribute to Sergeant Anthony O Magee, who lost his life at the age of 29 on April 10, 2010. Sergeant Anthony was a victim of an indirect fire attack in Iskandariyah, Iraq.
Memorial Day Concert 2023 is not the first time Merkerson has featured in the Military program. Back in 2016, Epatha made a brief presentation about Gold Star Mother Paula Davis and her sacrifices. Paula’s son Private First Class Justin R Davis lost his life after getting injured in an indirect son during a patrol on June 25, 2006. He was only 19 years old at the time of his death.