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S. Epatha Merkerson Dishes on Sharon Goodwin’s Love Life and Her Ex’s Memory Issues
The Chicago Med star discusses what’s in store for Sharon Goodwin’s budding romance, and the character's ex-husband's new medical issues.
Just as she began to give love another chance with someone new, Sharon Goodwin's ex-husband Albert "Bert" Goodwin's health has come into focus on Chicago Med.
S. Epatha Merkerson, who plays the aforementioned Chief of Patient and Medical Services at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center on the drama, talked to NBC Insider about what's going on with Bert's health and Sharon's new relationship with a department chief at the hospital.
Though Bert left Sharon in Season 1, he continued to pop up on the series after the pair's divorce. But before turning up again in Season 9, Bert hadn't appeared on the show since Season 6.
RELATED: Sharon Goodwin Has a New Lover on Chicago Med — And He Works at the Hospital
"It's always fun when he comes back," Merkerson told NBC Insider of actor Gregory Alan Williams, who plays Bert on the show.
Sharon Goodwin's ex-husband is having memory issues on Chicago Med
In Season 9, episode 4, Bert and the ex-couple's grandson are brought into the emergency department at Gaffney. It's revealed that Bert fell on the child and hurt his leg. The accidental fall isn’t the only cause for concern. Sharon and Bert's daughter Tara tells Sharon about her fears regarding Bert’s memory. Tara also shows her mom a video from her son's room, in which Bert appears to be confused about how to exit the child's bedroom.
The next episode of Chicago Med — titled "I Make a Promise, I Will Never Leave You" and airing Wednesday, February 21 at 8/7c p.m. — follows the storyline as Sharon seeks help having her ex-husband’s memory evaluated.
Merkerson was happy to reunite with Williams for this season's episodes.
“Gregalan is one of the coolest actors,” Merkerson told NBC Insider, using the name he calls himself, and adding that she's been a longtime fan of his work. “Having Bert come back with issues at a point where her personal life is starting to blossom is a perfect foil for this new romance.”
Will Sharon Goodwin's relationship with Dr. Washington have any drama?
Sharon’s new relationship with chief oncologist Dr. Dennis Washington (John Earl Jelks) isn’t without its own complications, according to Merkerson. It was recently revealed the pair were secretly dating after Dr. Washington slyly dropped off Sharon’s hospital ID card at her office after she left it at his place.
“They’re both in leadership positions and so, you know, are they helping each other, you know, when they shouldn’t be?,” Merkerson said to NBC Insider, touching on possible problems the office romance could pose in the future. “Their integrity might be called into question.”
Still, Merkerson has enjoyed the chance to show the “softer side of Goodwin" with her new relationship.
What does S. Epatha Merkerson think of Sharon Goodwin's relationship with Dr. Washington?
“The thing that I’ve enjoyed the most is being silly and just giggling because we never see Goodwin like that,” Merkerson explained. “You can see Goodwin and [Dr. Daniel] Charles sitting together and they’ll laugh about something ‘cause they’re old friends, but there’s a different kind of giggle when you’re being romanced."
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Merkerson is no stranger to playing a strong female lead with a complicated personal life. The actress portrayed Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on Law & Order for 17 seasons. She sees similarities between her two characters. For one, they’re both at the top of their respective career fields.
"I hope that what I’ve done with both of these characters is show that not only are they good at what they do, but they also have a heart,” Merkerson said. “They’re women that know their business ... that shoot straight from the shoulder and women who will take you to task, but women who will also hold you ... and let you know that it’s gonna be okay.”
To find out exactly what’s going on with Bert and what’s next for Sharon, watch an all-new episode of Chicago Med on Wednesday at 8/7c p.m. on NBC, or stream the next day on Peacock.
