Who is Toussaint L. Jones? Everything about the ex-husband of S. Epatha Merkerson
Chicago Med actress S. Epatha Merkerson was married to Toussaint L. Jones, a social worker, for 12 years before their divorce in 2006. They had a low-key marriage, and Toussaint left the spotlight after it ended. In an interview with The Denver Post in 2008, Epatha expressed her view of marriage following the divorce.
I was married, and I understand how to be lonely in a marriage.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Epatha Merkerson and Toussaint started dating in the mid-1970s and tied the knot in 1994.
- They did not welcome any children during their 12-year marriage in Maryland.
- After their divorce, Epatha swore off marriage while Toussaint left the spotlight for a quieter life.
Toussaint L Jones' profile summary
Full name | Toussaint Louverture Jones Jr. |
Place of birth | United States of America |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Gender | Male |
Sexual orientation | Straight |
Marital status | Divorced |
Ex-wife | S. Epatha Merkerson (1994 to 2006) |
Profession | Social worker |
Who is S. Epatha Merkerson's ex-husband, Toussaint L. Jones?
Toussaint Louverture Jones Jr. is a professional social worker. In the 1990s, he worked as the coordinator of a municipal program in the District of Columbia focused on family preservation, according to the Washington Post.
S. Epatha Merkerson and Toussaint L. Jones' marriage
Merkerson met Toussaint L. Jones in the mid-1970s in Albany, New York, where she was working on her first acting gig in a CETA-funded children’s theatre. They started dating but broke up because Toussaint wanted to live in Washington, D.C., for his work, and S. Epatha wanted to move to New York City to act.
Toussaint and S. Epatha eventually tied the knot on March 20, 1994, after being in an on-off relationship for nearly two decades. During their marriage, the ex-couple shared a home in Clinton, Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Merkerson would commute to New York for her theatre work and to film for her role as NYPD Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC’s Law & Order. The actress was full of praise for her then-husband, Toussaint, while speaking to the Washington Post in 1995, where she said:
Toussaint is completely supportive of my career and my commuting. He knew me at the beginning and understands the struggle.
Source: Original
S. Epatha Merkerson and Toussaint L. Jones's draining divorce
Toussaint L. Jones and S. Epatha Merkerson's divorce was finalized on February 14, 2006, after 12 years of marriage. The couple’s separation seemed to take a toll on Merkerson. The actress famously thanked her divorce lawyer while accepting her SAG Award for Lackawanna Blues in 2006 and told Entertainment Weekly at the time:
Which is why I can stand up in front of the whole world and thank my divorce lawyer. That was another reason [the award] was so exciting. It was happening at a time when someone was trying to take my spirit.
The particular details of Toussaint and Merkerson’s divorce were not made public, but it seems Toussaint was seeking a substantial settlement. In her 2016 interview with The Virgin Islands Daily News, the Law & Order actress said of her separation:
That was really, really difficult because he tried to take everything I worked for. I had to pay alimony.
Did S. Epatha Merkerson and Toussaint L. Jones have children?
Merkerson did not have any kids with Toussaint L. Jones during their three-decade relationship. However, Toussaint had an adult child from his first marriage and was already a grandfather when he married the Law & Order actress in 1994, per the Washington Post.
S. Epatha often plays mothers on-screen, including Sharon Goodwin as a mom of three on Chicago Med and Anita Van Buren on Law & Order. The actress told Playbill in 2014 that she chose not to become a mother in real life because she could not balance both a demanding acting career and parenthood. She said:
I have such admiration for women I know who are consummate performers and have children. I have trouble just focusing on the fact that I have a career, and for them to be able to do both, I have a lot of admiration. I knew it was something I couldn't do.
Source: Getty Images
Where is Toussaint L. Jones today?
Toussaint Louverture Jones Jr.’s current whereabouts are unknown. The American social worker completely withdrew from public life after his 2006 divorce from S. Epatha Merkerson and has no active social media presence.
Did S. Epatha Merkerson remarry?
S. Epatha ruled out marriage after getting divorced from Toussaint L. Jones, but she told the Daily News that "a companion would be lovely." The actress has mainly kept her love life out of the spotlight.
Merkerson, now 73, is a champion for senior romance because she believes love and dating should not stop as you age. While discussing her Chicago Med character Sharon Goodwin’s later-in-life romance, the actress told Parade in February 2024:
Don’t it happen?... That's why I think this is so lovely, is that we have a woman of a certain age who's being giggly. Yes, that happens, ladies and gentlemen. I've known people who've gotten married in their 80s.
Source: Getty Images
FAQs
- Does Epatha Merkerson have children? No. The Law & Order actress chose not to have kids because of her demanding acting career.
- How many kids did Toussaint Louverture have? Merkerson’s ex-husband, Toussaint, had one child from a previous relationship.
- Has S. Epatha Merkerson ever been married? Yes. S. Epatha was married to Toussaint Louverture Jones Jr., a social worker, from 1994 to 2006.
- Is Epatha Merkerson married? No. After her divorce from Toussaint, the actress said she would never remarry but is open to relationships.
- Can you provide a biography of Toussaint Louverture? Toussaint Louverture Jones Jr. (not the renowned Haitian general) is an American social worker. He is best known to the public as the ex-husband of actress S. Epatha Merkerson.
- What is S. Epatha Merkerson doing these days? Merkerson continues to act. She has played the role of hospital administrator Sharon Goodwin on NBC’s Chicago Med since 2015.
Conclusion
Toussaint L. Jones’ claim to fame is his former marriage to Emmy-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson. He was part of Merkerson’s life for over three decades, from the mid-1970s to the mid-2000s, and supported her through her rise in television. Little is known about Toussaint’s life today.
Briefly.co.za published details about Laura Clery’s ex-husband. Laura is an American actress, comedian, and social media influencer known for appearing in 2 Broke Girls, Disaster Date, Me Trying to Flirt, and Pamela Pumpkin.
Laura was previously married to English composer and music producer Stephen Hilton. They welcomed two children before their divorce was finalized in 2023 after a decade of marriage. Follow the link above for more about the ex-couple.
Source: Briefly News
