Toussaint Louverture Jones Jr., better known as Toussaint L. Jones, is an American social worker who gained public attention through his marriage to award-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson. Named after the legendary leader of the Haitian Revolution, Jones has maintained an exceptionally private life both during and after his twelve-year marriage to the Emmy-winning star. While Merkerson built one of television’s most respected careers, her ex-husband deliberately stayed out of the spotlight, leaving much of his personal story shrouded in mystery.
S. Epatha Merkerson is a celebrated American actress who’s dominated film, stage, and television for decades. Born on November 28, 1952, in Saginaw, Michigan, she’s now 72 years old and continues to captivate audiences. Her trophy cabinet tells quite a story: an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, two Obie Awards, four NAACP Image Awards, and two Tony nominations. She’s perhaps best known for her 17-season run on Law & Order and currently stars as Sharon Goodwin on NBC’s Chicago Med.
Details about Toussaint L. Jones’ early life remain frustratingly scarce. His exact date of birth has never been publicly confirmed, though unreliable sources suggest he was born between 1955 and 1960, placing him in his mid-60s to early 70s today. What we do know is that he was born Toussaint Louverture Jones Jr. in the United States and is African American.
Toussaint L. Jones worked as a social worker and therapist throughout his professional life. This career path aligned with service and community support, though specific details about where he practised or the communities he served have never been disclosed.
Getty Images houses photographs of Jones from public appearances with Merkerson during their years together. These images capture moments like the Seventh Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 11, 2001, and the Broadway opening of The Elephant Man on April 14, 2002. They represent the only verified visual records of his public life. After their divorce, he vanished completely from public view.
How He Met S. Epatha Merkerson in Albany & Wedding
The love story between Toussaint L. Jones and S. Epatha Merkerson began around 1975 when they met at a children’s theatre company in Albany, New York. Merkerson had just graduated from Wayne State University with a B.F.A. in theatre and joined the company, where Jones was already involved. Their connection was immediate, though the name of that Albany theatre company has never been publicly identified.
Their romance didn’t follow a straight path. By 1980, geography separated them when Jones was working in Washington, D.C., while Merkerson pursued her acting dreams in New York City. They maintained a friendship during this time but weren’t romantically involved. The spark reignited over a decade later when Merkerson landed her breakthrough role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on Law & Order in 1993. She reportedly called Jones and visited him in Washington, D.C., rekindling their relationship after years apart.
The couple married on March 20, 1994, in a private ceremony attended only by family and close friends. The venue was never disclosed. They lived in Maryland, and Merkerson commuted to New York City for her demanding Law & Order filming schedule. For nearly twelve years, they built a life together away from Hollywood’s glare.
Multiple sources confirm the couple had no children together during their marriage. Jones supported Merkerson’s career from the sidelines while maintaining his own work as a therapist, though he occasionally accompanied her to major industry events and award ceremonies.
Valentine’s Day Divorce
Their marriage ended on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2006. The ironic timing wasn’t lost on anyone, especially Merkerson herself. She was represented by attorneys Sandy Ain and Clare Miller of the Washington, D.C. law firm Ain & Bank. In an unexpected move, Merkerson publicly thanked her divorce lawyers during her SAG Award acceptance speech on January 29, 2006, saying, “I have to say a public thank you to my divorce lawyer, Sandy Ain and Clare Miller!”
The specific reasons for their divorce have never been made public. Merkerson later told Entertainment Weekly that the divorce “was happening at a time when someone was trying to take my spirit,” though she didn’t elaborate. Attorney Sandy Ain spoke kindly of her client to the Washington Post, calling her “a wonderful human being” and “a total class act, very well-grounded.”
Where Is Toussaint L. Jones Now?
Since their separation, Jones has remained entirely out of public life. There are no confirmed reports of subsequent relationships, career updates, or public appearances. His current whereabouts and activities remain unknown. He’s given no interviews about his marriage to Merkerson or his life afterwards, maintaining the privacy he’s clearly valued throughout his life.
His ex-wife, however, has built substantial wealth through her legendary television career. S. Epatha Merkerson’s net worth is currently estimated at approximately $12 million.