- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMerry Helen Anderson
- Height5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
- Merry Anders practically grew up in local bijous watching films and their accompanying stage shows with her movie-crazy mother and grandmother. The family relocated to Los Angeles in 1949 and, while attending John Burroughs Junior High School, Anders made the acquaintance of Rita La Roy, an old-time film actress who convinced her to take a modeling course. Later, to help her with her modeling, she took dramatic lessons at the Ben Bard Playhouse and was "spotted" by a 20th Century-Fox talent scout in a Playhouse stage presentation. After several years at Fox, Anders turned freelancer, working in TV as well as starring in a string of modestly budgeted Western, science fiction and horror films.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tom Weaver <TomWeavr@aol.com>
- SpousesRichard David Benedict(September 21, 1985 - May 17, 1999) (his death)John G. Stephens(March 22, 1955 - June 24, 1957) (divorced, 1 child)
- ParentsCharles AndersonHelen Anderson
- Although she was actually a blonde, Jack Webb insisted that she wear a brunette wig during her appearances on the second Dragnet 1967 (1967) series (1967-70) on the grounds that it made her look more serious.
- Retired after 25 years at Litton Data Systems as a Customer Relations coordinator
- She continued acting in the 1970s by registering for at least one class at Los Angeles Valley College each year in order to appear in a college play. Among her credits was "The Glass Menagerie", and playing her daughter was the soon-to-be-famous TV actress Christopher Norris.
- In 2005, resided in Encino, California, with her husband.
- She had a daughter who attended Los Angeles Valley College in the 1970s. Apparently trying to follow in her mother's footsteps, the daughter appeared in college plays, for example, "A Midsummer's Night Dream," but without much acclaim or, as far as is known, without any professional appearances later.
- I come on the set with my lines learned and then I read them like Merry Anders. Usually that's enough, but if the director wants something more, then we go to work. After that the lines come out like Merry Anders working.
- [on quitting her acting career] I had a couple of years where I only grossed about three thousand dollars and I couldn't make a living. Dad wrote me a letter and said, "Get out of that movie business, get yourself a decent job, girl!" I was divorced and it's hard to raise a child, have a nice home, put up the appearance of success, drive a car in perfect running shape and everything when you're on unemployment.
- [on working with Ted de Corsia in The Quick Gun (1964)] He was just great, though. Just perfect as his character. It helped me in a way because I was supposedly so terrified of him I was speechless.
- The Stu Erwin Show (1950) - $250 per week
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