Merry Anders

Birth Name: Mary Helen Anderson

Date of Birth: May 22, 1934

Place of Birth: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Death: October 28, 2012

Place of Death: Encino, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – Norwegian, possibly French-Canadian and other
*mother – Swedish

Merry Anders was an American actress and model. Having acted mostly in the 1950s and 1960s, her roles include the films Golden Girl, Hear Me Good, The Night Runner, The Hypnotic Eye, and Young Jesse James, and the shows It’s Always Jan and How to Marry a Millionaire. She was also known as Merry A. Benedict.

She was the daughter of Helen Catherine and Charles Howard Anderson, a contractor. Her maternal grandparents were Swedish. She was married to engineer Richard Benedict, until his death. Merry had a daughter with her former husband, producer John Stephens.

Merry’s paternal grandfather was Charles B. Anderson (the son of Henry Anderson and Alice Blanchard). Charles was born in Chicago. Henry was a Norwegian emigrant. Alice was born in Canada, and possibly was of French-Canadian descent.

Merry’s paternal grandmother was Olina Brown (the daughter of Thomas Brown and Nellie Helgeson). Olina was born in Chicago. Thomas was born in Woodstock, Illinois. Nellie was born in Capron, Illinois. The surname Helgeson is usually of Norwegian origin.

Merry’s maternal grandfather was Charles Adolph Hagberg (the son of Andrew Hagberg and Johanna Larsdotter). Charles was born in Mellomgarden, Sweden. Andrew was the son of Abraham Andersson and Gustafa Andersdotter. Johanna was the daughter of Lars Larson.

Merry’s maternal grandmother was Josephine Albertina Johnson (the daughter of Jakob Johansson and Inger Lena Nilsdotter). Josephine was born in Jonsnahult, Sweden. Jakob was the son of Johannes Johansson and Ingegerd Larsdotter. Inger was the daughter of Nils Pehrsson and Johanna Jonsdotter.

Source: Genealogy of Merry Anders – https://www.familysearch.org