Publish date: 2024-03-01

Merle was born in Okinawa, Japan, in 1975 to her parents Kiyoko Sang Pedersen and Andrew Dandridge.

After her birth in Okinawa, the actress revealed to a reputed media portal in 2016 that her family later lived in Nebraska and Seoul. She claimed that she and her siblings were "the only ones" who identified as mixed-race Asians, which made her feel out of place.

She also has an aunt who is over 100 years old. Dandridge posted a photo with Ms. Alice during the pandemic and wished her.

Merle is exceptionally close with her onscreen brother, Lamman Rucker as well. She calls him her protective big brother and does not forget to appreciate his presence in her life. 

Her Parents

Her father, Andrew Dean Dandridge, is a Council Bluffs, Iowa resident. It was he who encouraged Merle to give dancing a try. She has a good, tight relationship with him. He was born on September 28, 1942, and is 80 years old. 

Similarly, her mother, Kiyoko Sang Pedersen, is a former nurse. She is particularly close to her and is of Korean and Japanese descent. She arrived in the United States with hope and no language knowledge. Because two of her five children perished, she knows what it means to lose a child.

She put in a lot of effort to support her kids. Additionally, she used several Feng shui techniques to teach her daughter to appreciate and comprehend nature and make her home comfy.

Kiyoko is also an excellent chef. Until recently, Mama Kiyoko's Asian-inspired ramyun has been Merle's favorite meal. This dish looks like a cracked egg and a rich beef bouillon.

Her Siblings

Merle has two siblings now, but she lost a few. Her family faced some dark times due to the infant's demise. Her mother gave birth to five children, but two passed away.

Last year, on June 25, she wished her elder sister, Jen, for her birthday. Even though she did not reveal her identity or tag her, it was a lovely collage that included their childhood and grown-up pictures. 

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