Merle Dandridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Merle Dandridge
Dandridge in September 2019
Born	(1975-05-31) May 31, 1975 (age 50) Okinawa, Japan
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1994–present

Merle Dandridge (born May 31, 1975) is an American actress and singer. She is famous for her work in Broadway musicals. Some of her well-known shows include Jesus Christ Superstar and Rent.

Merle is also known for her voice acting in video games. She voiced Alyx Vance in Half-Life 2. She also played Marlene in the popular The Last of Us game series. Later, she played Marlene again in the TV show based on the game.

On television, Merle had a main role as Grace Greenleaf in the show Greenleaf. She also appeared in shows like Sons of Anarchy and The Flight Attendant. Since 2022, she has been starring in the ABC action series Station 19.

Early Life and Education

Merle Dandridge was born in Okinawa, Japan, on May 31, 1975. Her mother is Korean, and her father is African-American. Because of her father's job, her family moved to the United States.

They lived at Beale Air Force Base in California for a while. Then, they settled in Bellevue, Nebraska, near Offutt Air Force Base. Merle grew up mostly in Bellevue. She went to Papillion La Vista High School. There, she loved being part of the theater and play production classes. After high school, she studied acting at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Merle's Acting Career

Merle Dandridge started her acting journey in Chicago theater shows. She became widely known for her voice work in video games. She voiced Alyx Vance in the award-winning game Half-Life 2. She also voiced Alyx in its follow-up games. Another big role was Marlene in The Last of Us.

In 2006, she joined the Broadway cast of Tarzan as Kala. Merle won a BAFTA Award in 2015. This was for her voice acting in the game Everybody's Gone to the Rapture.

Television Roles

Merle has appeared in many TV shows. She had guest roles in popular series like NCIS and Criminal Minds. She also played Rita Roosevelt in the drama series Sons of Anarchy. From 2015 to 2016, she was Gwen Gaskin in The Night Shift.

In 2015, Merle got a lead role in the Oprah Winfrey Network show Greenleaf. She played Grace Greenleaf, a main character. Critics praised her performance in this show. In 2020, she joined the cast of The Flight Attendant. In 2022, she began playing Fire Chief Natasha Ross in Station 19. In 2023, she returned to her role as Marlene in the TV series The Last of Us.

Broadway and Stage Work

Merle Dandridge has a strong background in Broadway musicals. She played Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar in 2000. From 2002 to 2008, she was Joanne Jefferson in Rent. She also played The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot.

From 2017 to 2018, Merle starred as Papa Ge in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island. The cast, including Merle, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. In 2025, she will take on the role of Persephone in the Broadway show Hadestown.

Acting Appearances

Film Roles

Television Shows

Stage Performances

Video Game Voice Roles

Awards and Nominations

Merle Dandridge has been recognized for her amazing performances.