生于纽约市，成长于明尼阿波利斯。1957年戏剧本科毕业后进入电影界。1959年以《年轻的费城人》获奥斯卡最佳男配角提名。70年代末期以后主要活跃在电视界。其主要影片有《豪勇七蛟龙》、《雷玛根桥之战》、《火烧摩天楼》、《暗杀目标》、《三角部队》等。
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.
