Merle Dandridge

{{short description|American actress, singer (b. 1975)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Merle Dandridge

| image = Merle Dandridge 2019.png

| caption = Dandridge in September 2019

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|5|31}}

| birth_place = Okinawa, Japan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = American

| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|singer}}

| years_active = 1994–present

}}

Merle Dandridge (born May 31, 1975) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for performing in Broadway musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Spamalot, Rent, and Once on This Island, as well as her video game roles as Alyx Vance in Half-Life 2 and Marlene in The Last of Us franchise. She played the leading role of Grace Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf (2016–2020). She's had recurring roles on television series such as Sons of Anarchy and The Night Shift and starred as Kim Hammond in the first season of HBO Max comedy-drama series The Flight Attendant in 2020. In 2022, Dandridge began starring as Natasha Seo-Yeon Ross in the ABC action series Station 19. She reprised her role as Marlene in the 2023 television adaptation of The Last of Us.

Early life

Dandridge was born in Okinawa on May 31, 1975.{{cite web |url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=76172 |title=Merle Dandridge |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203041054/http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=76172 |url-status=live }} Dandridge's mother is Korean and her father is African-American.{{Cite web |last=CAAM |date=June 20, 2016 |title=Merle Dandridge on "Blasian" Identity and Oprah Winfrey Network's new summer original series "Greenleaf" |url=https://caamedia.org/blog/2016/06/20/merle-dandridge-on-blasian-identity-and-oprah-winfrey-networks-new-summer-original-series-greenleaf/ |access-date=February 26, 2022 |website=CAAM Home |language=en-US |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226054929/https://caamedia.org/blog/2016/06/20/merle-dandridge-on-blasian-identity-and-oprah-winfrey-networks-new-summer-original-series-greenleaf/ |url-status=live }} She moved back to the U.S. with her parents due to her father's job, and they lived at Beale Air Force Base in California before settling at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, where Dandridge spent the majority of her childhood. She attended Papillion La Vista High School and participated in the play production class and theater department there. She then attended the Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University (currently called the Chicago College of Performing Arts).{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/diva-talk-chatting-with-spamalots-merle-dandridge-plus-betty-buckley-at-bir-153879 |title=DIVA TALK: Chatting with Spamalot's Merle Dandridge Plus Betty Buckley at Birdland |first=Andrew |last=Gans |date=October 3, 2008 |work=Playbill |access-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924193927/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/diva-talk-chatting-with-spamalots-merle-dandridge-plus-betty-buckley-at-bir-153879 |url-status=live }}

Career

Dandridge began her career appearing in Chicago theatre productions. She has gained a wider audience as the voice of Alyx Vance in the award-winning action game Half-Life 2 and its sequels, Episode One and Episode Two, and also as Marlene in The Last of Us. In 2006, she was cast as Kala in the original Broadway production of Tarzan. Dandridge earned a BAFTA Award for her voiceover performance in the 2015 game Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. On television, she guest starred on NCIS, 24, Criminal Minds, The Newsroom and Drop Dead Diva. In 2022, she was cast in a series regular role as Chief in the ABC drama series Station 19.{{cite web |url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/160550/merle-dandridge-lands-role-on-nbc-pilot-chicago-fire/ |title=Merle Dandridge Lands Role on NBC Pilot Chicago Fire |website=Broadway.com |access-date=June 21, 2016 |archive-date=August 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810190106/http://www.broadway.com/buzz/160550/merle-dandridge-lands-role-on-nbc-pilot-chicago-fire/ |url-status=live }} Dandridge also had the recurring roles in the FX drama series, Sons of Anarchy as Rita Roosevelt, and short-lived The CW teen soap Star-Crossed in 2014. In 2015, she co-starred in the second season of NBC medical drama, The Night Shift as Gwen Gaskin.{{cite web |url=http://tvline.com/2014/11/07/the-night-shift-season-2-cast-merle-dandridge-jordans-friend/ |title='The Night Shift' Season 2 Cast — Merle Dandridge as Jordan's Best Friend |first=Vlada |last=Gelman |date=November 7, 2014 |work=TVLine |access-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-date=August 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831024532/http://tvline.com/2014/11/07/the-night-shift-season-2-cast-merle-dandridge-jordans-friend/ |url-status=live }}

In 2015, Dandridge was cast as the lead character in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf opposite Lynn Whitfield. She plays the role of Grace Greenleaf, Greenleaf's estranged daughter.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/lynn-whitfield-merle-dandridge-desiree-ross-cast-own-drama-greenleaf-craig-wright-oprah-winfrey-1201504761/ |title=Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge & Desiree Ross Join 'Greenleaf' |first=Denise |last=Petski |date=August 24, 2015 |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826221045/http://deadline.com/2015/08/lynn-whitfield-merle-dandridge-desiree-ross-cast-own-drama-greenleaf-craig-wright-oprah-winfrey-1201504761/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/lynn-whitfield-desiree-rossmerle-dandridge-and-desiree-ross-cast-in-owns-church-drama-greenleaf-20150824 |title=Shadow and Act: Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge and Desiree Ross Cast in OWN's Church Drama, 'Greenleaf' |first=Tambay A. |last=Obenson |date=August 24, 2015 |work=IndieWire |access-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826221035/http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/lynn-whitfield-desiree-rossmerle-dandridge-and-desiree-ross-cast-in-owns-church-drama-greenleaf-20150824 |archive-date=August 26, 2015 |url-status=dead}} Dandridge has received critical acclaim for her first leading screen role.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/greenleaf-own-tv-review-oprah-winfrey-lynn-whitfield-keith-david-merle-dandridge-1201795621/ |title=TV Review: 'Greenleaf' |first=Maureen |last=Ryan |date=June 17, 2016 |website=Variety |access-date=June 21, 2016 |archive-date=June 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620194816/http://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/greenleaf-own-tv-review-oprah-winfrey-lynn-whitfield-keith-david-merle-dandridge-1201795621/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/21/greenleaf-own-merle-dandridge-oprah-winfrey |title=Meet Merle Dandridge, the 'Greenleaf' leading lady picked by Oprah |first=Nina |last=Terrero |date=June 21, 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=June 21, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/reasons-watch-oprah-winfreys-series-greenleaf/story?id=40020529 |title=5 Reasons to Watch Oprah Winfrey's New Series 'Greenleaf' |first=Luchina |last=Fisher |date=June 21, 2016 |website=ABC News |access-date=June 21, 2016 |archive-date=March 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190313104516/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/reasons-watch-oprah-winfreys-series-greenleaf/story?id=40020529 |url-status=live }}

From November 9, 2017, to January 7, 2018, Dandridge starred as Papa Ge the God of Death in the Broadway musical revival of Once on This Island,{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/norm-lewis-and-tamyra-gray-join-cast-of-broadways-once-on-this-island-january-8 |title=Norm Lewis and Tamyra Gray Join Cast of Broadway's Once on This Island January 8 |first=Adam |last=Hetrick |date=January 8, 2018 |website=Playbill |access-date=April 2, 2018 |archive-date=February 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033238/http://www.playbill.com/article/norm-lewis-and-tamyra-gray-join-cast-of-broadways-once-on-this-island-january-8 |url-status=live }} at the Circle in the Square Theater.{{cite web |url=http://onceonthisisland.com/castandcreative/ |title=Cast and Creative |website=Once on This Island.com |access-date=December 18, 2017 |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804162835/http://onceonthisisland.com/castandcreative/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=0000015b-c587-dec3-a97f-dfafcf2f0000&type=op#oc |title=Once On This Island – Cast |website=Playbill |language=en |access-date=March 8, 2018 |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309182654/http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=0000015b-c587-dec3-a97f-dfafcf2f0000&type=op#oc |url-status=live }} She returned to the role of Papa Ge in a limited run from June 18 to August 19, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/merle-dandridge-returns-to-broadways-once-on-this-island |title=Merle Dandridge Returns to Broadway's Once On This Island |first=Adam |last=Hetrick |date=June 18, 2018 |website=Playbill |access-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824061439/http://www.playbill.com/article/merle-dandridge-returns-to-broadways-once-on-this-island |url-status=live }} Along with cast, she received Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album nomination for cast recording. Also in 2018, she had a recurring role in the CBS comedy series Murphy Brown playing the role of a network boss.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/murphy-brown-merle-dandridge-recur-cbs-revival-candice-bergen-1202481061/ |title='Murphy Brown': Merle Dandridge Joins Season 1 Of CBS Revival |first=Denise |last=Petski |date=October 11, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=January 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021065951/https://deadline.com/2018/10/murphy-brown-merle-dandridge-recur-cbs-revival-candice-bergen-1202481061/ |url-status=live }} In 2020, Dandridge was cast in a series regular role in the eight-episode HBO Max thriller drama series The Flight Attendant.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/the-flight-attendant-merle-dandridge-kaley-cuoco-hbo-max-series-1202775355/ |title='The Flight Attendant': Merle Dandridge Joins Kaley Cuoco's HBO Max Series |first=Denise |last=Petski |date=November 4, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=January 20, 2020 |archive-date=November 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104182538/https://deadline.com/2019/11/the-flight-attendant-merle-dandridge-kaley-cuoco-hbo-max-series-1202775355/ |url-status=live }} In 2021, she was cast to reprise her role as Marlene from the critically acclaimed game The Last of Us, in the HBO series of the same name.{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=May 27, 2021 |title='Last of Us' Game Star to Reprise Role in HBO Series (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-merle-dandridge-hbo-series-1234960386/ |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=May 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527225738/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/last-of-us-merle-dandridge-hbo-series-1234960386/ |url-status=live }} On January 9, 2025, it was announced that Dandridge would be taking over the role of Persephone in the Broadway production of Hadestown starting February 18. {{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Joshua |title=aniel Breaker & Merle Dandridge Will Join HADESTOWN on Broadway |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Daniel-Breaker-Merle-Dandridge-Will-Join-HADESTOWN-on-Broadway-20250109 |website=Broadway World |access-date=9 January 2025}}

Acting credits

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

!Title

!Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2008

| Nothing but the Truth

| Celia

|

2018

| Resurrect

| Alice

| Short film

2022

|Block Party

|Crystal Maitland

|

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2003

| Angel

| Lacey

| Episode: "Home"

2003

| The Edge

| Agent Angela Wells

| Television pilot

2003

| NCIS

| Marcy Carruthers

| Episode: "Seadog"

2005

| Third Watch

| Nikki

| Episode: "Too Little, Too Late"

2005

| All My Children

| Lois

| Recurring role

2005

| Guiding Light

| Lawyer

| Episode: "July 21, 2005"

2007

| I'm Paige Wilson

| Gloria

| Television pilot

2010

| The Deep End

| Jennifer Hutchins

| Episode: "An Innocent Man"

2010

| 24

| Kristen Smith

| Episode: "Day 8, 12:00am–1:00am"

2010

| Matadors

| Brooke Comas

| Television pilot

2010

| CSI: Miami

| Stacy Garrett

| Episode: "Sleepless In Miami"

2011

| Lie to Me

| D.A. Jill Ottinger

| Episode: "Saved"

2011

| Love Bites

| Krista

| Episode: "How To..."

2011

| Ringer

| Dr. Anabel Morris

| Episode: "Shut Up and Eat Your Bologna"

2011–2012

| Sons of Anarchy

| Rita Roosevelt

| 6 episodes

2012

| Criminal Minds

| Agent Lynn Brooks

| Episode: "A Family Affair"

2012–2013

| The Newsroom

| Maria Guerrero

| 2 episodes

2013

| Company Town

| Louise

| Television pilot

2013

| Nikita

| Zoe

| Episode: "Inevitability"

2014

| The Mentalist

| Lydia Faulk

| Episode: "Il Tavolo Bianco"

2014

| Star-Crossed

| Vega

| 7 episodes

2014

| Drop Dead Diva

| Nadine Comer

| Episode: "Afterlife"

2014

| Stalker

| Dean Lisa Miner

| Episode: "Pilot"

2014

| NCIS: Los Angeles

| CIA Officer Nicole Borders

| Episode: "Reign Fall"

2015

| Perception

| Robyn Sherman

| Episode: "Meat"

2015

| Suits

| Leah

| Episode: "Intent"

2015

| Rosewood

| Charlotte

| Episode: "Vitamins and Vandals"

2015–2016

| The Night Shift

| Gwen Gaskin

| 15 episodes

2016–2020

| Greenleaf

| Grace Greenleaf

| 60 episodes

2018

| Murphy Brown

| Diana Macomber

| 5 episodes

2020

| The Flight Attendant

| Kim Hammond

| 8 episodes

2021

| Truth Be Told

| Zarina Killebrew

| 20 episodes

2022–2024

| Station 19

| Fire Chief Natasha Ross

| Recurring (season 5)
Series regular (seasons 6–7)
38 episodes

2023

| The Last of Us

| Marlene

| 2 episodes

2023–2024

| Alice's Wonderland Bakery

| The Silver Queen (voice)

| 6 episodes

2024

| Secret Level

| Liz Mutton (voice)

| Episode: "Spelunky: Tally"

=Stage=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Theatre

1994

| Once on This Island

| Performer

| Chicago

1994

| The Robber Bridegroom

| Rosamund

| Roosevelt University, Chicago

1994

| As You Like It

| Rosalind

| Roosevelt University, Chicago

1996

|Passion

|

|Pegasus Players, Chicago

1997

| Balm in Gilead

| Ann

| Gilead Theatre, Chicago

1997

| The Kentucky Cycle

| Performer

| Pegasus Players, Chicago

1997

| Company

| Kathy

| Pegasus Players, Chicago

1997

| Sweet and Hot

| Performer

| Theatre Building, Chicago

1998

| Heart and Soul

| Andrea

| Chicago

1998

| Richard II

| Performer

| Gilead Theatre Company, Chicago

1998

| Ain't Misbehavin'

|Charlaine

| European tour

1998

| Smokey Joe's Cafe

| Swing

| National tour

2000

| Jesus Christ Superstar

| Mary Magdalene

| Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Broadway

2001

| Aida

| Nehebka

| National tour

2002

| Aida

| Aida (Replacement)

| Palace Theatre, Broadway

2002–2008

| Rent

| Joanne Jefferson (replacement)

| Nederlander Theatre, Broadway

2003

| Showtune: Celebrating the Words & Music of Jerry Herman

| Woman 2

| Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena

2006–2007

| Tarzan

| Kala

| Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway

2007

|Atlanta

|Cleo

|Geffen Playhouse

2008

| Spamalot

| The Lady of the Lake

| Shubert Theatre, Broadway

2009–2010

| Rent

| Joanne

| U.S. tour

2012

|By the Way, Meet Vera Stark

|Anna Mae/Afua Assata Ejobo

|Geffen Playhouse

2015

| Spamalot

| The Lady of the Lake

| Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

2017–2018

| Once on This Island

| Papa Ge

| Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway

2023

| A Little Night Music

| Desirée Armfeldt

| Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena

2025

| Hadestown

| Persephone

| Walter Kerr Theater, Broadway

=Video games=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2004

| Half-Life 2

| rowspan=4 | Alyx Vance

|

2006

| Half-Life 2: Episode One

|

2007

| Half-Life 2: Episode Two

|

2007

| The Orange Box

|

2013

| The Last of Us

| Marlene

|Also provided motion capture

2013

| Dota 2

| Legion Commander / Winter Wyvern

|

2015

| Everybody's Gone to the Rapture

| Kate Collins

| Won{{endash}}BAFTA for Best Performer

2016

| Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

| Evelyn / Sister Catherine

|

2020

| The Last of Us Part II

| Marlene

|

2021

| Hitman 3

| Civilian Female 03

|

2023

| Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

| Aphrodite

|

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Award

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

2016

| British Academy Games Awards

| Performer

| Everybody's Gone to the Rapture

| {{won}}

| {{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2016/04/07/fallout-4-takes-home-best-game-at-2016-bafta-game-awards/ |title=Fallout 4 wins Best Game at 2016 BAFTA Game Awards |first=Stephany |last=Nunneley |date=April 7, 2016 |website=VG24/7 |access-date=January 20, 2020 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408040303/http://www.vg247.com/2016/04/07/fallout-4-takes-home-best-game-at-2016-bafta-game-awards/ |url-status=live }}

2019

| Grammy Awards

| Best Musical Theater Album

| Once on This Island

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/61st-annual-grammy-awards |title=61st Annual Grammy Awards |date=December 6, 2018 |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |language=en |access-date=February 10, 2019 |archive-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207153109/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/61st-annual-grammy-awards |url-status=live }}

2021

| Screen Actors Guild Awards

| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

| The Flight Attendant

| {{nom}}

| {{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2021/awards/news/2021-sag-nominations-list-nominees-screen-actors-guild-awards-1234897816/ |title=2021 SAG Awards: The Complete Nominations List |last1=Oganesyan |first1=Natalie |last2=Moreau |first2=Jordan |date=February 4, 2021 |website=Variety |access-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205025037/https://variety.com/2021/awards/news/2021-sag-nominations-list-nominees-screen-actors-guild-awards-1234897816/ |url-status=live }}

References

{{Reflist}}