[cirubit]

Hi guys, in my country, Italy, there's a story about Richard Dean Anderson and the actress Melissa Sue Anderson.
Somebody says she is Richard's step sister.
Is it true?
Or it is a urban legend, as I think?
I can't find anything about this on internet.

[denizen]

This according to the Italian Wikipedia
"Melissa Sue Anderson was born on September 26, 1962 in Berkeley. Father Stuart Anderson was an English teacher, theater and humanist at a local high school and also worked as a jazz musician; Mother Jocelyn was a talented artist in painting and sculpture, his brothers Thomas John, James Stuart and Richard Dean Anderson (known as MacGyver's interpreter)."

But i cannot find anything else either. Not sure.

[cirubit]

Yes, I have read the italian wikipedia but I remember this story since the 90's, in Italy.
May be, at the time, RDA said that in an interwiev to a italian journalist.
His father Stuart, divorced from Richard's mother and married Melissa's mother (and moved to California, I guess) and in 1962 Melissa Sue was born. This is the story I heard.
Italian wiki does not report this version, however.
I didn't have never check it out until now.

[Jediferret]

I've never heard this. All information on her doesn't show her parentage, at least not here in the US. Then again, RDA is a pretty private person, so maybe she is as well.

But, for the longest time, I though John Anderson (Harry Jackson) was RDA real father. XD Then I found out there was no relation, and I was kinda bummed. So, I really don't pay that much attention to such things anymore.

[MacGyverGod]

Did you know his niece is actually Pamela Anderson?

[Jediferret]

No, but it would make that one Tonight Show interview with RDA and Pamela Anderson much more awkward. XD

It was a general mistake. Anderson is a pretty common name in the US, so there probably isn't a relation.

The fact the Italian Wikipedia has both RDA's parents down as her parents, when she is supposed to be his step sister makes me question it's authenticity.

Most likely, there's no relation and the it's just a rumor.

[MacGyverGod]

I think we just simply have to accept that. Same names don't mean relation at all.

[uniquelyjas]

Speaking as someone with the last name of "Smith" I would have to agree. I could be related to half the world! Anderson is a common name. I also saw a video of that Tonight Show interview...no way they are related! Perhaps something got lost in the Italian-English translation or someone didn't do their homework.

[cirubit]

But this is a old story, as I said.
I had read it in some italian magazines long time ago, probably in early 90's, when I was a kid.

So this story is a urban legend, in the end, as I thought.

Anyway, thanks guys.

[MacGyverOnline]

That Wikipedia entry is a copy of an RDA bio.

The moral of the story is don't trust Wikipedia... anyone can update or add information and there's very little to no checking done to verify the facts - as shown here.

[Barry Rowland]

My oldest has been saying that for years! I never really thought about it but anyone could write whatever and suddenly it's considered fact.

[MacGyver85]

I've always heard that I like wikipedia for episode lists on tv shows