Born and raised in North St. Louis, Anderson is a proud product of St. Louis Public Schools. He graduated from Gateway Institute of Technology in 2000, and obtained an associate's degree from St. Louis Community College.

Anderson completed his bachelor's degree in Mass Media from Clark Atlanta University, where he participated in NCAA Division II sports and was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He completed a juris doctorate from Southern University Law Centers in 2011.

Anderson worked for the Louisiana Public Defender in the Juvenile Litigations Division, the St. Louis City Circuit Attorney's Office, the St. Louis Public Defender's Office, and the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole before opening his own law firm in 2013. He continues to provide zealous legal representation at the Law Office of Marlon S. Anderson.

Community engagement includes serving as chairman of the 27th Ward Safety Committee, Vice-President of the Northside Neighborhood Action Association, Co-Chair of a Voter Empowerment committee and as a member of the 27th Ward Housing Committee Board. Anderson is the co-owner of Brother's Property Management, a lifetime member of St. Paul Saturdays Manhood and Development Group, and a member of the New Northside Missionary Baptist Church.