Her father, Louis Rançon, was an orchestra conductor, who conducted musicians such as Annie Cordy, Bourvil, and Georges Guétary.
Her grandfather, Anthonin Rançon, ran a movie theater in Auriol, which hosted Fernandel.
Ranson-Hervé entered the Conservatoire de Paris in 1949, and was in a graduating class alongside Jean Rochefort and Jean-Paul Belmondo.
She had a long career as an actress, and gave music lessons at the Conservatoire de Rosny-sous-Bois.
Marcelle Ranson-Hervé died on 3 April 2020 in Marseille at the age of 90 due to COVID-19.