Rudy’s elder sister Merle Fernandez, a popular actress during the “bomba era” of the ‘70s is 13 years older than Brother Rudy Fernandez who recently died after a long battle with the dreaded cancer.  Merle revealed that they were eight in the family, two boys both died at an early age leaving Rudy as the only brother in the company of five sisters.  She admitted having been very close to Rudy especially during his final days and regards him as her best friend.