Beloved ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ Star Loni Anderson Passes Away at 79

Iconic Actress Loni Anderson Dies

Loni Anderson, best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79. Her

Sarah Miller
4 Min Read
CENTURY CITY, CA - MAY 02: Actress Loni Anderson attends the 21st annual Race to Erase MS at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 2, 2014 in Century City, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

Iconic Actress Loni Anderson Dies

Loni Anderson, best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79. Her publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, revealed that Anderson died in Los Angeles following “an acute prolonged illness.”

A Career in Hollywood

Born on August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Anderson was a two-time Emmy nominee whose career spanned several decades. She captured audiences not only as a strong character in WKRP but also in telefilms like The Jayne Mansfield Story and White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.

Anderson’s groundbreaking portrayal of Jennifer in WKRP, which ran from 1978 to 1982, challenged stereotypes of women in television. “I don’t want to play this part because she’s just here to deliver messages and is window dressing,” she recalled in a 2020 interview. Her input led to creating a character who was not only beautiful but also the smartest person in the room, refusing to conform to the typical “dumb blonde” portrayal of that era.

Early Life and Education

With a father who was an environmental chemist and a mother who worked as a model, Anderson was drawn to the arts from a young age. After graduating high school in 1963, she became a runner-up in the Miss Minnesota pageant while studying at the University of Minnesota, where she also received her degree in arts.

Personal Life and Relationships

Anderson’s personal life often featured in the tabloids, especially due to her high-profile marriage to actor Burt Reynolds. The couple married on April 29, 1988, at Reynolds’ expansive ranch in Florida, where he gifted her a stunning seven-carat canary yellow diamond ring. Actor Robby Benson, who attended the wedding, remarked, “It couldn’t have been lovelier.”

Their marriage, however, was tumultuous. In 1993, Reynolds filed for divorce, claiming infidelity, while Anderson argued that he was the one having an affair and struggling with substance abuse. “I’m very happy that we were able to sell papers for a year and a half,” Reynolds joked to reporters in 1994.

Legacy and Contributions

In addition to her notable roles, Anderson made guest appearances on various shows, including Melrose Place and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and contributed her voice to animated projects like All Dogs Go to Heaven. After Reynolds’ passing in 2018, Anderson expressed her commitment to keeping his memories alive by keeping his ashes.

She is survived by her daughter Deidra, son Quinton, and her fourth husband, musician Bob Flick. Anderson’s family plans a private service at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with a public celebration of her life to occur at a later date. Contributions in her memory can be made to the National Lung Health Education Program and the American Cancer Society.

A Fond Farewell

Steve Sauer, Anderson’s manager for three decades, praised her in a heartfelt statement, saying, “Loni was a class act. Beautiful. Talented. Witty. ALWAYS a joy to be around.” He reflected on their adventures and expressed how much he would miss her infectious chuckle.

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