Loni Anderson, best known for her iconic role as Jennifer Marlowe on the hit CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, has passed away just days before her 80th birthday. The actress died at a Los Angeles hospital after a prolonged illness, according to her longtime publicist Cheryl J. Kagan.
Anderson’s family expressed their heartbreak over the loss of their beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. Celebrated for her charm and talent, Anderson left an indelible mark on television and Hollywood alike.
Legendary Role in WKRP and Career Highlights
Anderson rose to fame starring as the witty and glamorous receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired from 1978 to 1982. The show was a cultural touchstone about the lives of radio station employees and earned Anderson three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations for her performance.
In 2021, she reflected on becoming a sex symbol through the role, embracing it as part of her varied career. After WKRP, she starred in films like Stroker Ace (1983), where she met Burt Reynolds, her future husband.
Turbulent Marriage, Personal Struggles, and Later Years
Anderson’s marriage to Burt Reynolds was both high-profile and contentious, ending in divorce in 1994. Reynolds later called marrying her “a really dumb move,” revealing in his 2015 memoir But Enough About Me that their relationship was marked by tensions over lifestyle and finances.
He described Anderson’s extravagant spending, while Anderson publicly accused Reynolds of physical abuse and inconsistent child support payments. Despite their troubled past, Anderson paid tribute to Reynolds after his death in 2018, acknowledging the impact he had on her life and their son Quinton.
Following their divorce, Anderson continued acting in TV shows such as Nurses, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and V.I.P.
She authored an autobiography, My Life in Heels (1995), sharing her personal and professional challenges. Married four times, Anderson is survived by her husband, musician Bob Flick, and her children. Her legacy remains as a beloved television icon who charmed audiences for decades.