Loni Anderson, the star of the classic TV sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, who played Jennifer Marlowe, died on Sunday in Los Angeles after a long illness. She was only days away from turning 80.
Her family acknowledged the news in a heartfelt statement: “We are saddened to announce the loss of our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother.” Anderson’s longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, said the actress died in a local hospital.
According to the Associated Press, Anderson became a star in the late 1970s playing Jennifer Marlowe, a smart, sassy receptionist for a flailing Ohio radio station. Airing from 1978 to 1982, WKRP in Cincinnati became a hit for its mix of comedy, music, and memorable characters.
Her character’s grace, wit, and professionalism set her apart as an actress on the show, which also featured Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, Tim Reid, and Jan Smithers. Anderson’s role earned her two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nods.
Off-screen, Anderson became famous for her celebrity romance with actor Burt Reynolds. The two co-starred in the 1983 movie Stroker Ace and married shortly after. Their relationship, often in the tabloids, ended in a messy divorce in 1994. The couple had a son, Quinton Reynolds, whom Anderson has referred to as “the best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship.”
She explained their marriage and individual issues in her 1995 memoir My Life in High Heels, an open book about her life as a woman in Hollywood.
A SUSTAINED CAREER
Born on August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Anderson started her acting career with a small role in the 1966 film Nevada Smith. Her career extended for decades with appearances in Police Woman, S.W.A.T., Easy Street, and various TV movies. In 2023, she was featured in Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas.
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With inputs from Associated Press