Popular 1980s actor Loni Anderson of the hit TV series āWKRP in Cincinnatiā has died
LOS ANGELES (AP) ā Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio stationās empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy āWKRP in Cincinnati,ā died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.
Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.
āWe are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,ā Andersonās family said in a statement.
āWKRP in Cincinnatiā aired from 1978 to 1982 and was set in a flagging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as Jennifer Marlowe, whose good looks were matched by her intelligence.
As the stationās receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer routinely deflected unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her efficiency often kept the station running in the face of othersā incompetence.
The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.
Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy āStroker Ace,ā and the two later married and became tabloid fixtures before their messy breakup in 1994.
Their son, Quinton Reynolds, was āthe best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship,ā she said during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynoldsā Hollywood grave site in 2021.
āI think back to the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, tabloidy. We were just a spectacle all the time. And it was hard to have a relationship in that atmosphere. And somehow, we did it through many ups and downs,ā Anderson told The Associated Press.
Anderson detailed their tumultuous marriage in the 1995 autobiography, āMy Life in High Heels,ā which she said was about āthe growth of a woman, a woman who survives.ā
āI think if youāre going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,ā Anderson told the AP while promoting the book. āYou may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because youāre telling the truth.ā
She married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008.
Anderson was born Aug. 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother was a model.
Her first role as an actress was a small part in the 1966 film āNevada Smith,ā starring Steve McQueen. Most of her career was spent on the small screen with early guest parts in the 1970s on āS.W.A.T.ā and āPolice Woman.ā After āWKRP,ā Anderson starred in the short-lived comedy series āEasy Streetā and appeared in made-for-TV movies including āA Letter to Three Wivesā and āWhite Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.ā
In 2023 she co-starred in Lifetimeās āLadies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmasā with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nicollette Sheridan.
āI am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!ā Fairchild wrote on X. āThe sweetest, most gracious lady! Iām just devastated to hear this.ā
Anderson is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.
A private family service is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.
LOS ANGELES (AP) ā Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio stationās empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy āWKRP in Cincinnati,ā died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.
Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.
āWe are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,ā Andersonās family said in a statement.
āWKRP in Cincinnatiā aired from 1978 to 1982 and was set in a flagging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as Jennifer Marlowe, whose good looks were matched by her intelligence.
As the stationās receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer routinely deflected unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her efficiency often kept the station running in the face of othersā incompetence.
The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.
Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy āStroker Ace,ā and the two later married and became tabloid fixtures before their messy breakup in 1994.
Their son, Quinton Reynolds, was āthe best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship,ā she said during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynoldsā Hollywood grave site in 2021.
āI think back to the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, tabloidy. We were just a spectacle all the time. And it was hard to have a relationship in that atmosphere. And somehow, we did it through many ups and downs,ā Anderson told The Associated Press.
Anderson detailed their tumultuous marriage in the 1995 autobiography, āMy Life in High Heels,ā which she said was about āthe growth of a woman, a woman who survives.ā
āI think if youāre going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,ā Anderson told the AP while promoting the book. āYou may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because youāre telling the truth.ā
She married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008.
Anderson was born Aug. 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother was a model.
Her first role as an actress was a small part in the 1966 film āNevada Smith,ā starring Steve McQueen. Most of her career was spent on the small screen with early guest parts in the 1970s on āS.W.A.T.ā and āPolice Woman.ā After āWKRP,ā Anderson starred in the short-lived comedy series āEasy Streetā and appeared in made-for-TV movies including āA Letter to Three Wivesā and āWhite Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.ā
In 2023 she co-starred in Lifetimeās āLadies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmasā with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nicollette Sheridan.
āI am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!ā Fairchild wrote on X. āThe sweetest, most gracious lady! Iām just devastated to hear this.ā
Anderson is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.
A private family service is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.
