Loni Anderson, the actress who became a television icon playing the savvy receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the hit CBS sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday at age 79 following a prolonged illness. Anderson passed away at noon at a Los Angeles hospital, surrounded by her family, according to her longtime publicist Cheryl J. Kagan.
Anderson’s family released a statement expressing their grief: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother.” The actress died just days before what would have been her 80th birthday on August 5.
Born Loni Kaye Anderson on August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Klaydon, an environmental chemist, and Maxine, a model. Anderson graduated from Alexander Ramsey Senior High School in Roseville in 1963 and finished as runner-up in the 1964 Miss Minnesota pageant while studying art at the University of Minnesota.
Anderson’s breakthrough role came in 1978 when she was cast as Jennifer Marlowe on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” which aired for four seasons through April 1982. The show followed a struggling Ohio radio station attempting to reinvent itself by switching from easy listening to rock music. Anderson’s character was known for her intelligence and ability to manage the station’s operations despite her incompetent colleagues.
Initially hesitant about the role, Anderson worked with creator Hugh Wilson to transform Jennifer from what she perceived as mere “window dressing” into a more substantial character. Wilson agreed to make her “look like Lana Turner and be the smartest person in the room,” according to Anderson’s 2020 interview recollections.
The role earned Anderson significant recognition, including two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1980 and 1981, though she lost to Loretta Swit of “M*A*S*H” and Eileen Brennan of “Private Benjamin,” respectively. She also received three Golden Globe nominations for the series.
Following “WKRP,” Anderson appeared in the 1983 film “Stroker Ace” alongside Burt Reynolds, whom she met in 1981 on “The Merv Griffin Show.” The couple began dating in 1982 and married on April 29, 1988, at Reynolds’ 160-acre ranch in Jupiter, Florida. During the ceremony, Reynolds presented Anderson with a seven-carat canary yellow diamond ring surrounded by smaller white diamonds.
The marriage, which produced an adopted son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds, in August 1988, ended in a contentious divorce in 1994. The split became tabloid fodder, with Reynolds later describing the marriage as “a really dumb move” in a 2015 interview. The divorce settlement required Reynolds to pay Anderson $15,000 monthly in spousal support and cover the mortgage on their Beverly Hills home.
“I should have known that you don’t marry an actress,” he said at the time. “It wasn’t lollipops and roses.”
Anderson explained that the relationship involved pain and some abuse, mentioning his struggles with drug addiction. She described constantly trying to fix things, feeling strong in her belief that she could, and emphasized that she loved him deeply.
Despite their acrimonious split, Anderson and Reynolds eventually reconciled for their son’s sake. When Reynolds died in 2018 from a heart attack, Anderson acknowledged their shared history and his role as Quinton’s father for 30 years.
Throughout her career, Anderson appeared in numerous television movies and series, including “The Jayne Mansfield Story” in 1980, where she starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, and “White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd” in 1991. She also had roles in “Easy Street,” “Partners in Crime,” and “Nurses,” among other productions.
Anderson embraced her status as a sex symbol, reflecting in 2021 that she never expected to become known as “Loni Anderson, sex symbol,” but chose to embrace all aspects of her career. She noted that her granddaughters found her iconic status amusing.
The actress was married four times during her life. Her first marriage to Bruce Hasselberg in 1964 produced daughter Deidra but ended in divorce in 1966. She later married actor Ross Bickell from 1974 to 1981, followed by her high-profile union with Reynolds. In 2008, she married musician Bob Flick, a relationship that lasted 17 years until her death.
Anderson also became a published author with her 1995 autobiography “My Life in High Heels,” which detailed her relationships and career struggles. At the time of her death, her net worth was estimated at $12 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Anderson is survived by her husband Bob Flick, daughter Deidra, son-in-law Charlie Hoffan, and son Quinton Anderson Reynolds. The specific cause of her death has not been disclosed beyond the acknowledgment of a prolonged illness.
