Loni Anderson, star of WKRP in Cincinnati, dies at 79

Loni Anderson, beloved for her role as the savvy receptionist on the hit TV comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, passed away Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.

Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital after a prolonged illness, her longtime publicist Cheryl J. Kagan confirmed.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” her family shared in a statement, as quoted by Associated Press.

WKRP in Cincinnati aired from 1978 to 1982, chronicling the ups and downs of a struggling Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. Alongside Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner, and Jan Smithers, Anderson portrayed Jennifer Marlowe — the blonde, high-heeled receptionist whose intelligence matched her looks.

Jennifer routinely shielded her boss, Mr. Carlson, from unwanted calls and kept the station running smoothly amid chaos. Anderson’s performance earned her two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nods.

On the big screen, Anderson starred opposite Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy Stroker Ace. The pair later married, becoming tabloid fixtures until their 1994 breakup.

Reflecting on their relationship during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynolds’ Hollywood grave site in 2021, Anderson said, “Our son, Quinton Reynolds, was the best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship.”

She also shared candidly with The Associated Press, “I 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.”

In her 1995 autobiography My Life in High Heels, Anderson wrote about “the growth of a woman, a woman who survives.”

“I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” she told the AP. “You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because you’re telling the truth.”

Anderson married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008.

Born August 5, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Anderson’s father was an environmental chemist and her mother a model. Her acting career began with a small role in the 1966 film Nevada Smith starring Steve McQueen. Much of her work was on television, including guest spots in the 1970s on S.W.A.T. and Police Woman. After WKRP, she starred in the short-lived comedy Easy Street and appeared in made-for-TV movies like A Letter to Three Wives and White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.

In 2023, Anderson co-starred in Lifetime’s Ladies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmas alongside Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, and Nicollette Sheridan.

“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!” Fairchild wrote on X. “The sweetest, most gracious lady! I’m just devastated to hear this.”

Anderson is survived by her husband Bob Flick; 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 will be held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.

(With inputs from AP)