Obituaries
Loni Anderson, 'WKRP In Cincinnati' Star Dies At 79
Anderson, who would have turned 80 on Tuesday, died following a prolonged, unspecified illness, her publicist told ABC7.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Loni Anderson, the actress best remembered for her role as a not-so-dumb blonde on the CBS sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," died in Los Angeles Sunday at the age of 79, according to multiple media reports.
Anderson, who would have turned 80 on Tuesday, died following a prolonged, unspecified illness, her publicist Cheryl Kagan told ABC7.
"We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother," Anderson's family said in a statement, the station reported.
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A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Anderson made her acting debut in 1966's "Nevada Smith" starring Steve McQueen. She struggled to find work for years after that, appearing sporadically in small parts on TV shows in the 1970s before her big break came in 1978.
As the conventionally gorgeous receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on "WKRP in Cincinnati," she fended off the good-natured advances of salesman Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner) and kept her perpetually addled boss Arthur Carlson (Gordon Jump) on track, all while subverting the expectations that often came with her good looks.
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The critically praised show ran from 1978 to 1982, and Anderson nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Awards.
Other notable parts included the starring role in the television film "The Jayne Mansfield Story" in 1980, the short-lived television series "Partners in Crime" in 1984, and the TV movies "A Letter to Three Wives" (1985), "Sorry, Wrong Number" (1989), "Coins in the Fountain" (1990) and "White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd" (1991).
Anderson was also known for her high-profile marriage to Burt Reynolds, which lasted from 1988 to 1994 when the couple divorced.
She was also married to real estate developer Bruce Hasselberg (1964- 66), actor Ross Bickell (1974-81) and musician Bob Flick (2008-25).
Anderson is survived by 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.
