TV Icon Loni Anderson Dies at 79 After Long Illness
Veteran actress Loni Anderson, best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, has passed away at the age of 79.
According to her longtime publicist Cheryl J. Kagan, Anderson died on Sunday in a Los Angeles hospital after battling a prolonged illness. While the exact cause of death has not been confirmed, her family shared a heartfelt message:
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother, and grandmother.”
Loni became a household name in the late 1970s for playing the intelligent and glamorous receptionist on WKRP in Cincinnati, a comedy series centered around a struggling radio station in Ohio. Her performance earned her critical acclaim and cemented her status as one of TV’s most recognizable stars of the era.
She also made headlines for her high-profile marriage to Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds. The pair tied the knot after co-starring in the 1983 film Stroker Ace, but their relationship ended in a highly publicized divorce finalized in 1993.
In addition to her television success, Anderson appeared in films like A Night at the Roxbury, where she played Barbara Butabi, the stylish mother of characters portrayed by Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan.
Her death comes just days before what would have been her 80th birthday.
Rest in peace to a true screen legend.
