Loni Anderson, the Emmy-nominated actress who became a television icon as the intelligent and glamorous receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the classic sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," died Sunday at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness. She was 79 years old, just two days shy of her 80th birthday.
Anderson's longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, confirmed the death was caused by "an acute prolonged illness." Her family released a statement expressing their heartbreak: "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother."
From Minnesota Beauty Queen to Television Star
Born Loni Kaye Anderson on August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she began her entertainment career following in her model mother's footsteps as a beauty queen. Her father worked as an environmental chemist, providing a stable middle-class upbringing that grounded her throughout her later fame.
Anderson's natural hair color was actually black, not the platinum blonde that would become her signature. "I loved being a brunette. It was exotic, people weren't quite sure what nationality I was, there was a mystery. When acting, I could play the bad lady," she recalled in a 2020 interview.
Her first acting role came in 1966 with a small part in "Nevada Smith," starring Steve McQueen. Throughout the 1970s, she built her resume with guest appearances on popular series including "S.W.A.T.," "Police Woman," "Barnaby Jones," and "Phyllis." She even auditioned for the role of Chrissy Snow on "Three's Company" before landing the part that would define her career.
Redefining the Blonde Bombshell
When "WKRP in Cincinnati" premiered in 1978, Anderson initially turned down the role of Jennifer Marlowe. She objected to what she saw as a one-dimensional character who was "just here to deliver messages and is window dressing."
Creator Hugh Wilson asked how she would approach the role differently. "He said, 'Let's make her look like Lana Turner and be the smartest person in the room,'" Anderson explained. This collaboration transformed Jennifer Marlowe from a typical ditzy receptionist into a savvy, empowered woman who refused to take dictation, type letters, or fetch coffee for her incompetent male colleagues.
The character became a cultural phenomenon, subverting the "dumb blonde" stereotype that dominated television at the time. Jennifer's intelligence, wit, and ability to manipulate situations to her advantage while maintaining her feminine mystique resonated with audiences and critics alike.
Anderson appeared in all but one of the show's 90 episodes during its four-season run through 1982. Her performance earned two Emmy nominations in 1980 and 1981 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, though she lost to Loretta Swit of "MAS*H" and Eileen Brennan of "Private Benjamin," respectively. She also received three Golden Globe nominations for the role.
Hollywood Glamour and Personal Struggles
Anderson's high-profile marriage to Burt Reynolds in 1988 thrust her into tabloid headlines and overshadowed much of her professional work. The couple had adopted a son, Quinton, but their relationship was tumultuous from the start.
"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," Anderson later reflected to The Associated Press.
Their 1994 divorce became a headline-making court battle, particularly over custody of their son. Despite their contentious split, Anderson maintained respectful contact with Reynolds until his death in 2018, and both spoke at his funeral.
In 1995, Anderson channeled her experiences into the New York Times bestselling autobiography "My Life in High Heels," which she described as being about "the growth of a woman, a woman who survives. It's about my childhood, the death of my parents, my career, my divorces, and my children. Then of course, the trauma of my marriage to Burt."
Continuing Career and Advocacy
Following "WKRP," Anderson maintained a steady television career. She starred in the short-lived comedy series "Easy Street" and appeared in numerous made-for-TV movies, including "A Letter to Three Wives," "White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd," and telefilm remakes of classic Hollywood movies like "Leave Her to Heaven" and "Sorry, Wrong Number."
In the 1980s, she portrayed tragic Hollywood icons in two biographical telefilms: "The Jayne Mansfield Story" in 1980, alongside an unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger, and "White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd" in 1991.
Her last credited performance was in Lifetime's 2023 holiday movie "Ladies of the 80's: A Divas Christmas," reuniting with fellow television icons Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, and Nicollette Sheridan.
Beyond entertainment, Anderson became an advocate for COPD awareness in 1999 after witnessing the devastating effects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on her parents, both heavy smokers. Her personal experience with the disease motivated her to become an active spokesperson for prevention and treatment.
A Class Act Remembered
Steve Sauer, president and CEO of Media Four and Anderson's manager for 30 years, remembered her as "a class act. Beautiful. Talented. Witty. ALWAYS a joy to be around. She was the ultimate working mother. Family first… and maintained a great balance with her career."
Friends noted that Anderson maintained her sense of humor even during her final illness. "Even in her last weeks, she was quoting Jennifer Marlowe one-liners to the nurses," a close friend told People magazine.
Morgan Fairchild, her co-star in the recent Lifetime movie, wrote on X: "I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson! The sweetest, most gracious lady! I'm just devastated to hear this."
Anderson married four times throughout her life. She found lasting happiness with her fourth husband, Bob Flick, whom she married in 2008. According to sources close to the family, Anderson had been hospitalized "on and off" over the past year for treatments that sapped her energy but never dimmed her trademark spirit.
Anderson is survived by her husband Bob Flick, daughter Deidra and son-in-law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, granddaughters McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and his wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian. A private family service will be held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with a celebration of life planned for a future date.
Sources: NPR, CNN, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Associated Press, Gephardt Daily, Legacy Remembers
