Loni Anderson, beloved for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati,” has died at the age of 79. The celebrated actress passed away in a Los Angeles hospital on August 3, 2025, following a prolonged illness—just two days shy of her 80th birthday.
A Television Icon: From Roseville to Stardom
Born on August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Loni Kaye Anderson rose from humble Midwestern beginnings to become one of America’s most recognizable TV stars of the late 1970s and 1980s. The daughter of an environmental chemist and a former model, Anderson was raised in suburban Roseville. Her early flair for glamour was evident—she was crowned Queen of the Valentine’s Day Winter Formal in high school.
Interestingly, she was almost named “Leilani,” a name her father reconsidered fearing its potential for teenage teasing, eventually settling on the iconic name “Loni”—a name that would later be known in households across America.
Hollywood Breakthrough: The Role That Made Her a Star
After a nearly decade-long struggle in Hollywood, Anderson’s big break came in 1978 when she was cast as the sultry, whip-smart receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati. The role wasn’t just a stroke of good fortune—it was the culmination of perseverance and raw talent. Producers spotted a red swimsuit poster of Anderson and saw in her a blend of Jayne Mansfield’s figure and Marilyn Monroe’s charm.
Her performance earned her three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy Award nods. Although WKRP in Cincinnati struggled with Nielsen ratings, it developed a cult following, especially among young viewers and radio professionals.
Career Highlights and Beyond
Anderson’s career spanned over five decades. From starring in The Jayne Mansfield Story (1980) to voicing the character of Flo in the animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), Anderson showed impressive versatility. She also starred alongside Lynda Carter in Partners in Crime and took on dramatic roles such as Thelma Todd in White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (1991), a performance widely praised by critics.
In later years, she made appearances on shows like Nurses and The New WKRP in Cincinnati, and even returned to the screen in the 2016–2020 web series My Sister is So Gay. Her last known on-screen project was Lifetime’s 2023 film Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas, a reunion of television royalty.
A Love Story Turned Tabloid Saga: Loni Anderson and Burt Reynolds
Anderson’s personal life became headline fodder, especially during her high-profile marriage and subsequent divorce from actor Burt Reynolds.
The pair met on The Merv Griffin Show in 1981, began dating shortly after, and co-starred in the 1983 film Stroker Ace. In 1988, they married in an intimate ceremony at Reynolds’ Florida ranch with only 65 guests. Anderson described it as a fairytale: “I feel like Cinderella. I married Prince Charming.”
But the dream quickly soured.
By 1993, Reynolds announced their separation, citing irreconcilable differences. What followed was one of Hollywood’s most public and contentious divorces, played out in tabloids for over two decades. Reynolds publicly criticized Anderson, accusing her of infidelity, financial excess, and poor parenting. “She maxed out a $45,000 American Express card in half an hour,” Reynolds wrote in his 2015 memoir But Enough About Me. He later called the marriage “a really dumb move.”
Anderson, for her part, chose a more reserved response, telling SFGate in 1995, “Don’t get sucked into this, or it will become a circus. Burt wants to make a war — let him be in it all by himself.”
Despite their turbulent past, the two shared an adopted son, Quinton. Anderson also had a daughter, Deidra, from her first marriage to Bruce Hasselberg.
Life After Reynolds and Legacy
In 2008, Anderson married Bob Flick, a founding member of the folk group The Brothers Four. The couple originally met in 1963 and reunited decades later. They remained married until her death.
Anderson also used her platform for advocacy. Having witnessed the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to her parents’ smoking, she became a national spokesperson for COPD Together in 1999, dedicating time to raise awareness for the disease.
Her 1995 autobiography My Life in High Heels offered fans an intimate look into her personal struggles and triumphs—both in Hollywood and at home.
Death and Tributes
Loni Anderson passed away peacefully on August 3, 2025, surrounded by family. “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother, and grandmother,” read a family statement released by her longtime publicist Cheryl J. Kagan.
Fans and former co-stars took to social media to remember Anderson’s wit, grace, and trailblazing role in redefining beauty and strength on TV. She wasn’t just a blonde bombshell—she was a woman who navigated fame, heartache, and Hollywood with resilience.