Famous 80s actor Loni Anderson, star of the successful TV show 'WKRP in Cincinnati', passes away
Loni Anderson, the beloved actress known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe in the iconic TV comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79, just days before her 80th birthday.
Anderson's family announced her passing in a statement, calling her their "dear wife, mother, and grandmother." Cheryl J. Kagan, Anderson's longtime publicist, confirmed the news.
In WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired from 1978 to 1982, Anderson played the glamorous receptionist who often kept the struggling Ohio radio station running amidst others' incompetence. Her character's efficient demeanor and use of sex appeal to deflect unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson, endeared her to viewers.
Anderson's performance as Jennifer Marlowe earned her two Emmy Award and three Golden Globe nominations. The show, set in a station trying to reinvent itself with rock music, also starred Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner, and Jan Smithers, along with Anderson.
After WKRP, Anderson maintained a busy career primarily in television, especially in TV movies and specials. Some notable post-WKRP roles include portraying Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield in The Jayne Mansfield Story (1980), several remakes of old film classics like A Letter to Three Wives and Sorry, Wrong Number, and voicing Flo, a Rough Collie, in the animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989).
Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Anderson's filmography included a range of television series guest roles and TV movies, often portraying glamorous or comedic characters. Her later career also featured appearances in projects like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and various TV specials.
Anderson is survived by her daughter Deidra and son-in-law Charlie Hoffman, her son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, her husband Bob Flick, and her grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and fans.
Celebrity news outlets are reporting an outpouring of condolences for Loni Anderson, a renowned actress best known for her glamorous role in the TV comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, as she passes away at age 79. Fans of Anderson's entertainment career are mourning the loss of a beloved celebrity who graced their screens in numerous roles, including playing Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield in The Jayne Mansfield Story and voicing Flo in All Dogs Go to Heaven.
