Los Angeles, August 3, 2025 — Loni Anderson, the beloved actress best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, has passed away at the age of 79, just days before her 80th birthday.
According to her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, Anderson died on Sunday at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness.
Anderson rose to national fame playing the smart, stylish, and unflappable receptionist at a struggling Ohio radio station in the CBS comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired from 1978 to 1982. Her character, Jennifer Marlowe, broke television stereotypes of the era — using beauty and wit to navigate chaos, charm her colleagues, and often keep the office running smoothly. Her performance earned her two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.
The show, a cult favorite, became known for its quirky ensemble cast and its groundbreaking mix of humor and social commentary. Anderson starred alongside Howard Hesseman, Tim Reid, Frank Bonner, Gary Sandy, and Jan Smithers.
Beyond the small screen, Anderson made headlines for her glamorous public image and high-profile relationship with actor Burt Reynolds. The two co-starred in the 1983 racing comedy Stroker Ace and were frequently in the media spotlight during their marriage, which ended in 1994.
In 1995, she released her memoir, My Life in High Heels, a candid account of her childhood, career, personal struggles, and turbulent relationship with Reynolds. In interviews, Anderson emphasized the importance of honesty in her storytelling, saying, “If you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all.”
In her later years, Anderson continued to appear in TV movies, talk shows, and charity events, and was widely praised for her advocacy around COPD awareness, a condition her parents suffered from.
She is survived by her husband, Bob Flick (a founding member of the folk group The Brothers Four); daughter, Deidra; son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds (adopted during her marriage to Burt Reynolds); son-in-law, Charlie Hoffman; grandchildren, McKenzie and Megan Hoffman; stepson, Adam Flick and his wife Helene; and step-grandchildren, Felix and Maximilian.
Fans and fellow actors have taken to social media to mourn the loss of a Hollywood icon who helped redefine the role of women in sitcoms during television’s golden age.
