Loni Anderson Dies at 79 After Prolonged Illness

Loni Anderson, the TV star best known for playing Jennifer Marlowe on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, has died at the age of 79. Her publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, said she passed away in Los Angeles on August 3 after a long illness. She was just two days away from turning 80. Anderson was with her closest family members when she died.

Her family broke the news in a public statement. “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” they said. They decided not to share any more about her health problems.

Fans are remembering how much Anderson cared about health causes, especially her work to spread awareness about COPD, a serious lung disease. She often spoke about it and worked to help people dealing with it. She also spent years caring for her parents, who were both very ill.

Born in Minnesota, Anderson dreamed of acting from a young age. She made her way to television in the 1970s and found her big break with WKRP in Cincinnati. From 1978 to 1982, she played Jennifer Marlowe, the glamorous and witty receptionist.

Viewers loved how she played the role with both beauty and brains. She acted alongside Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner, and Jan Smithers.

She also made her mark outside of WKRP. In 1980, she starred as Jayne Mansfield in the TV movie The Jayne Mansfield Story opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1991, she played Thelma Todd in White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd. During the late ’80s, she appeared in several TV remakes like Leave Her to Heaven, Sorry, Wrong Number, and Three Coins in the Fountain. She also guest-starred on shows such as S.W.A.T., Police Woman, Phyllis, and Barnaby Jones.

Most recently, in 2023, she returned to the screen in the Lifetime movie Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, and Nicollette Sheridan. After her death, Fairchild shared her grief on X, writing, “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 leaves behind her husband Bob Flick, her daughter Deidra and son‑in‑law Charlie Hoffman, her son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, and her grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman. She is also survived by her stepson Adam Flick and his wife Helene, along with step‑grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

Kagan said a private family service will be held at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

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