Loni Anderson’s Cause of Death Has Been Confirmed
Loni Anderson, the beloved actress best known for playing Jennifer Marlowe on the classic TV show WKRP in Cincinnati, has died at the age of 79. Her publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, confirmed that Anderson passed away in Los Angeles on August 3 after a long illness, just two days shy of her 80th birthday.
She was surrounded by her closest family members when she passed.
Her family shared the news in a statement, saying, “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother.” They did not reveal further details about her health.
TMZ has now reported that Anderson’s cause of death was an aggressive form of cancer. According to her death certificate obtained by the outlet, she died from metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that often starts in the uterus and can spread to other parts of the body.
Throughout her life, Anderson was known for her charitable efforts and concern for others. She often raised awareness about COPD, a lung disease, and cared for her chronically ill parents.
Born in Minnesota, Anderson dreamed of becoming an actress from a young age. She achieved her big break in the late 1970s with WKRP in Cincinnati, playing the glamorous and clever receptionist Jennifer Marlowe.
The role, which ran from 1978 to 1982, made her a household name. She starred alongside Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner, and Jan Smithers, and fans loved her charm, wit, and beauty.
Anderson’s career went far beyond WKRP. She portrayed Jayne Mansfield in the TV movie The Jayne Mansfield Story in 1980, acting opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, and took on the role of Thelma Todd in White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd in 1991.
She appeared in TV remakes such as Leave Her to Heaven, Sorry, Wrong Number, and Three Coins in the Fountain, and guest-starred on popular shows like S.W.A.T., Police Woman, Phyllis, and Barnaby Jones.
Even though she was often cast for her looks, Anderson proved her versatility and left a lasting mark on television history. Her role on WKRP in Cincinnati remains iconic and continues to be celebrated by fans decades later.
In 2023, she appeared in the Lifetime movie Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas alongside Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, and Nicollette Sheridan. Morgan 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 is survived by 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.
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