Loni Anderson, star of WKRP in Cincinnati, has handed away at 79. Anderson was born in Minnesota in August 1945, and at age 21, she made her appearing debut within the Steve McQueen-led Western Nevada Smith.
Her appearing profession spanned many years and included a number of well-known titles, like All Canines Go To Heaven, Sorry, Incorrect Quantity, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She documented her life, and most notably her marriage to and public divorce from Burt Reynolds, in her 1997 autobiography My Life in Excessive Heels.
On August 3, 2025, Anderson sadly handed away in a Los Angeles hospital, two days earlier than her eightieth birthday. She leaves behind two kids. Steve Sauer, Anderson’s supervisor of 30 years and president/CEO of Media 4, shared that “Loni was a category act. Stunning. Gifted. Witty. ALWAYS a pleasure to be round.” He went on to say:
She was the final word working mom. Household first … and maintained an awesome steadiness together with her profession. She and I had fantastic adventures collectively that I shall eternally cherish. I’ll particularly miss that infectious chuckle of hers.
Loni Anderson Had An Spectacular Profession
The Actress Amassed Quite a few Comedy Credit
Anderson is greatest identified for her work on WKRP Cincinnati, the place she performed Jennifer Marlowe, the sultry receptionist at WKRP radio station. Though she is, on paper, merely “eye sweet” for the opposite radio station staff, Jennifer is definitely the neatest employees member. She’s assured, knowledgeable, versatile, and excellent at her job. On prime of that, she’s form and pleasant to all of her coworkers.
Performing alongside Gary Sandy, Richard Sander, Gordon Soar, and Howard Hesseman, to call just a few, WKRP earned a complete of 10 Emmy nominations throughout its 4-year run, of which Anderson was nominated for 2. After WKRP, Anderson had supporting roles within the sitcoms Three’s Firm, Empty Nests, So Infamous, and The Mullets. She additionally starred within the TV exhibits Companions in Crime (1994), Straightforward Road (1986-1987), and Nurses (1993-1994).
Outdoors of her sitcom profession, Anderson lent her voice to Flo in 1989’s All Canines Go to Heaven, starred as Cathy in 1992’s Munchie, a fantasy comedy film a couple of younger boy who meets a pleasant creature with magic powers, starred alongside Hulk Hogan in 3 Ninjas: Excessive Midday at Mega Mountain, and performed Barbara in A Evening on the Roxbury, a film primarily based on “The Roxbury Guys” sketch from SNL.
Most just lately, Anderson starred alongside Morgan Fairchild, Nicolette Sheridan, Linda Grey and Donna Mills for Girls of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas, a Lifetime film that follows 5 cleaning soap opera stars who reunite to shoot one ultimate, Christmas-themed episode of their long-running present. It was Anderson’s final position earlier than her demise.
Remembering Loni Anderson
A number of Stars Have Paid Tribute To the TV Star
Loni Anderson’s passing has come as an enormous shock for a lot of. Barbara Eden, star of I Dream of Jeannie, wrote a heartfelt tribute to Anderson on X:
Morgan Fairchild, who co-starred alongside Anderson within the film Girls of the ’80s, described her heartbreak at Anderson’s passing. She described her late buddy as “the sweetest, most gracious girl” in a tribute on X.
Anderson will at all times be remembered for her spectacular TV profession and sheer rebuttal of stereotypes; her position as Jennifer Marlowe broke the mould for a lady on display screen, and the character continually challenged sexist stereotypes.
Supply: The Hollywood Reporter