Loni Anderson dead: Burt Reynolds’ ex-wife and WKRP in Cincinnati star dies at 79

Loni Anderson dead: Burt Reynolds’ ex-wife and WKRP in Cincinnati star dies at 79

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On the beloved TV comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, Loni Anderson portrayed the empowered receptionist of a struggling radio station, but she passed away just before her 80th birthday. According to her long-time publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, Anderson passed away in a Los Angeles hospital after a “prolonged” illness.

The family of Anderson said in a statement, “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of our dear wife, mother, and grandmother.” Prior to joining CBS, Anderson was married to actor Burt Reynolds.

Jennifer was a star on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, which Anderson starred in from 1978 to 1982. The program, which was based on an Ohio radio station that switched from rock ‘n’ roll to easy listening, gained notoriety as a result of Anderson’s unmatched performance.

Loni Anderson
Loni Anderson starred in Cincinnati’s WKRP.

According to the Mirror US, Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, Tim Reid, Frank Bonner, and Jan Smithers made up the ensemble. With her two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nominations, Anderson became a late 1970s and early 1980s icon of pop culture.

Barbara Eden, a co-star actress, was one of those who paid tribute to the actor. The I Dream of Jeannie star wrote in an emotional post on Twitter/X, saying, “I am heartbroken and completely stunned.” News like this is never easy to hear or accept because our friendship spans many years.

She continued, “She had a real talent, razor-smart wit and a brilliant sense of humor, but she had an impeccable work ethic.” Beyond that, Loni was a wonderful woman and genuinely kind person. I have no words now.

And she ended, saying, “Loni, you were one in a trillion, my friend, and even a trillion more. -Barbara”.

Morgan Fairchild, who played Anderson’s co-star in the 2023 Lifetime movie Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas, wrote: “#OnMyWalking memories of one of the genuinely nicest ladies I’ve ever worked with, on set of our Christmas movie with Donna Mills. This was a lot of fun for us! She will be greatly missed”!

After getting married to Burt Reynolds in 1988, Anderson quickly gained notoriety in the media. In the 1983 racing comedy Stroker Ace, the pair first met, but it was their real-life romance that kept her in the media eye.

Loni Anderson
Jennifer Marlowe was played by Loni Anderson as the show’s receptionist.

She wrote the autobiography My Life in High Heels in 1995, which she characterized as a tenacity tale. She told The Associated Press at the time, “It’s about the growth of a woman, a woman who survives.”

It’s about my childhood, my parents’ deaths, my career, my divorces, and my children. The trauma of my marriage to Burt follows, of course.

She continued, “I believe you have to write about yourself, warts and all.” Because you’re telling the truth, you might not even mention the nicest things about yourself.

She and her husband Bob Flick, daughter Deidra, son Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, and grandchildren Megan and McKenzie.

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Source: Mirror

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