Loni Anderson, star of Emmy- and Golden Globe nominated from “WKRP in Cincinnati”, dies at 79
Loni Anderson, whose beloved role as Jennifer Marlowe on “WKRP in Cincinnati” was nominated for the Emmy and Golden Globe Awards, died, confirmed his publicist on Sunday. She was 79 years old.
Anderson played the “sexy and more intelligent” receptionist “in the successful television series on a mixed radio station from 1978 to 1982. She died Sunday in Los Angeles following an acute illness, surrounded by a long -standing family, longtime publicist, Cheryl Kagan, told Thewrap.
“We have a broken heart to announce the death of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” the family said in a statement.
Anderson has played in six television series, seven feature films, 19 TV movies and two minals over the years. After her diagnosis, she continued to work with Co-star in “Ladies of the 80’s: A Divas Christmas” by Lifetime with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nillette Sheridan. The TV movie was broadcast at the end of December 2023.
“Loni was a class act. Beautiful. Talented. Full of mind. Always a joy to be there,” said Steve Sauer, director of Anderson for 30 years. “She was the mother who works ultimate. The family first … and has maintained a great balance with their career. She and I had wonderful adventures together that I will cherish forever. I will particularly miss this infectious chuckle. We will miss it forever. “
Anderson wanted to be an actress by growing up in St. Paul, in Minnesota, working in the community as a single parent raising his daughter. She moved to Los Angeles in 1975, winning a place on “Swat” two weeks later.
In 1978, she won a main role in her first film – “Three on a date” with June Allyson, Ray Bolger, Gary Crosby and Carol Lawrence – and played by guests in successful television shows like “Three’s Company”, “The Incredible Hulk” and “Love Boat”.
The creator of “WKRP”, Hugh Wilson, asked to meet her, but – not wanting to play a mute stereotypical blonde – would only accept the role if he was rewritten. Wilson accepted and “the smartest person in the room”, Jennifer Marlowe was the result.
In 1982, Anderson played in “Stroker Ace”, a feature film with the future husband
Burt Reynolds. The couple adopted their son Quinton Anderson Reynolds in August 1988. His autobiography, “My life in high heels” was published by
William Morrow in 1995 and reached the best-seller lists of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Anderson married Bob Flick, a founding member of the 1960s folk group, The Brothers Four, in 2008 after meeting a film first in Minneapolis earlier. Anderson is survived by her husband, her daughter Deidra and his son Charlie Hoffman; son Quinton Anderson Reynolds; grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, Adam Flick step and wife Helene and Beaux-Petits-Enfants Felix and Maximilian.
