Loni Anderson, ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ Star and Burt Reynolds’ Ex-Wife, Dies at 79

Loni Anderson, the Emmy-nominated actress best known for her iconic role as sultry receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati, passed away on Sunday in Los Angeles after battling a prolonged illness. She was 79. Her publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, confirmed the news.

Anderson’s career spanned decades, but her fame was equally shaped by her tumultuous marriage to Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds—a fairy-tale romance that devolved into a tabloid spectacle. Beyond WKRP, she starred as doomed starlets in TV biopics (The Jayne Mansfield Story, White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd) and headlined TV remakes of classic films (Leave Her to Heaven, Sorry, Wrong Number).

From Minnesota to Hollywood

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1945, Anderson began as a brunette art student and Miss Minnesota runner-up before pivoting to acting. A blond wig for a stage role in Born Yesterday launched her career, and a move to L.A. in 1975 led to TV gigs on S.W.A.T., Phyllis, and The Bob Newhart Show.

Her big break came in 1978 as Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP, a character she insisted be rewritten as "the smartest in the room"—a sharp contrast to the era’s "dumb blonde" tropes. The role earned her two Emmy nominations (1980, 1981).

Love, Scandal, and Reynolds

Anderson met Reynolds in 1981 while both were in other relationships. They wed in 1988 in a lavish ceremony at his Florida ranch, complete with a custom yellow diamond ring. But by 1993, their marriage imploded publicly, with Reynolds accusing her of infidelity and Anderson alleging his drug abuse and violence. Their bitter divorce, finalized in 1994, became Hollywood legend.

Later Career and Legacy

Post-WKRP, Anderson starred in short-lived shows (Partners in Crime, Easy Street) and voiced a character in All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989). She later appeared on Melrose Place, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and A Night at the Roxbury. Despite the Reynolds fallout, she reconciled with him before his 2018 death and spoke at his funeral.

Anderson is survived by her fourth husband, musician Bob Flick; her children, Deidra and adopted son Quinton; and grandchildren. A private service will be held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with donations requested for lung health and cancer charities.

In Memoriam:
"Loni was a class act. Beautiful. Talented. Witty. ALWAYS a joy to be around," said her longtime manager, Steve Sauer. "She was the ultimate working mother… I’ll miss that infectious chuckle."