Legendary actress Loni Anderson, best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the long-running sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, has died. She was 79 years young. She passed away at a Los Angeles hospital after an extended illness, only days short of her 80th birthday. Anderson’s career influenced generations from the 1970s onward. She will be missed, but she’s left behind a legacy packed with classic performances on the small and big screen.
Anderson’s performance as Jennifer Marlowe, a receptionist at a flagging Ohio radio station, brought her to national attention. The series ran from 1978–1982. In the process, she earned two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nominations for her stellar performances. WKRP in Cincinnati settled in as a cultural touchstone. More than anything, though, it powered the story of a radio station’s fight to survive by rebranding itself for a younger audience through rock music.
Anderson proved to be a phenomenal success on television. She appeared opposite Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy Stroker Ace, proving she could be both bankable and versatile in Tinseltown. This marriage thrust the young couple onto tabloid front pages. Though one of the wealthiest power couples in the world, their marriage was very public, tempestuous and ended with a divorce in 1994.
Anderson chronicled her own journey in her 1995 autobiography, My Life in High Heels. In the book, she reflected on various aspects of her life, stating, “It’s about the growth of a woman, a woman who survives. It’s about my childhood, the death of my parents, my career, my divorces, and my children. Then of course, the trauma of my marriage to Burt.” Her insightful yet direct writing pushed me to realize what honesty in self-reflection meant. “I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” she said.
Anderson’s career firsts kept piling up over a long and distinguished career. She is survived by her husband Bob Flick, daughter Deidra and son-in-law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds. Her family will continue to be an important part of her legacy. They are left to remember her not just as a consummate actress, but as a committed mother and life partner.
Anderson’s influence on the small and big screen are countless, and his legacy will live on in all the people he taught to entertain. Her unique talent for knitting humor with profound truth made her characters tangible to viewers of any age, past or present.