American sitcom star Loni Anderson, best known for her role in the ’80s television hit WKRP in Cincinnati, has died at 79 after a “prolonged illness”.

The actress passed away just days after celebrating her birthday, with her death confirmed by publicist Cheryl J. Kagan. 

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother, and grandmother,” her family said in a statement.

She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1945. Her passion for acting started at a young age, and by the late 1960s, she was already landing small parts in films and television.

Her acting career began in 1975, when she moved to Los Angeles, and she landed the role of Jennifer Marlowe, the receptionist who became one of the most memorable characters on the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati.

She shared the screen with actors like Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, and Gordon Jump, and earned multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations during the show’s run.

Off-screen, she married Burt Reynolds in 1988 while they were working on Stroker Ace. They later adopted a son, Quentin.

Despite the couple’s breakup in the 1990s, Anderson remained dedicated to his career and family. 

She was married to musician Bob Flick in 2008 until her passing, and she also had a daughter, Deidra, from a previous marriage, with grandchildren McKenzie Hoffman and Megan Hoffman, from her daughter Deidra and son-in-law Charlie Hoffman, as well as Bob Flick’s family: Felix and Maximilian (children of stepson Adam Flick and his wife Helene).

In addition to her role in WKRP, Anderson appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including Nurses, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Melrose Place, and So Notorious. 

She also featured in A Night at the Roxbury, provided the voice of Flo in All Dogs Go to Heaven, and appeared in Too Good to Be True and White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd, portraying the late Hollywood actress.

Throughout her career, she collaborated with well-known figures such as Dom DeLuise, Bob Hope, Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, and Nicollette Sheridan. 

She remained active in Hollywood over the years, engaging in voice acting and guest roles. In 2023, she starred in Lifetime’s Ladies of the 80s: A Diva’s Christmas alongside other seasoned actors. 

Loni Anderson was nominated for two Primetime Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati. 

Although she did not win these awards, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Independent Film Festival in 2007 and was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to television.