Loni Anderson, whose radiant screen presence and effortless charm made her a defining figure of 1980s television, passed away on August 3, 2025 in Los Angeles after a prolonged illness, just days before what would have been her 80th birthday. She rose to iconic status as Jennifer Marlowe on the beloved sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, bringing humor, warmth, and a blend of glamour and intelligence to a role that earned her multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and captured the public’s imagination.
Born on August 5, 1945 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Anderson first appeared on screen in the 1966 film Nevada Smith, but it was her unforgettable turn beginning in 1978 on WKRP in Cincinnati that showcased her talents and made her a household name. She later starred opposite Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy Stroker Ace, launching a high-profile relationship that culminated in marriage in 1988, the union that produced their son Quinton. Although their divorce in 1994 drew tabloid scrutiny, Anderson would later reflect on their life together in her candid 1995 autobiography My Life in High Heels, revealing a woman’s resilience in the face of personal and professional upheaval.
Over the decades she continued to grace television screens in series such as Easy Street, Nurses, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Lifetime’s Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas, demonstrating both versatility and an enduring connection with audiences. Through it all she remained deeply devoted to her family, cherished by her husband Bob Flick—whom she married in 2008—as well as her two children, grandchildren, stepchildren, and extended family.
Her passing leaves a void in the entertainment world and in the hearts of those who admired her at work and loved her at home. A private family service is planned at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
