Legendary actress Loni Anderson, best known for WKRP in Cincinnati, has died at 79. Here’s what you need to know

Who Was Loni Anderson? 

She starred as Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati from 1978–1982, earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her sharp wit and charm.

She passed away on August 3, 2025, at a Los Angeles hospital after a prolonged illness 

Her illness was primarily COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)—a lung condition often linked to long-term smoking or environmental pollutants. 

Loni appeared in TV films like The Jayne Mansfield Story and co-starred in Stroker Ace (1983), where she met Burt Reynolds. She continued acting in shows like Nurses, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and the Lifetime film Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas in 2023.  

She married Burt Reynolds in 1988; they had one son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds. They divorced in 1994 amid public tensions. Later, she married musician Bob Flick in 2008. 

Fellow celebrities like Morgan Fairchild honored her publicly. Coverage flooded social media, with veteran publication obituary headlines declaring the loss of a beloved 80s icon. 

Loni Anderson lived through decades of triumphs, setbacks, and personal growth. Her legacy includes redefining TV elegance, fighting public expectations, and advocating for COPD awareness. She will be missed.