Loni Anderson, beloved television icon of WKRP in Cincinnati, dies at 79 after prolonged illness

3 August 2025

Loni Anderson, the platinum‑blonde icon whose enduring charm and comedic savvy made her a household name in the late 1970s and early ’80s, passed away on August 3 at the age of 79 at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, her longtime publicist confirmed in a statement on behalf of her family. According to the family, she was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and devoted husband Bob Flick at the time of her passing. They described the loss as devastating, writing “we are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother” Anderson’s death came just two days before her 80th birthday on August 5, marking a poignant end to a life celebrated well beyond the ordinary span of fame.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 5, 1945, as Loni Kaye Anderson, she cultivated dreams of performance early on and eventually auditioned for television in Los Angeles in the mid‑1970s. A stint touring with Fiddler on the Roof, guest roles on prime‑time shows including Three’s Company, Police Woman and The Incredible Hulk, established her as a steady presence with comedic flair. When she landed the role of Jennifer Marlowe on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati in 1978, she transformed what was originally written as a token blonde stereotype into a knowing, intelligent woman who used wit and poise to become the smartest person in the studio office.

Over the course of four seasons from 1978 to 1982, Anderson garnered widespread acclaim and earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series along with three Golden Globe nominations, heading a cast that included Howard Hesseman and Gary Sandy. She defined an era of television with Jennifer Marlowe’s iconic grace under pressure; she could field sales calls unsolicited, keep the radio station running, and close scenes with a knowing smile. That graceful presence became central to the show’s identity and led to Anderson becoming one of the era’s enduring sex symbols, even as she insisted on substance over stereotype.

That familiarity made her personal life tabloid‑worthy in the 1980s. She co‑starred with Burt Reynolds in the 1983 car comedy Stroker Ace, a film that spawned not just a box office tie‑in but a highly publicized romance. They married in 1988, had a son Quinton, and divorced in a protracted legal fight that drew intense media scrutiny. Anderson later reflected on that chapter with nuance, embracing reconciliation by the time Reynolds died in 2018. She credited her autobiography My Life in High Heels (1995) as a way to regain control of the narrative and emerge resilient from a relationship once defined by scandal.

After WKRP, Anderson maintained a steady television career. She appeared on Nurses, Melrose Place, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Easy Street and movies of the week such as The Jayne Mansfield Story and The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd. She returned briefly to WKRP in Cincinnati in a 1991 revival and continued to choose roles that allowed her to bring humor and intelligence to every performance. Her last on‑screen appearance came in the 2023 Lifetime film Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas, alongside a constellation of women who helped define a television generation.

Despite the glamour of her on‑screen persona, Anderson battled chronic illness later in life. She was diagnosed with COPD as part of a prolonged decline that ultimately led to her hospitalization earlier this summer. Public documents and patient advocates note that COPD often linked to tobacco exposure requires ongoing management and treatment. Anderson’s openness about her condition in later interviews helped raise awareness of the disease’s impact, especially among older women who may feel dismissed by the healthcare system.

In tribute, colleagues and fans took to social media to celebrate Anderson’s warmth, humor and professionalism. Actress Morgan Fairchild called her “the sweetest, most gracious lady,” and remembered her as someone who made people feel seen. WKRP in Cincinnati creator Hugh Wilson lauded Anderson’s intelligence as well as her charm, noting she turned a cliché part into a career‑defining legacy. From cast reunions to retrospectives, Anderson’s influence remained constant; she helped shape how women characters could command space with brains and beauty in the same moment.

Her surviving family includes her husband Bob Flick, daughter Deidra from her first marriage, son Quinton with Reynolds, grandchildren, stepchildren and extended kin, all of whom will gather privately at Hollywood Forever Cemetery to honor her memory. Plans for a public celebration of her life are expected, giving both fans and the industry a moment to pay homage to her enduring style and spirit.

Through nearly five decades, Anderson remained connected to the medium that discovered her. She embraced her role as a television star with grace, reclaimed the spotlight through her writing and public appearances, and extended empathy to fans, particularly those raising awareness around respiratory illness. In the end she left behind more than television episodes and magazine covers; she left an example of artistry shaped by reinvention, emotional intelligence, and deep affection for her arduous craft.

At 79, Loni Anderson’s passing feels larger than a death it closes a chapter on television history when sitcoms met sincerity, when a secretary could be a heroine, and when family could still gather to watch a woman outsmart the room with her wit and her walk. Her legacy reminds us that style may open doors, but strength fueled by compassion and craft takes the final bow.