Loni Anderson Beloved Actress and WKRP Star Passes Away at 79

Loni Anderson, celebrated for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on "WKRP in Cincinnati," passed away at 79 in Los Angeles due to an acute prolonged illness, as announced by her publicist. Anderson, a Minnesota native, was a two-time Emmy nominee and gained fame for her portrayal of an intelligent and glamorous receptionist that defied the typical "dumb blond" stereotype of the time.

Throughout her career, Anderson appeared in various television films and series, including "The Jayne Mansfield Story" and "White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd." She also starred in TV movie remakes of classic films like "Leave Her to Heaven" and "Sorry, Wrong Number."

Her personal life was often in the spotlight, especially her tumultuous marriage and subsequent divorce from actor Burt Reynolds. The couple married in 1988 but divorced in 1994 amid media scrutiny and legal battles. Despite their differences, Anderson spoke at Reynolds' funeral after his passing in 2018.

Anderson also had roles on shows like "Melrose Place," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and "So Notorious." Her later years were spent with her fourth husband, Bob Flick, whom she married in 2008.

In honor of Anderson's life and career, her family plans a private service at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with donations suggested to the National Lung Health Education Program and the American Cancer Society.