LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥 Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station乌鸦传媒 empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy 鈥淲KRP in Cincinnati,鈥 died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.
Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a 鈥減rolonged鈥 illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.
鈥淲e are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,鈥 Anderson乌鸦传媒 family said in a statement.
鈥淲KRP in Cincinnati鈥 aired from 1978 to 1982 and was set in a flagging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as the sexy and smart Jennifer Marlowe.
As the station乌鸦传媒 receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer used her sex appeal to deflect unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her efficiency often kept the station running in the face of others鈥 incompetence.
The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.
Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy 鈥淪troker Ace鈥 and the two later married and became tabloid fixtures before their messy breakup in 1994.
Their son, Quinton Reynolds, was 鈥渢he best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship,鈥 she said during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynolds鈥 Hollywood grave site in 2021.
鈥淚 think back to the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, tabloidy. We were just a spectacle all the time. And it was hard to have a relationship in that atmosphere. And somehow, we did it through many ups and downs," .
Anderson detailed their tumultuous marriage in the 1995 autobiography, 鈥淢y Life in High Heels,鈥 which she said was about 鈥渢he growth of a woman, a woman who survives."
鈥淚 think if you鈥檙e going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,鈥 Anderson told the AP while promoting the book. 鈥淵ou may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because you鈥檙e telling the truth.鈥
She married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008.
Anderson was born Aug. 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother was a model.
Her first role as an actress was a small part in the 1966 film 鈥淣evada Smith,鈥 starring Steve McQueen. Most of her career was spent on the small screen with early guest parts in the 1970s on 鈥淪.W.A.T.鈥 and 鈥淧olice Woman.鈥 After 鈥淲KRP,鈥 Anderson starred in the short-lived comedy series 鈥淓asy Street鈥 and appeared in made-for-TV movies including 鈥淎 Letter to Three Wives鈥 and 鈥淲hite Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.鈥
In 2023 she co-starred in Lifetime乌鸦传媒 鈥淟adies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmas鈥 with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nicollette Sheridan.
鈥淚 am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!鈥 鈥淭he sweetest, most gracious lady! I鈥檓 just devastated to hear this."
Anderson is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.
A private family service is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.
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Associated Press journalist Itzel Luna in Los Angeles contributed.