Loni Anderson, the twice Emmy-nominated star of WKRP in Cincinnati, has died at the age of 79, according to multiple media reports.
Her cause of death was listed as “an acute prolonged illness,” her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, told the Associated Press.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.
Anderson is best known for her role as the clever receptionist Jennifer Marlowe in CBS’ sitcom about the eccentric staff of a struggling Top 40 rock radio station in Ohio. Created by Hugh Wilson, the multi-cam comedy ran from 1978 through 1982, and Anderson’s ultra-capable employee appeared in all but one of the series’ 90 episodes. Her vivacious character cemented her as a bona fide TV sex symbol and subverted stereotypical “dumb blonde” tropes, as Jennifer remained savvy among a team of often incompetent coworkers, refusing to do typical receptionist chores like fetch coffee or take dictation.
For her work, Anderson garnered two Emmy nominations in 1980 and 1981 for Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series, as well as three Golden Globes.
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Born Loni Kaye Anderson on Aug. 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minn., the actress began her career as a beauty queen, taking after her model mother. Though known as a blonde bombshell, Anderson was actually a natural brunette, saying in a 2020 interview: “I loved being a brunette. It was exotic, people weren’t quite sure what nationality I was, there was a mystery. When acting, I could play the bad lady.”
Initially, Anderson turned down the gig on WKRP, saying she liked the show but not the part.
“I went in and sat on my little soapbox: ‘I don’t want to play this part because she’s just here to deliver messages and is window dressing.’ Then Hugh said, ‘Well, how would you do it?’” Anderson recalled. “‘Let’s make her look like Lana Turner and be the smartest person in the room.’”
Outside of WKRP, Anderson portrayed Jayne Mansfield in a 1980 TV film opposite a then-unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger. She played another real-life sex siren in 1991’s telefilm White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.