Loni Anderson, the former wife of Burt Reynolds and star of hit 1980s TV show, WKRP in Cincinnati, has died aged 79.
The actress, who played empowered receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the popular sitcom, passed away on Sunday just days before her 80th birthday.
She died at a Los Angeles hospital following a “prolonged” illness, her long-time publicist said.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” her family said in a statement.
Anderson appeared alongside late actor Reynolds in the 1983 comedy, Stroker Ace.
The pair married in 1988 and their turbulent marriage dominated headlines until their divorce in 1994.
They share a son, Quinton Reynolds, who Anderson called "the best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship," during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynolds' Hollywood grave site in 2021.
The actress discussed her “traumatic” marriage to Reynolds, who died in 2018, in her 1995 autobiography, My Life In High Heels.
She said of the memoir: "It's about my childhood, the death of my parents, my career, my divorces, and my children.
"Then of course, the trauma of my marriage to Burt. I think if you're going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all.
"You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because you're telling the truth."
She was married four times in total, to Bruce Hasselberg, Ross Bickell, Reynolds and then to Bob Flick, whom she married in 2008.
She is survived by Flick, as well as her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.
Anderson starred in WKRP in Cincinnati from 1978 to 1982.
The comedy was set in a struggling Ohio radio station that was trying to reinvent itself with rock music and the cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers.
Anderson’s character, receptionist Jennifer, used her sex appeal to deflect unwanted business calls for her boss and kept the station running despite her colleagues’ ineptitude.
She earned two Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe nominations for the role.
Anderson was born on August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Her first role was a small part opposite Steve McQueen in the 1966 film Nevada Smith.
She had guest parts in the 1970s on S.W.A.T. and Police Woman.
After WKRP, Anderson starred in the comedy series Easy Street and appeared in made-for-TV movies including A Letter To Three Wives, and White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.
A private family service for Anderson is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
