Sachin Shankar Yadav 
Just days before turning 80, Loni Anderson, the Emmy-nominated actor best known for her iconic portrayal of Jennifer Marlowe on the popular 1980s sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati,” passed away in Los Angeles on August 3, 2025, after a protracted illness.
Anderson, who was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 5, 1945, rose to fame as the bright but astute receptionist at the fictional WKRP radio station. Her performance was widely commended for breaking the stereotype of the “dumb blonde.” Her persona was regarded as the station’s glitzy and knowledgeable anchor, adeptly handling office politics and making a significant contribution to the success of the program. Anderson was nominated for three Golden Globes and two Emmys for her performance.
Prior to “WKRP,” Anderson started acting in the middle of the 1970s, appearing in cameos on programs like “Police Woman” and “S.W.A.T.” She starred in TV films like “The Jayne Mansfield Story” and “Stroker Ace” with Burt Reynolds, whom she later married (the couple’s relationship was frequently in the public eye and ended in divorce) following the success of “WKRP in Cincinnati,” which ran from 1978 to 1982.
Inspired by her own parents’ battles with COPD, Anderson advocated for the disease outside of her television career. Her son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, daughter Deidra Hoffman, husband Bob Flick, and grandchildren all survive her.
In a statement expressing their sorrow over the death of their “dear wife, mother, and grandmother,” her family emphasized that she was surrounded by loved ones when she passed away.
Her character Jennifer Marlowe is remembered as a pioneer for women in television, and Loni Anderson’s legacy lives on as a representation of Hollywood glitz and female empowerment.