Loni Anderson, the beloved actress who played the smart receptionist Jennifer Marlowe, died at the age of 79.
Loni Anderson, the beloved actress who brought intelligence and charm to her iconic role as Jennifer Marlowe on the classic TV comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, died Sunday at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness.
She was 79, passing just days before what would have been her 80th birthday on August 5th. Her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, confirmed the news to the Associated Press.
Her family described the loss in a statement, saying they were “heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother.”
Anderson rose to fame playing Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati, which ran from 1978 to 1982. The show centered on a struggling Ohio radio station attempting to modernize with rock music. Anderson’s character served as the station’s receptionist, combining striking looks with sharp intelligence and remarkable efficiency that often compensated for her colleagues’ shortcomings.
