The cause of death for renowned actress Loni Anderson, best known for her role in the television series “WKRP in Cincinnati,” has been disclosed nearly three weeks after her passing at the age of 79. The death certificate, made public on Friday, revealed that Anderson succumbed to a rare and aggressive form of cancer known as metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma.
Leiomyosarcoma is a type of cancer that typically originates in the smooth muscle tissue in the uterus, abdomen, or leg, according to the Mayo Clinic. It begins as a cell growth and often proliferates rapidly, with the potential to spread to other parts of the body.
Anderson, who was famously married to actor Burt Reynolds from 1988 until their divorce in 1994, passed away on August 3, just two days shy of her 80th birthday. Her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, announced the news, stating that Anderson had been battling a “prolonged” illness and died in a Los Angeles hospital.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother, and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement. “WKRP” aired on CBS from 1978 to 1982, with Anderson playing the role of receptionist Jennifer Marlowe. The sitcom, set in a fictional Ohio radio station, also starred Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner, and Jan Smithers.
Anderson’s portrayal of Marlowe earned her two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations during the show’s four-season run. After “WKRP” concluded in 1982, Anderson transitioned to the big screen, starring alongside Reynolds in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace.” The couple, who married in 1988, were frequently in the tabloid spotlight until their acrimonious divorce in 1994.
Anderson candidly discussed her tumultuous marriage to Reynolds in her 1995 autobiography, “My Life in High Heels.” The couple had one child together, Quinton Reynolds, 36, whom Anderson described as “the best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship” during a 2021 event honoring Reynolds, who passed away in 2018.
Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on August 5, 1945, Anderson made her acting debut in the 1966 film “Nevada Smith” with Steve McQueen. After “WKRP,” she starred in the short-lived comedy series “Easy Street” and several made-for-TV movies. Her final role was in Lifetime’s “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas,” which aired in December 2023.
In addition to Reynolds, Anderson was married three other times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008. She is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in-law Charlie Hoffman, her son Quinton, her grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, her stepson Adam Flick and his wife Helene, and her step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.