Loni Anderson tributes: Barbara Eden, more remember 'WKRP in Cincinnati' icon
The Emmy-nominated actress, who starred as receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the classic sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," died at age 79 at a Los Angeles hospital on Sunday, Aug. 3, following "an acute prolonged illness," the actress' representative Cheryl J. Kagan confirmed to USA TODAY. Anderson would have turned 80 on Aug. 5.
Anderson earned two Primetime Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nods for her performance as Marlowe during the four-year run of "WKRP." Marlowe's savvy blonde bombshell persona helped transform Anderson into a sex symbol of the late 1970s and early '80s.
From fellow actresses Barbara Eden and Morgan Fairchild to MTV VJ Martha Quinn, here's how stars are paying tribute to Anderson's entertainment legacy.
Loni Anderson dies: Star of TV hit 'WKRP in Cincinnati' was 79
Barbara Eden
"I Dream of Jeannie" star Barbara Eden mourned the death of her "dear friend" Anderson in an emotional X post, which featured a photo of the actresses posing together.
"Like many, I am absolutely stunned and heartbroken," Eden wrote. "Our friendship has spanned many years, and news like this is never easy to hear or accept."
Eden added: "She was a real talent, with razor smart wit and a glowing sense of humor" and "an impeccable work ethic." She ended: "Loni was a darling lady and a genuinely good person. … I am truly at a loss for words."
Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild, who costarred with Anderson in the 2023 Lifetime movie "Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas," shared a throwback photo of the women on the set of the holiday dramedy and called Anderson "one of the genuinely nicest ladies I've ever worked with."
"I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!" Fairchild wrote in another X post. "We did Bob Hope specials together and a Christmas movie two years ago. The sweetest, most gracious lady! I'm just devastated to hear this."
Loni Love
Actress and comedian Loni Love reflected that she was "very sad to hear about the passing of Loni Anderson," who she affectionately described as a childhood idol in an X post.
"I grew up watching this queen and was so thrilled to meet her," wrote Love alongside a photo of the pair. "Condolences to her family and fans."
Martha Quinn
TV personality and original MTV VJ Martha Quinn paid tribute to Anderson and her portrayal of Marlowe on "WKRP in Cincinnati."
"An iconic character especially to radio geeks like me," Quinn wrote on X. "My deepest condolences to her loved ones, who number many."
Robert Hays
"Angie" and "Airplane!" star Robert Hays gushed that Anderson was a "dear friend" in his tribute to the late TV star.
"She was an absolutely wonderful woman and friend, a wife, mother and grandmother," Hays wrote in an X post. "Loni is singing with the angels now."
Contributing: Kim Willis, USA TODAY
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The actress, whose death was announced on Aug. 3, was married to musician Bob FlickNEED TO KNOW Loni Anderson, whose death was announced on Aug. 3, was married four times The WKRP in Cincinnati actress was married to musician Bob Flick at the time of her death She is survived by her two children, daughter Deidra and son QuintonLoni Anderson was a wife and mother of two at the time of her death. The actress, whose death was announced on Aug. 3, rose to fame in the late 1970s as she starred in the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati as Jennifer Marlowe, a role that earned her three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations. Just a few days before her 80th birthday, Anderson's publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that she died at a Los Angeles hospital following a "prolonged illness." 'We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,' Anderson's family said in a statement. Prior to her death, Anderson had been married four times: first to Bruce Hasselberg, with whom she welcomed daughter Deidra, followed by Ross Bickell and the late Burt Reynolds, with whom she adopted son Quinton. At the time of her death, she was married to Bob Flick, whom she married in 2008. Here's everything to know about Loni Anderson's family, including her spouse, ex-husbands and two children. She met her husband, Flick, at a movie premiere While Anderson married Flick in 2008, they first crossed paths over four decades earlier. The pair met at a movie premiere in Minneapolis and posed for a photo together. Years later, they used the photo to decorate their wedding cake when they tied the knot in California on May 17, 2008. 'When we met, 5-17-63,' the inscription on the cake read, indicating that they got married on the very day they met, 45 years later. Her husband was a musician While Anderson made her mark on the screen, Flick built his career on stages. The musician was a founding member of a folk band known as The Brothers Four, per their website. During an interview with Flick shared that the band originated while he and his co-founders were in college at the University of Washington in Seattle. "We had no idea or dream of being professional musicians at that time," he said. "It was all music on campus." According to the band's site, Flick is still an active performer with the group, though he also composes, arranges and produces music for TV series, documentary films and other video programs. She was previously married three times Anderson was married three times before she tied the knot with Flick. She first wed Hasselberg in 1964, though they divorced in 1966. Anderson was then married to actor Bickell, known for 1977's Airport '77 and 1995's Major Payne, from 1974 until 1981. Her third marriage was with her former costar Reynolds, whom she met in 1981, wed in 1988 and split from in 1993. After she and Reynolds split, Anderson was in a long-term relationship with Geoffrey Brown, though they never married. During a March 2006 conversation with Massachusetts Daily Collegian, Anderson said that she believed marriage hadn't "worked" for her because it sometimes made her feel "caged." The actress went on to say that Brown didn't put restrictions on her, and she felt she could go "any time I wanted." She had a tumultuous relationship with Reynolds A few years before Reynolds died in 2018, the late actor opened up to PEOPLE about his relationship with Anderson, saying that marrying her in 1988 was "a really dumb move on my part." "I should have known that you don't marry an actress," he told PEOPLE in 2015, adding that their relationship had "ups and downs." "It wasn't lollipops and roses," Reynolds said. The actor announced their split in June 1993, when his rep said his and Anderson's marriage was "irretrievably broken." The statement went on to say that he had "the highest respect and regard for Miss Anderson," though Reynolds "feels his priorities and hers have become different." Their divorce became complex when Reynolds admitted to being involved with another woman, only after he had become convinced that Anderson had cheated first, he alleged to Good Morning America: Evening Edition. Meanwhile, Anderson remained tight-lipped about the divorce until 1995, when she accused her ex-husband of physically abusing her several times while he was allegedly under the influence of drugs in a November 1995 interview with SFGate. "Burt always said no one would ever believe me because he was Mr. Wonderful and the world loved him," Anderson said of the abuse. She also claimed he was frequently late in making his $15,000 child support payments. Per TMZ at the time, it wasn't until 2015 that Reynolds wrote a $154,520 check, officially finalizing his divorce from Anderson. Though their relationship ended on rocky terms, Anderson told FOX News after his death that Reynolds was a "big part of my life for twelve years," adding that she would "miss him and his great laugh." She had two children Anderson was a mother of two: son Quinton and daughter Deidra. The actress welcomed Deidra with her first husband, Hasselberg. Then, while she was married to Reynolds, the former couple adopted Quinton. According to ABC7, Quinton walked his mom down the aisle when she wed Flick in 2008. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she is also survived by her grandchildren Megan and McKenzie, stepson Adam and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
