LOS ANGELES (AP) – Roni Anderson, known for her role as the savvy receptionist at a struggling radio station in the beloved show WKRP in Cincinnati, passed away on Sunday, just shy of her 80th birthday.
According to her long-time representative, Cheryl J. Kagan, Anderson died at a hospital in Los Angeles following a “long-term” illness.
“We are heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother,” Anderson’s family stated.
WKRP in Cincinnati, which ran from 1978 to 1982, revolved around an Ohio radio station trying to rebrand itself in the rock music scene. The cast featured actors like Gary Sandy, Tim Reed, Howard Hessman, Frank Bonner, and Jan Smithers, with Anderson portraying the intelligent and attractive Jennifer Marlowe.
As the station’s receptionist, the blonde, high-heeled Jennifer cleverly deflected unnecessary calls from her boss, Mr. Carlson, showcasing her efficiency amidst the chaos around her.
This role earned Anderson two nominations for the Emmy Award and three nominations for the Golden Globe.
She also appeared alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy Stroker Ace, and the couple married in 1994, though their relationship later became tumultuous and frequently covered in tabloids.
Their son, Quinton Reynolds, remarked about their connection during the unveiling of a memorial at Reynolds’ Hollywood Cemetery in 2021, calling it “the best decision we’ve ever made in our entire relationship.” He reflected, “The start of our relationship… it was something—tabloids everywhere. We’ve always been in the spotlight, and it made being together quite challenging,” as he shared with The Associated Press.
Anderson chronicled her volatile marriage in her 1995 autobiography, My Life in High Heels. She mentioned, “If you’re going to write about yourself, you have to show everything, flaws included. You might not even be able to say the best things about yourself because you’re just being honest.”
She was married four times, with her most recent marriage taking place in 2008 to Bob Frick.
Born on August 5, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota, her father worked as an environmental chemist, while her mother was a model.
Anderson’s acting career began with a small role alongside Steve McQueen in the 1966 film Nevada Smith. She spent much of her career on television, appearing in shows like SWAT and Police Woman during the early 1970s. After WKRP, she starred in the short-lived series Easy Street and appeared in TV movies like Letters to Three Wives and White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.
In 2023, she co-starred in Lifetime’s Women of the 80s: Abus Christmas with well-known names like Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, and Nicolette Sheridan.
“I am heartbroken to hear about the passing of the wonderful Ronni Anderson!” Fairchild shared on social media. “She was the sweetest, most elegant woman. This is just so tough to process.”
Anderson is survived by her partner Flick, daughter Daedra, son Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, and grandchildren Mackenzie and Megan Hoffman, as well as sons Adam Flick and his wife Helen, along with step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.
Private family services are being arranged at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan added.
