TV Star Roni Anderson Passes Away at 79

Roni Anderson, a notable figure from the show Cincinnati’s WKRP, has died at the age of 79. The announcement came from her representative, Cheryl J. Kagan.

Her family expressed their sorrow, stating, “We are heartbroken to announce the deaths of our dear wife, mother, and grandmother.” Anderson reportedly passed away at a hospital in Los Angeles after battling a long-term illness on August 5th.

During the 70s and 80s, Anderson gained immense popularity for her role as the talented receptionist, Jennifer Marlowe. She received two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nominations for her performances.

In a 2023 interview, she reflected on how that role was pivotal for her career. “She was the smartest person in the room,” Anderson had said about her character. “She spoke seven languages and really cared for everyone, almost like a mother, but there was always something intriguing about her.”

Anderson reprised her role in the 1991 reboot, Cincinnati’s new WKRP, and appeared in films such as The story of Jane Mansfield, Stroker Ace, Night in Roxbury, and Melrose Place.

She was also a guest on the Merv Griffin Show, where she met Burt Reynolds in 1981, leading to a relationship that ended in divorce in 1994. They shared a son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds.

Recalling the start of their relationship, she noted the challenges of being in the tabloids and the pressure it brought to their lives.

In memory of Anderson, actress Morgan Fairchild shared some cherished moments from the set of their Christmas movie, expressing how special Anderson was to her. “She’s been overlooked,” Fairchild wrote.

Anderson documented her life in her 1995 autobiography, My Life in High Heels. She is survived by her husband Bob Frick, whom she married in 2008, her children, Quinton and Daedra Hoffman, and her grandchildren.