Loni Anderson, the beloved TV icon, passed away on August 3, 2025, at the age of 79—just two days shy of her 80th birthday. She died in a Los Angeles hospital after what her family described as an “acute prolonged illness.”
While the exact cause was not officially disclosed, several reports, including Hollywood Life, noted that Anderson had long battled Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)—a serious lung condition often linked to prolonged exposure to irritants like tobacco smoke.
In her memory, her family has asked that donations be made to organizations supporting lung health and cancer research. This request reflects her years of advocacy for COPD awareness, a cause close to her heart after losing both of her parents to the disease.
Born Loni Kaye Anderson on August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she grew up with a blend of intellect and style. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother had worked as a model. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Anderson began her journey from local theater stages to guest appearances on Hollywood shows.
Her big break came in 1978 when she landed the role of Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati(1978–1982). As the sharp, stylish receptionist, she became a TV sensation—earning two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nods, and cementing her place in pop culture history.
After WKRP in Cincinnati, Anderson kept a steady presence on both the big and small screens. In 1980, she took on the role of Hollywood bombshell Jayne Mansfield in The Jayne Mansfield Story. A few years later, she co-starred with her future husband Burt Reynolds in Stroker Ace (1983), followed by a turn alongside Steve Martin in the romantic comedy The Lonely Guy (1984).
She also lent her voice to the animated classic All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) and took on dramatic work, including White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (1991).
I heard that Loni Anderson has passed away recently. We have lost yet another voice in the All Dogs Go To Heaven film. 💔
So we’ve lost the voices behind Anne-Marie, Carface, Killer, Charlie, Itchy, King Gator, Stella, Vera, and now the voice for Flo. 💔
Over the years, Anderson’s career stretched across decades, with guest appearances on series like Melrose Place, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, and Easy Street. Even in the 2000s, she continued to pop up on screen. Her final credited role came in 2023, when she reunited with fellow TV legends for the Lifetime holiday special Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas.
#OnMyWalk to memories of lovely Loni Anderson, one of the genuinely nicest ladies I’ve ever worked with, on set of our Christmas movie with Donna Mills. We had so much fun on this! She will be greatly missed!💔💔 pic.twitter.com/yFDhoWxVRE
Loni Anderson was married four times. Her first marriage was to Bruce Hasselberg (1964–1966), with whom she had her daughter, Deidra. She later married actor Ross Bickell (1974–1981), best known for Airport ’77. In 1988, she wed Burt Reynolds in a highly publicized marriage that included adopting their son, Quinton. Their relationship drew intense media attention and was marked by financial disputes before ending in 1993.
Her fourth and final marriage was to Bob Flick, founder of the folk group The Brothers Four. The two tied the knot in 2008 and stayed together until her passing in 2025. Throughout her life, Anderson was deeply devoted to her family, often putting her children and grandchildren first—a commitment noted by The Daily Beast.
Loni Anderson and Bob Flick at Lifetime’s holiday celebration as stars from ‘It’s A Wonderful Lifetime’ honor Blue Star Families military spouses on November 28, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Mark Von Holden/Getty Images)
A private family service will be held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with a larger celebration of life planned later.
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