Which 'WKRP in Cincinnati' cast members are still alive?

USA Today

2 days ago

Loni Anderson, best known as sexy, savvy receptionist Jennifer Marlowe in the 1970s and '80s TV sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," has died at 79.
Her representative told USA TODAY she was suffering from "an acute prolonged illness" when she died Sunday, Aug. 3, at a Los Angeles hospital. She died just two days before what would have been her 80th birthday.
Several other "WKRP in Cincinnati" stars, including Howard Hesseman (who played Dr. Johnny Fever), Gordon Jump (Arthur Carlson) and Frank Bonner (Herb Tarlek) have died in the 43 years since the show ended. However, there are a few cast members still around, and they have worked on and off screen.
A look back at the cast of "WKRP":
'WKRP in Cincinnati' living cast members
Gary Sandy (Andy Travis)
Gary Sandy, who was born in Dayton, Ohio, on Dec. 25, 1945, played program director Andy Travis.
After the series ended, Sandy, now 79, appeared in several notable TV shows and films, such as "All That Glitters," "Murder She Wrote," "L.A. Law," "Diagnosis Murder," "Hail to the Chief," The Last of the Cowboys" and "The Insider." His most recent screen role came in the 2004 film "A Place Called Home," IMDb says.
According to his website, Sandy has also appeared in more than 100 theatrical productions, including Broadway's "Saturday, Sunday, Monday," "The Pirates of Penzance" and "Arsenic and Old Lace."
Sandy reportedly owns a farm in Northern Kentucky, where he resided as of 2023, per WVXU.
Richard Sanders (Les Nessman)
Richard Sanders, 84, got his big break as Les Nessman on "WKRP in Cincinnati." He played Nessman for the show's entire run and continued working on screen after the show ended in 1982. Among his last listed credits on IMDB is the 2006 film "Expiration Date," starring David Keith.
He spoke to The Seattle Times in 2007 about the influence "WKRP" had on popular music, saying, "We used actual music at the time, the music that everybody was listening to at the time − and sometimes before they were listening to it. It became almost like a radio station. Record companies would send us copies of their new releases and people would listen and decide."
Jan Smithers (Bailey Quarters)
Smithers, the former model, singer and actor, is best known for her role as reporter Bailey Quarters on "WKRP." After starring on the show, Smithers appeared on "Murder, She Wrote" and "The Columnist." Her last listed role was in the 1987 film, "Mr. Nice Guy." She is 76.
Actor, producer and director Tim Reid played DJ Venus Flytrap. Reid, who also wrote for the show, was one of the station's only Black employees.
Reid, 80, has also played Lieutenant Marcel Proust in the '80s detective series "Simon & Simon" and starred as Ray Campbell in the '90s sitcom "Sister, Sister."
Reid earned Emmy nominations and an NAACP Award for the 1987 series "Frank's Place," which he starred in and produced. He's also known for his roles in "That '70s Show," the original "IT" miniseries, "Greenleaf" and "You Wish!"
His latest on-screen role was in the 2024 horror film "Stream," per IMDb.