Morgan Fairchild, Barbara Eden and More of Loni Anderson's Friends and Costars Remember the Actress as an 'Absolutely Wonderful Woman'
Loni Anderson was best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati
The beloved series aired for four seasons, from 1978 to 1982, during which Anderson received three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nods
Friends and costars are remembering Anderson for her bright and loving spiritFriends and fans are remembering Loni Anderson.
The actress, best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, died just days before celebrating her 80th birthday, which would have been on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Longtime publicist Cheryl J. Kagan announced the news in a statement to the Associated Press on Sunday, sharing that the actress died "following a prolonged illness."
As news of the beloved actress' death spread, those who worked with her and knew her off-screen began sharing their cherished memories.
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Tim Reid
Tim Reid worked with Anderson on WKRP in Cincinnati, playing Venus Flytrap, a Vietnam veteran turned funky DJ at the station. In his tribute shared on Instagram, Reid wrote, "One of the dearest friends I've had in my life's journey. Such a wonderful woman🙌🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ We had some fun! 😞I'll miss her and pray that her transition be peaceful and glorious."
In an additional comment, Reid revealed Anderson was responsible for his earring, writing, "She didn't tell me it would hurt like hell and damn near got me fired. But I still wear it to this very day. She was a most talented, beautiful and defiant woman⭐️."
Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild, who had a few different opportunities to team up with the late actress over the years, remembered her as "the sweetest, most gracious lady."
"I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson! We did Bob Hope specials together & a Christmas movie 2 years ago," she posted on X. "I'm just devastated to hear this. Love & condolences to Bob (who was on set every day w her) & her kids and grandkids, who she adored. #RIPLoniAnderson💔💔💔💔💔💔💔."
Later, Fairchild shared a photo of Anderson walking off set with her husband, musician Bob Flick.
"#Lovely Loni and her beloved husband, Bob, leaving our set. I took this, thinking it was a sweet pic, but now seems especially poignant 💔," she posted on X.
Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden remembered her friend in a lengthy tribute shared on X, writing, "The news just came through that my dear friend Loni Anderson has passed. Like many, I am absolutely stunned and heartbroken. Our friendship has spanned many years, and news like this is never easy to hear or accept."
Eden went on to remember her friend and fellow actress as "a real talent, with razor smart wit and a glowing sense of humor… but, even more than that, she had an impeccable work ethic."
"Even beyond that, Loni was a darling lady and a genuinely good person … I am truly at a loss for words. My condolences to her family, her husband Bob, and her children, Deidra and Quinton. Loni, you were one in a trillion, my friend, and even a trillion more."
Valerie Perrine
Sharing a photo of herself with Anderson and late actor Howard Hesseman — best known for portraying Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati — actress Valerie Perrine posted on X, "RIP Loni Anderson! She was one of the nicest actresses in the business."
"She was a beautiful, legendary icon! They'll never be another Loni. I miss her. Here's Loni ,Howard and me💔," she continued.
Tori Spelling
Tori Spelling got the opportunity to work with Anderson when the late actress played Spelling's mom on So Notorious, a parody series based on Beverly Hills, 90210 star's life. In a heartfelt Instagram tribute, she praised Anderson for the "special imprint on my heart, soul, and very being," adding that their bond, "transcends the short time we spent playing mom and daughter on tv."
Spelling also credited Anderson for guiding her as the actress "was leaving the metaphysical nest, embarking into adulthood."
"She represented kindness, humbleness, and pure grace. She taught me so much. We laughed, we cried, she was as real as they got, while simultaneously knowing her worth. When you think of a star ⭐️, Loni was truly that in every sense," Spelling wrote. "When they say 'don't meet your heroes,' they weren't talking about Loni Anderson. She was everything and more to everyone."
The tribute got the attention of Anderson's granddaughter, who thanked Spelling in the comments. "I'm one of Loni's granddaughters and this meant so much to us. Thank you for your kind words, she sang Turn Around to us as well🩷🩷," Megan Hoffman wrote.
Cheri Currie
Cheri Currie, lead singer of the Runaways, shared a personal photo with Anderson and a large group on X, explaining that her sister, actress Sondra Currie, had been close friends with the late actress for many years.
"God Bless and RIP our long time family friend, Loni Anderson. She will be dearly missed. 🙏😔🙏💐❤️💐," she posted.
Robert Davi
Robert Davi remembered Anderson, his costar in the 1991 TV movie White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd, in a tribute posted to X.
"Sorry to hear of the passing of Loni Anderson! She was a classy, lovely woman - we had a blast filming this true story about Thelma Todd, an actress who had a love affair with Lucky Luciano - RIP Loni," Davi wrote.
Jeff Locker
Writer and actor Jeff Locker recalled his chance opportunity to get to know Anderson and what it meant to him as someone who grew up watching her on WKRP in Cincinnati.
"Rest in Peace, Loni Anderson 💔I can't begin to share how giddy I was when this pic happened. I was hosting a big awards show. There was a big technical malfunction and I had to stall. The magnificent icon Loni Anderson - who I used to watch religiously on WKRP - was in the front row, and I nervously asked her if she could come up on the stage and say hi to everyone, and also so we could show her some love," he recalled.
Locker added, "She was so sweet and gracious and just all smiles. And she said, "Let's take a selfie!" Just a legend with a kind, kind heart ❤️."
Robert Hays
Although the two never acted together, Robert Hays got to know Anderson as they crossed paths in Hollywood and became close over the years.
"Today, my dear friend Loni Anderson passed away. She was an absolutely wonderful woman and friend, a wife, mother and grandmother. Love and condolences to Bob, Deidra, Quintin, and all the grandkids. Loni is singing with the angels now. God bless her," he wrote in a tribute shared on X.
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