'WKRP' icon Loni Anderson dies at 79
Anderson's publicist Cheryl J. Kagan told The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter that the two-time Emmy nominee died after a prolonged illness Sunday at a Los Angeles hospital.
The actress' other credits include Stroker Ace, Nurses, The Jayne Mansfield Story, White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd, Leave Her to Heaven, Sorry, Wrong Number and Three Coins in the Fountain.
She was also a popular guest star on various hit TV series and a fixture on the late-night talk-show circuit in the 1970s and '80s.
Her most recent project was 2023's Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas, alongside Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, Linda Gray and Nicolette Sheridan.
"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," Fairchild wrote on X Sunday. "The sweetest, most gracious lady! 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."
"Today, my dear friend Loni Anderson passed away," actor Robert Hays posted. "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."
"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," actress Barbara Eden said.
"What can I say about Loni that everyone doesn't already know? She was a real talent, with razor smart wit and a glowing sense of humor... but, even more than that, she had an impeccable work ethic," she added. "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."
"Sorry to bear 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," said actor Robert Davi.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
9 minutes ago
- NBC News
Ozzy Osbourne death certificate reveals rocker died of a heart attack: Reports
Ozzy Osbourne — the heavy metal rockstar turned reality television pioneer — died of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed, according to multiple reports. The certificate filed in London also reportedly said that the Black Sabbath frontman, who was 76, suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease, as previously known. British tabloid The Sun was the first to report on the rock star's cause of death, later reported by The New York Times. Osbourne died on July 22 of "(a) Out of hospital cardiac arrest (b) Acute myocardial infarction (c) Coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes)," the certificate reportedly states. Osbourne had spoken publicly about his ailments in the last several years of his life, including his battle with Parkinson's disease. "I'm taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will," the then 74-year-old singer said in a November 2023 interview with Rolling Stone magazine. Osbourne told the magazine that he attributed some of his health issues to the vast amount of drugs and alcohol he took in his early career. "I do count my lucky stars," he said. "I don't know why I'm still here and I do sometimes think I'm on borrowed time. I said to Sharon the other day, 'What a great f---ing life we've had and what a great f---ing experience.'" In the end, his health issues did not deter him from performing. A little more than two weeks before his death, Osbourne reunited with Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for what would be his final show — in Birmingham, England, the rock star's hometown. The concert drew a crowd of more than 45,000 to Birmingham's Villa Park soccer stadium. An additional 5.8 million metalheads watched the concert online from around the world. Osbourne, dubbed "The Prince of Darkness," performed the show on a bat-themed, black leather throne. Osbourne's wife, Sharon Osbourne, revealed in February that Ozzy was unable to walk because of Parkinson's disease. His death prompted an outpouring of grief from a motley crew of prominent figures, including pop icon Elton John, rock star Jack White and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Osbourne is credited as a pioneer who helped introduce the world to heavy metal music. Throughout his legendary career, he received five Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, first with Black Sabbath and again as a solo artist. In the early 2000s, Osbourne re-introduced himself to the world, and particularly to a younger generation of fans, on MTV's "The Osbournes." The reality series centered on Osbourne, his wife and two of his four children, bringing the British rockstar into American pop culture in a brand new light. Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Birmingham last week for a funeral procession to honor the rock legend.
UPI
40 minutes ago
- UPI
Look: Lin-Manuel Miranda attends his 'Hamilton' wax figure ceremony
1 of 5 | Lin-Manuel Miranda reacts after Jimmy Fallon unveils his Madame Tussauds wax figure to celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Hamilton." The event took place at Richard Rodgers Theater on Tuesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Madame Tussauds New York is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Broadway hit Hamilton with a wax figure of the musical's creator and original star, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda's wax figure was unveiled Tuesday at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City. The statue is seen in Miranda's Alexander Hamilton costume. "Honestly, this is very strange," the actor and composer said Tuesday, according to Playbill. "It's a full day of head scans and eye scans, there's a lady who has a box full of eyeballs... She's flipping through the eyeballs looking for the one that most closely resembles your eyeball," he said, describing the process. "And I did all of this about a year ago. You pose for it a year in advance, and I've been waiting to see which one she picked. It's very Coraline." Jimmy Fallon hosted the ceremony. Miranda, 45, is also known for the Broadway musical In the Heights. He and other original Hamilton cast members reunited for a performance at the Tony Awards in June. Leslie Odom, Jr., will reprise his role of Aaron Burr in the musical for a limited time on Broadway beginning in September. Lin-Manuel Miranda meets his 'Hamilton' wax figure Lin-Manuel Miranda reacts after viewing a new wax figure from Madame Tussauds to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Broadway musical "Hamilton" at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City on August, 5, 2025. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ozzy Osbourne died of a heart attack, report says, citing death certificate
LONDON (AP) — Ozzy Osbourne died of a heart attack and had coronary artery disease in addition to suffering from Parkinson's disease for years, his death certificate said. The singer had suffered from coronary artery disease as well as Parkinson's, according to the certificate filed at a register office in London and obtained by The New York Times on Tuesday. Osbourne died on July 22 at 76. An email from The Associated Press requesting confirmation from the registry office in Hillingdon Council in northwest London, which covers the district where the Black Sabbath singer was reportedly officially pronounced dead, was not immediately returned. Osbourne's representatives didn't immediately return the AP's emailed requests for comment. The document was submitted by Osbourne's daughter Aimée Osbourne the New York Times reported. Osbourne died of '(a) Out of hospital cardiac arrest (b) Acute myocardial infarction (c) Coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes),' the certificate states. Osbourne, also a somewhat unexpected reality TV star, announced in 2020 that he had Parkinson's disease after suffering a fall. In announcing his death, his family asked for privacy and said that he was with relatives when he died. Fans came out in droves from across the country to mourn his death in his hometown of Birmingham last week. Osbourne had his final show there just weeks before his death, as admirers watched the heavy metal icon perform while seated on a black throne. 'I don't know what to say, man, I've been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart,' Osbourne said during his performance. 'You're all … special. Let's go crazy, come on.'
