Loni Anderson and Burt Reynolds' storied love affair
Anderson, who starred as a brassy blonde receptionist on the classic sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," was remembered not only for her acting prowess but for her embodiment of a specific sense of Hollywood glamour. Part Faye Dunaway, part Farrah Fawcett, Anderson's dimples and sweeping bleached hair made her a prime candidate at the time for magazine covers.
She also became tabloid fodder with her high-profile marriage and subsequent messy divorce from Burt Reynolds.
Loni Anderson tributes: Barbara Eden, more remember 'WKRP in Cincinnati' icon
Anderson, who died Sunday, Aug. 3, at 79, began dating Reynolds in 1982, after working together on the comedy film "Stroker Ace." Their on-set romance grew in tandem with a love story between their two characters: Anderson played a doe-eyed PR employee who caught the eye of Reynolds' stock-car racer.
The pair tied the knot in 1988, later adopting a son, Quinton Reynolds, now 36.
Loni Anderson, Burt Reynolds' shocking divorce
After five years, the union ended in a bitter and public divorce, with both sides of the once-iconic Hollywood couple throwing digs at one another in the years that followed. The feud fueled speculation for nearly a decade, often splashed across the cover of tabloids throughout the '90s, even spurring Princess Diana to send Reynolds a thank-you note for "keeping her off the cover of People magazine."
Loni Anderson death: Smart and sexy star of 'WKRP in Cincinnati' dies at 79
Reynolds, who died in 2018, continued to excoriate Anderson in later years, including in his 2015 memoir, "But Enough About Me."
"I don't think she'll be surprised. I just talk about her spending habits," Reynolds told USA TODAY at the time, explaining how he thought Anderson might receive the book. "She went through a lot of American Express cards I have." (In one instance, he alleged that she maxed out the $45,000 credit limit "in half an hour.")
"I think better of her now," he added, softening a bit. "It's always a two-way street."
Reynolds, who later openly spoke about an addiction to painkillers in the 1980s and early 1990s, was accused of abuse by both Anderson and former girlfriend Sally Field. In her memoir, "In Pieces," Field said her yearslong relationship with Reynolds was controlling and emotionally abusive, while Anderson claimed in her own autobiography that he had been physically abusive.
"The physical abuse I always blamed on the drugs," she told SFGATE in 1995. "Burt always said no one would ever believe me because he was Mr. Wonderful and the world loved him."
Following Reynolds' death, Anderson channeled a similar conciliatory sentiment, writing in a statement to USA TODAY: "Quinton and I are extremely touched by the tremendous outpouring of love and support from friends and family throughout the world. He was a big part of my life for twelve years and Quinton's loving father for thirty years. We will miss him and his great laugh."
That both parties were an effective stand-in for the quintessential American beauty ideal – Reynolds, a rugged hunk, and Anderson, a sparkly-eyed bombshell – only served to whip up more interest in their love affair and its undoing. Even as the actors moved on to other high-profile romances, their union remained a potent and enduring symbol of the era.
Anderson later remarried, tying the knot with singer Bob Flick in 2008, who survives the actress after her death.
Loni Anderson cause of death
Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital on following "an acute prolonged illness," the actress' representative Cheryl J. Kagan confirmed to USA TODAY. She would have turned 80 days later on Aug. 5.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental and/or substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free and confidential treatment referral and information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889).
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