Loni Anderson

1.1. Childhood and Education

Born Loni Kaye Anderson on August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she is the daughter of Klaydon Carl "Andy" Anderson, an environmental chemist, and Maxine Hazel (née Kallin), a model. She spent her childhood in suburban Roseville, Minnesota. During her senior year at Alexander Ramsey Senior High School in 1963, she was honored as the Queen of the Valentine's Day Winter Formal. After graduating from high school, Anderson attended the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. In her autobiography, My Life in High Heels, Anderson revealed that her father had originally intended to name her Leilani, but ultimately decided against it due to concerns that the name might be misconstrued (into "Lay Lani") during her teenage years, leading to the simpler choice of Loni. Anderson was raised within the Lutheran faith.

2.1. Early Career and Breakthrough with WKRP in Cincinnati

Anderson made her acting debut with an uncredited bit part in the 1966 film Nevada Smith, starring Steve McQueen. Following this, she experienced a hiatus from acting for nearly a decade. In the mid-1970s, she began to secure guest roles on various television series, including two episodes of S.W.A.T., an episode of the sitcom Phyllis, and appearances in the detective series Police Woman and Harry O.

Anderson also auditioned for the role of Chrissy in the popular sitcom Three's Company, though she did not secure the part. However, her guest appearance as Susan Walters in a season two episode of Three's Company in 1978 brought her to the attention of the ABC network.

Her most iconic and famous acting role came when she was cast as the sultry and intelligent receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired from 1978 to 1982. Producers were drawn to Anderson after seeing a poster of her in a red swimsuit, a pose reminiscent of Farrah Fawcett's renowned 1976 poster. Hugh Wilson, the sitcom's creator, later commented that Anderson was selected for the role because she possessed a physique akin to Jayne Mansfield's and exuded the innocent sexuality associated with Marilyn Monroe.

Despite the series struggling in the Nielsen ratings for much of its four-year run, it garnered a devoted following among teenagers, young adults, and disc jockeys. As her popularity grew, becoming a key attraction of the show, Anderson requested a substantial salary increase during the 1980 summer hiatus, briefly walking out on the sitcom. While her contract was being renegotiated, she starred as the title character in the television film The Jayne Mansfield Story (1980). Upon CBS agreeing to her demands, she returned to WKRP in Cincinnati and remained with the series until its cancellation in 1982. The popularity of WKRP in Cincinnati also extended internationally through program syndication.

2.2. Film and Television Work (1980s)

In addition to her television success, Anderson ventured into film and continued her work in television throughout the 1980s, often finding her personal life intertwined with her professional endeavors. She starred alongside her then-future husband, Burt Reynolds, in the 1983 comedy film Stroker Ace. This film, however, was met with both critical and box-office failure, and Anderson received nominations for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress and a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star for her performance. In 1984, she appeared as herself in the romantic comedy The Lonely Guy, which starred Steve Martin. Anderson also lent her voice to the character Flo, a collie, in the 1989 animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven.

During the mid-to-late 1980s, Anderson collaborated with Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter in the 1984 television series Partners in Crime, also known as Fifty-Fifty. She took on roles in television adaptations of classic Hollywood films, including A Letter to Three Wives (1985), co-starring Michele Lee, and Sorry, Wrong Number (1989), which featured Patrick Macnee and Hal Holbrook. Both remakes received limited attention. After her appearance in Coins in the Fountain (1990), Anderson earned considerable acclaim for her portrayal of the comedian and actress Thelma Todd in the 1991 television movie White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.

2.3. Later Career and Recent Activities

Loni Anderson's career continued into the 1990s and beyond, marked by new television roles, reunion appearances, and ongoing projects that demonstrate her enduring presence in the entertainment industry. In the early 1990s, Anderson attempted to co-star with her husband Burt Reynolds in his sitcom Evening Shade. However, the network did not approve of the casting, leading to Marilu Henner being cast in her place. Later, in 1991, after Delta Burke was dismissed from the sitcom Designing Women, producers offered Anderson a role as Burke's replacement. This opportunity also did not materialize, as the network declined to meet Anderson's salary demands.

Despite these setbacks, Anderson reprised her signature role as Jennifer Marlowe in two episodes of The New WKRP in Cincinnati, a sequel to the original series, in 1991 and 1992. In 1993, she joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Nurses for its third season, playing the role of hospital administrator Casey MacAfee. While her addition was an effort to boost the show's ratings, the series was canceled shortly thereafter.

Anderson also made guest appearances in popular television dramas such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1997) and V.I.P. (1999). In 1998, she also appeared in the film A Night at the Roxbury.

Although her appearances have been less frequent since the turn of the 21st century, Anderson continues to act in television series. From 2016 to 2020, she played a lead role in the web series My Sister is So Gay. In April 2018, Anderson actively promoted WKRP in Cincinnati and other television series on the MeTV television network. More recently, on October 3, 2023, it was announced that Anderson would be featured in the Lifetime film Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas. The movie's synopsis indicates that it follows five soap opera divas who, while preparing for a reunion show, try to play cupid during Christmas, ultimately learning the true meaning of the holiday spirit. Anderson is part of an ensemble cast that includes Linda Gray, Morgan Fairchild, Donna Mills, and Nicollette Sheridan.

3.1. Marriages and Family

Anderson has been married four times. Her first marriage was to real estate developer Bruce Hasselberg, lasting from 1964 to 1966. She then married actor Ross Bickell from 1974 to 1981. Her third marriage was to actor Burt Reynolds, lasting from 1988 to 1994. They had initially met at a movie premiere in Minneapolis in 1963. On May 17, 2008, Anderson married musician Bob Flick, one of the founding members of the folk band The Brothers Four. Their wedding ceremony was attended by friends and family, including her son Quinton Reynolds.

Anderson has two children. Her daughter, Deidra Hoffman, was born during her first marriage to Bruce Hasselberg and is a school administrator in California. She and Burt Reynolds adopted a son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds, born on August 31, 1988. Anderson also has a sister named Andrea.

3.2. Advocacy and Public Activities

In 1995, Anderson published her autobiography, My Life in High Heels, which offered insights into her career and personal experiences. Growing up with parents who both smoked, Anderson witnessed firsthand the debilitating effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung disease often caused by smoking. In 1999, motivated by her family's health history, she became a prominent spokesperson for COPD Together, a support organization dedicated to raising awareness for COPD and assisting caregivers. Her involvement has helped to shed light on the challenges faced by individuals and families affected by the condition.

5.1. Film

5.2. Television