Loni Anderson

Actress

Popular As Loni Kaye Anderson

Birthday August 5, 1945

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.

Age 79 years old

Nationality United States

Height 5′ 6″

#6692 Most Popular

1945

Loni Kaye Anderson (born August 5, 1945) is an American actress.

1963

As a senior at Alexander Ramsey Senior High School in Roseville, she was voted Queen of the Valentine's Day Winter Formal of 1963.

As she states in her autobiography My Life in High Heels, her father was going to name her Leilani, but realized that when she got to her teen years, it was likely to be twisted (into "Lay" Lani) so it was changed to simply Loni.

They had originally met at a movie premiere in Minneapolis in 1963.

1964

Her first three husbands were Bruce Hasselberg (1964–1966), Ross Bickell (1973–1981), and actor Burt Reynolds (1988–1994).

1966

Her acting debut came with a bit part in the film Nevada Smith (1966), starring Steve McQueen.

1970

After that, she was virtually unemployed as an actress for nearly a decade, then she received guest roles on television series in the mid-1970s.

She appeared in two episodes of S.W.A.T., then on the sitcom Phyllis, and the detective series Police Woman and Harry O.

She auditioned for the role of Chrissy on the sitcom Three's Company.

1976

She was offered the role when producers saw a poster of her in a red swimsuit—a pose similar to Farrah Fawcett's famous 1976 poster.

Hugh Wilson, the sitcom's creator, later said Anderson got the role because her body resembled Jayne Mansfield's and because she possessed the innocent sexuality of Marilyn Monroe.

Although the series suffered in the Nielsen ratings throughout most of its four-year run, it had a strong following among teens, young adults, and disc jockeys.

1978

She played receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982), which earned her three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Award nominations.

Anderson was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Klaydon Carl "Andy" Anderson, an environmental chemist, and Maxine Hazel (née Kallin), a model.

She grew up in suburban Roseville, Minnesota.

She did not win the role, but in 1978 guest-starred as Susan Walters on a season two episode, an appearance that brought her to the attention of the ABC network.

Anderson's most famous acting role came as the sultry receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982).

1980

Owing to her rising popularity as the series' so-called "main attraction", Anderson walked out on the sitcom during the 1980 summer hiatus, requesting a substantial salary increase.

While she was renegotiating her contract, she starred in the television film The Jayne Mansfield Story (1980).

In the mid-to-late 1980s, Anderson was teamed with Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter in the television series Partners in Crime in 1984.

1982

When the network agreed to her requests, she returned to the series and remained until its cancellation in 1982.

It has remained popular in syndication around the world.

Aside from her acting career, Anderson has become known for her colorful personal life, particularly her relationship with and marriage to actor Burt Reynolds.

1983

They starred in the comedy film Stroker Ace (1983), which was a critical and box-office failure.

1984

She later appeared as herself in the romantic comedy The Lonely Guy (1984), starring Steve Martin.

1985

She appeared in television adaptations of classic Hollywood films, such as A Letter to Three Wives (1985) with Michele Lee, and Sorry, Wrong Number (1989), both of which received little attention.

1989

She voiced Flo, a collie in the animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989).

1990

After starring in Coins in the Fountain (1990), Anderson received considerable praise for her portrayal of comedian actress Thelma Todd in the television movie White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (1991).

In the early 1990s, she attempted to co-star with her husband Burt Reynolds on his sitcom Evening Shade, but the network was not fond of the idea, thus replacing Anderson with Marilu Henner.

1991

After Delta Burke was fired from the sitcom Designing Women in 1991, producers offered Anderson a role as Burke's replacement, which never came to pass because the network refused to pay Anderson the salary she had requested.

She agreed to return as Jennifer Marlowe on two episodes of The New WKRP in Cincinnati, a sequel to the original series.

1993

In 1993, Anderson was added to the third season of the sitcom Nurses, playing hospital administrator Casey MacAffee.

Although her entering the series was an attempt to boost the series' ratings, the series was canceled shortly thereafter.

2008

On May 17, 2008, she married musician Bob Flick, one of the founding members of the folk band The Brothers Four.

2016

Though less frequent since the start of the 21st century, Anderson continues to act in television series, and played a lead role in the 2016–2020 web series My Sister is So Gay.

On October 3, 2023, it was announced that Anderson would feature in the Lifetime film, Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas.

According to the official synopsis, the movie follows five soap opera divas readying for a reunion show who take on playing cupid during Christmas to bring together their director and producer as they all learn the meaning of the true Christmas spirit.

The ensemble cast is made up of Anderson, Linda Gray, Morgan Fairchild, Donna Mills, and Nicollette Sheridan.

Anderson has been married four times.

2018

In April 2018, Anderson was seen promoting WKRP in Cincinnati and other television series on the MeTV television network.