Loni Anderson, the receptionist whose beauty contrasted her sharp wit on WKRP in Cincinnati, has passed away.

Anderson's first TV appearance came in 1975, on an episode of S.W.A.T. where she played Miss Texas. Following her debut, she had a string of guest appearances on shows like Phyllis, Harry O, Barnaby Jones, and The Bob Newhart Show. 

In 1978, she landed her most famous role: Jennifer Marlowe, the shrewd receptionist who defies the label "eye candy". Informed, savvy, and always aware of the station goings-on, Jennifer uses her beauty to her advantage when needed. She is strict about her job, unwilling to type letters or fetch coffee for the staff. It was a deliberate acting choice on Anderson's behalf, a push-back against the "dumb blonde" stereotype that popped up all too often on TV.

Anderson was nominated for three Golden Globes and two Emmys during her time on WKRP.

After WKRP ended, Anderson starred in a new show with Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter. 1984's Partners in Crime followed Carter and Anderson as Carole Stanwyck and Sydney Kovack, two ex-wives of a private detective. The P.I. ends up dead, so the exes partner up to solve his murder — and many more. For her role, Anderson learned how to pick pockets, speak 40 words of Chinese and play the double bass (as her character was a musician.) Unfortunately, the show only lasted one season.

Following that, Anderson starred in another short-lived series, the comedy Easy Street where Anderson played a showgirl who marries a wealthy man, becomes a widow, and then has to contend with snobby in-laws who want her out of the inheritance. 

Along the way, Anderson collaborated multiple times with Burt Reynolds, who she would go on to marry and later divorce, in a breakup that kept both of them in the tabloids. Despite the rough end to their marriage, Reynolds and Anderson would sometimes meet for their son and Anderson spoke at Reynold's funeral.

Anderson witnessed the effects of the lung disease COPD while growing up with parents who smoked, and later became a spokesperson for the organization COPD Together.

The actress passed away at the age of 79, just days before her 80th birthday.