The final piece of a puzzle surrounding the passing of beloved actress Loni Anderson has come to light. Less than three weeks after she left us at 79, the specific reason for her death has been confirmed.
Anderson died from metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma, a type of rare cancer that had spread. This was confirmed by her death certificate, which was obtained by TMZ on Friday, August 22. The document didn’t list any other health issues that contributed to her passing.
For those unfamiliar, the National Organization for Rare Diseases explains that uterine leiomyosarcoma starts in the uterus. It often spreads to other parts of the body, like the lungs and liver. This spread can lead to serious, life-threatening problems.
Following her death earlier this month, Anderson was cremated. Her remains were laid to rest in Hollywood on August 7, as noted on her death certificate.
Her family first shared the sad news on August 3. They released a statement to the Associated Press, saying, "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother."
Cheryl J. Kagan, who was Anderson’s publicist for many years, mentioned at the time that Loni died in a Los Angeles hospital after a "prolonged" illness. However, the exact condition wasn’t revealed then. It’s especially poignant to note that Anderson passed away just two days shy of her 80th birthday, which would have been August 5.
Loni Anderson will always be remembered for her sparkling role as Jennifer Marlowe in the CBS comedy WKRP in Cincinnati. She played the beautiful and smart receptionist for four seasons, from 1978 to 1982. Her performance earned her two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nominations, proving her talent.
Beyond her signature role, Anderson graced our screens in many other projects. Her acting credits included shows like Partners in Crime and Easy Street. She also appeared in films such as White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd, and series like Nurses. More recently, she was seen in Ladies of the ‘80s: A Divas Christmas.
Away from the bright lights, Loni Anderson had a full personal life. She was married four times. Her first marriage was to Bruce Hasselberg from 1964 to 1966. She then married Ross Bickell, from 1974 to 1981. Her most famous marriage was to Burt Reynolds, from 1988 to 1994. Her final marriage was to Bob Flick, which lasted from 2008 until her recent passing. She had a daughter, Deidra, with Hasselberg and a son, Quinton, with Reynolds.
Her marriage to Burt Reynolds truly put her in the spotlight. They first met on The Merv Griffin Show in 1981 and started dating the following year. They even starred together in the movie Stroker Ace in 1983, five years before they tied the knot. Reynolds himself passed away in September 2018 at 82, following a heart attack.
Anderson once told the Associated Press about her whirlwind romance with Reynolds. "I remember the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, sensationalistic," she said. "We were a constant show. And it was difficult to have a relationship in that environment. And, somehow, we managed despite many ups and downs."
Years later, at the 2021 unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynolds’ grave in Hollywood, Anderson shared heartfelt words about their son. She called Quinton "the best decision we made in our whole relationship."
Just under two years before her death, Anderson reflected on her hopes for her legacy. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly in November 2023, she stated, "I hope to be remembered for completely changing the image of a young woman with a career."