LOS ANGELES — Loni Anderson, the blonde bombshell who redefined the sitcom receptionist as both sexy and smart in the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” has died. She was 79.

Anderson passed away Sunday at a Los Angeles hospital after what her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, described as a “prolonged” illness. She would have turned 80 later this week.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother, and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.

Anderson soared to fame in the late 1970s playing Jennifer Marlowe, the unflappable, stylish receptionist at a struggling Ohio radio station. “WKRP in Cincinnati” aired on CBS from 1978 to 1982 and developed a loyal fan base with its clever writing, eccentric characters, and ensemble cast that included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner, and Jan Smithers.

As Jennifer, Anderson blended classic Hollywood glamour with sharp comedic timing. Behind her platinum hair and curve-hugging wardrobe was a no-nonsense professional who knew her worth—and often knew more about the business than her superiors.

Her performance won critical acclaim and industry recognition, earning her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations. She was a standout in a cast filled with memorable characters, and the role became the defining part of her career.

“I think people expected Jennifer to be a ditz, and she wasn’t,” Anderson once said. “She was competent. She was classy. She ran that station from behind that desk.”

Though often typecast in “bombshell” roles early on, Anderson used her fame to challenge those expectations, taking on projects that allowed her to stretch beyond the stereotype.

She co-starred with then-partner Burt Reynolds in the 1983 racing comedy “Stroker Ace.” Their relationship was as high-profile as their film careers—tabloid gold throughout the 1980s and early ’90s. The couple married in 1988 and divorced in 1994 amid a media frenzy and a contentious custody battle over their adopted son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds.

While the Reynolds-Anderson saga played out in the press, Loni kept working. She starred in several made-for-TV movies, sitcom guest roles, and appeared in “Nurses,” a short-lived 1990s NBC series. In later years, she embraced nostalgic fame, showing up in retrospectives, reunions, and even animated parodies of her own persona.

Anderson also became a passionate advocate for pulmonary disease awareness after her daughter, Deidra, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She spent the last decade working quietly with health organizations and lending her name to public service campaigns.

Born August 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Anderson began her career in regional theater and television commercials before landing small parts on “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island,” and “Three’s Company.” Her big break came when she was cast as Jennifer Marlowe in “WKRP,” a role that elevated her to national stardom nearly overnight.

Anderson’s personal style and fashion choices on the show influenced a generation of viewers—and made her one of the most recognizable TV stars of the era. Her signature look—tight sweaters, high heels, and silky hair—was once parodied by everyone from Saturday Night Live to The Simpsons.

But offscreen, friends and colleagues describe Anderson as warm, funny, and deeply professional.

“She was a true pro,” said WKRP co-star Tim Reid in a 2017 interview. “Never missed a line, always generous with her co-stars. Loni knew exactly who she was—and played Jennifer with both strength and humor.”

Anderson is survived by her husband, Bob Flick, a founding member of the folk group The Brothers Four, whom she married in 2008. She is also survived by her daughter Deidra and son-in-law Charlie Hoffman; her son Quinton Anderson Reynolds; grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman; stepson Adam Flick and his wife Helene; and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

A private family service will be held in Los Angeles, with a public celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

Though her platinum hair and infectious laugh made her a poster star of the 1980s, Loni Anderson’s legacy is far deeper: a woman who turned a “dumb blonde” trope into a sharp, iconic figure—and never stopped redefining herself long after the spotlight dimmed.