LOS ANGELES, Aug. 4 -- Loni Anderson, best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati, died Sunday at age 79 in Los Angeles from "an acute prolonged illness".

Her death was confirmed by publicist Cheryl J. Kagan, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).

Anderson, a two-time Emmy nominee, rose to fame playing the savvy radio receptionist in the sitcom created by Hugh Wilson. Before that, she appeared in shows like S.W.A.T., Police Woman, Barnaby Jonesand Phyllis, and had auditioned for the role of Chrissy Snow on Three's Company.

THR reported that she initially turned down the WKRP role, saying in a 2020 interview, "I don't want to play this part because she's just here to deliver messages and is window dressing."

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