"an acute prolonged illness," the actress' representative Cheryl J. Kagan confirmed to USA TODAY. She was surrounded by her family, who wrote in a statement: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife,

Anderson, who played a struggling radio station´s empowered receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the hit CBS comedy, died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.

Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.