At 78, Loni Anderson Looks Beautiful & Divulges The Ways She Stays Youthful

Oct 05, 2023

Loni Anderson was a household name for anyone who owned a television in the 1970s. Although she has taken on a multitude of roles in her career, she won over the hearts of Americans by playing her famous character Jennifer Marlowe on the smash-hit CBS sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati." This pivotal show ran from 1978 to 1982. It focused on the rollercoaster of financial and emotional struggles at a fictional Ohio radio station. Anderson has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy awards and has since been a beloved face on TV screens. 

Anderson was born on Aug. 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her mother was a model, while her father was an environmental chemist. In high school, Anderson clearly stood out, and she was even voted queen of her Valentine’s Day winter formal in the early 1960s.  

Although she started in a humble town, Anderson found her way to Hollywood at a young age. Her acting debut was a particularly star-studded affair, as she played opposite Steve McQueen in “Nevada Smith.” Although this 1966 film is forgotten by many, it was the catalyst that jump-started her down a decades-long path of success.

The actress went on to receive plenty of fame and recognition for her career. Along with a treasured professional life, Anderson also made waves for being a beautiful person inside and out. Anderson is currently 78 years old but hasn't lost an ounce of her beauty or charm, as she has mastered looking youthful at any and every age. Read on to learn more about Anderson and her life today.

After an association with McQueen was formed, Anderson seemingly never struggled to find work. She had roles in “S.W.A.T.,” “Police Woman,” “Harry O,” Phyllis” and many others. She was a staple of TV throughout the '60s and '70s. You would have struggled to find an American who didn't know her face by heart. 

However, her most famous role came after she captured the attention of an ABC executive. That was when she landed her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the super popular CBS sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati." This pivotal show ran for several years and even helped Anderson achieve critical acclaim.

The glamorous bombshell had an exciting personal life as well. She has two children and has been married to a Hollywood standard four times. She was even married to Burt Reynolds before a disagreement over his portrayal of Turd Ferguson ended their marriage. The Los Angeles Times even coined their separation as "the ugly divorce that just wouldn’t end." Their marriage began in April of 1988, and then, only a mere five years later, the divorce papers were filed. It took a whopping 22 years for the couple to sever their financial ties to each other completely, and unfortunately, the divorce was a very public affair. 

In 2008, she married her self-acclaimed soul mate, musician Bob Flick. However, her life hasn't been all perfect. In 2009, her daughter, Deidra Hoffman, was revealed to have multiple sclerosis, a disease that breaks down the insulation of the nerves in the body. This is on top of the fact that both Anderson and her daughter have symptoms of asthma as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke, according to Parade.

“I fell apart,” Anderson told Closer Weekly. “I mean, I didn’t want to fall apart in front of her because I knew she was struggling to just maintain herself, but it was very difficult to come to grips with.”

This diagnosis of her daughter must have been especially devastating to Anderson because of her dedication to a healthy lifestyle. 

In an interview with Parade in 2015, Anderson revealed a lot about her exercise habits and diet preferences. She prefers a plant-based diet consisting mostly of fruits and vegetables. She told the outlet:

"I didn’t get into a regular exercise routine until my late 30s...I was an unfit skinny person. Now I do cardio three times a week, and also weight training, plus I walk a lot...I’m eating a version of the Mediterranean and Paleo Diets. I don’t eat red meat any longer, but do eat some chicken and fish, lots of fruits and vegetables, and nothing in a can or a box."

Beyond her plant-based diet, she believes that a positive outlook on life is a huge factor in staying healthy. She went on in her Parade interview to talk about mental health:

"Sometimes it’s hard to maintain mental balance when life goes up and down. It feels like around every corner something is going to come out and get you. I don’t know anybody who gets bypassed. I like to get up in the morning and say, “What a great day! I’m so glad we are here today.” Then I make the best of it as the day flies by…"

Anderson has been an icon for her beauty for decades. In an interview with The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Anderson talked about how she got popular in the business. “I know it sounds crazy to people today but in 1978, when we came on, not many women were doing both in comedy,” she explained.

In an interview with Fox News in 2021, she reflected on posters she used to do and said:

“Oh yes, I remember we all did posters back then. Everybody always asks me, ‘What made you do a poster?’ I would say, ‘Because someday my grandchildren will look at this. And I’ll be able to tell them that I really looked like that. What you saw is what you got *laughs*.’”

Anderson has also admitted to being quite at peace with aging, and in an interview with Closer Weekly, she talked about how society needs to change the way it thinks about grandmothers. Anderson told Closer Weekly:

“I was never really interested in playing traditional, sensible-shoe-wearing, rocking-chair grandmas.”

She added, “I’m not saying traditional is boring, but I’m a grandma and the women around me are, too. We’re different from that stereotype, so it’s time to change the face of what grandmas look like!”

Despite all that's happened in her life, Anderson definitely seems to have taken a step back and been able to get control over her health, love life, and overall well-being. It's no surprise that she still maintains such beauty and a glowing personality at 78! While she may not be as active in her career anymore, it’s safe to say that Anderson is still leading a fulfilling life.

Despite many hardships, Loni Anderson still maintains her youthful glow and positive attitude. What's your favorite example of an actress who has maintained their fame for so many decades? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.