Loni Anderson Still Maintains Her Youthful Glow Today At 75

Nov 01, 2020

Loni Anderson was a household name for anyone who owned a television in the '70s. 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. For her part, Loni Anderson won three Grammy awards and has since been a beloved face on TV screens. Loni is currently 75 years old but hasn't lost an ounce of her beauty or charm.

However, this was far from her first rodeo. Loni Anderson was born on August 5th,1945, in Minnesota but 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 jumpstarted her down a decades-long path of success.

After an association with McQueen formed, Loni never struggled to find work. She had roles in SWAT, 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 roles as Jennifer Marlowe on the super popular 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. For her part, Loni Anderson won three Grammy awards and has since been a beloved face on TV screens.

The glamorous bombshell had an exciting personal life as well. She has two children and has been married a Hollywood-standard four times, according to Biography. 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.

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 Parade:

"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…"

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

“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 75!

Despite many hardships, Loni still maintains her youthful glow and positive attitude. Seeing her change so little after so many years is a sight to behold indeed. What's your favorite example of an actress who has maintained their fame for so many decades? Tell us in the comments!