In her final years, actress Loni Anderson and her famous ex-husband Burt Reynolds found unexpected peace after decades of public tension and court battles.
Loni Anderson, beloved for her role on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” passed away at the age of 79 on August 3, 2025, in Los Angeles after a prolonged illness. Her death has brought renewed attention to her relationship with Burt Reynolds, particularly a 2019 interview where she discussed finding closure after their tumultuous history.
In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, Loni revealed the complexities of her five-year marriage to the “Smokey and the Bandit” actor, which continued to affect them long after their separation.
The actress explained that Burt would often provoke her through the media to elicit a reaction. “I used to say to him, ‘Why did you say that?'” she recalled. “People don’t realize that even in the worst times, we always kept in contact.”
They eventually forgave each other because they were “friends first and friends last.” Additionally, they decided to let go of past grievances for the sake of their son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds, who often found himself as the peacemaker between them.
“We have this wonderful child together. Having a son was a significant event in our lives, and everything revolved around him,” Loni continued.
According to Loni, Quinton managed to reunite them one last time before Burt’s death. “We went out to dinner, and Burt brought me flowers,” she noted, also detailing the positive aspects of the actor, like his shyness and humility.
Loni also shared with the outlet that her ex loved books, especially mysteries, which they enjoyed discussing and trying to guess the endings. The actress even visited Burt’s estate in Florida after his passing and revealed that they were working on a permanent memorial for him.
The couple first met on the set of “The Merv Griffin Show” in 1981. The following year, Loni landed her famous role as Jennifer Marlowe on “WKRP in Cincinnati.” They fell in love while co-starring in the 1983 film “Stroker Ace.”
They married in 1988 on Burt’s ranch. “I’m a very lucky man,” the actor told People during the reception. “I’m surrounded by love and dear friends, and I married my best friend today.”
Meanwhile, Loni said, “I feel like Cinderella. I married Prince Charming.” Quinton is their adopted son. Unfortunately, they separated in 1993, and their divorce was finalized in 1994.
In 2015, Burt told People that going through with the wedding had been a mistake. “I should have known that you don’t marry an actress,” he told the outlet. “That was a really dumb move on my part.”
That same year, TMZ revealed that Burt had finally paid his ex-wife everything he owed from the divorce settlement, according to court filings from Loni. Although the pair had separated decades earlier, the actor had filed for bankruptcy in the early 1990s and didn’t fulfill his obligations for a long time.
However, a year earlier, Loni Anderson sued him, and the judge ordered Burt to pay her the remaining sum plus interest, which totaled $154,520. TMZ described their separation as “one of the longest and nastiest divorces in Hollywood history.”
In 2016, Burt was interviewed by The Guardian, where he explained that “the press went into high gear” after his relationship with Loni ended. “Princess Diana sent me a thank-you note for keeping her off the cover of People magazine,” he added.
Facing intense media scrutiny was not the most difficult aspect; the hardest part was losing custody of his six-year-old son to Loni after a judge’s ruling.
“I was determined to be the opposite of my dad, so I made sure he knew how much I loved him,” the actor expressed. “We talk on the phone, but it’s not a great relationship. I love him so much, and I think he loves me, but we don’t spend as much time together as I’d like, and it’s hard.”
Burt died on September 6, 2018, while he was running lines for Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time.” He was 82.
At the time, Loni and Quinton released a statement, expressing how “touched” they were by the support from people all over the world in the wake of his passing.
“Burt was a wonderful director and actor. He was a big part of my life for twelve years and Quinton’s father for thirty years. We will miss him and his great laugh,” they added.
Our deepest condolences go out to Quinton and all those who loved Loni and Burt, as we mourn her passing and remember them both.