Loni Anderson Made Peace With Ex Burt Reynolds Years Before Her Death — The Details After Ending a Turbulent Chapter

In her final years, the actress and her famous ex-husband found unexpected peace after decades of public tension and court battles.

Loni Anderson, the beloved sitcom star best known for her role on "WKRP in Cincinnati," died at the age of 79 on August 3, 2025, in Los Angeles after a prolonged illness. Her passing has brought new attention to her relationship with Burt Reynolds, specifically a 2019 interview where she discussed finding closure after their complicated history.

Speaking exclusively to Closer Weekly, Loni revealed the fallout of her five-year marriage to the "Smokey and the Bandit" actor, which lasted long after their separation.

The actress explained that Burt would often bait her in the media to get a reaction. "I used to say to him, 'Why did you say that?'" she said. "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 things go for the sake of their son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds, who was often stuck as the peacemaker between them.

"We have this wonderful child together. Having a son was a big event in our lives and so everything revolved around him," Loni continued.

According to the actress, Quinton actually managed to get them together one last time before Burt's death. "We went out to dinner and [Burt] brought me flowers," she noted, while also detailing the good things about the actor, like his shyness and humility.

Loni also told the outlet that her ex loved books, especially mysteries, which they shared with each other while trying to guess how the stories would end. The actress even visited his 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, she landed her famous role as Jennifer Marlowe on "WKRP in Cincinnati." They would go on to fall 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, the actor 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.