Loni Anderson Movies
Loni Anderson's first acting appearance, at age 10, was in the auditorium of her St. Paul grammar school. An art student at the University of Minnesota, Loni worked her way through her freshman year by winning beauty contests. Married and divorced at 18, Loni was compelled to take a teaching job to support herself and her infant daughter, but she was able to eventually complete her college education. Still a brunette in the early stages of her professional career, Loni acted in Midwestern repertory companies and TV commercials before coming to Hollywood with her second husband in 1975. Three years later, a newly blonde Loni was cast as "look but don't touch" radio station receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the popular sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. After the series' cancellation in 1982, Loni appeared in films and starred in two subsequent series, Partners in Crime (1984) and Easy Street (1986), as well as a syndicated WKRP revival in 1990. One of the uncrowned queens of the TV movies, Loni has starred in the made-for-television biopics of Jayne Mansfield and Thelma Todd, and through the auspices of her own production company appeared in TV remakes of Leave Her to Heaven and Sorry Wrong Number. Loni Anderson's most recent husband was film superstar Burt Reynolds, whom she met on the set of Stroker Ace (1983); after several months of well-publicized courtroom histrionics (most stemming from a custody battle over their adopted son), Loni and Burt's marriage came to a comparatively swift and silent end in 1994.She would work in frequently from that point on, though she starred in 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain and appeared in the SNL adaptation A Night at the Roxbury. In 2011 she was one of the people who appeared in the affectionate documentary Carol Channing: Larger Than Life. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
- PG
- Add 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain to Queue Add 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain to top of Queue
This is the fourth in the 3 Ninjas action-adventure series with retired ninja Grandpa Mori (Victor Wong) as the connective device linking all four films. Following the low-rent 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up (a 1992 production which went unreleased until 1995), the fourth boosts the budget and features three new lead youngsters plus assorted "guest stars." Grandpa Mori teaches martial arts to his three grandchildren: 15-year-old Rocky (Mathew Botuchis), 14-year-old Colt (Michael J. O'Laskey II), and 8-year-old Tum Tum (J.P. Roeske II). On a trip to the Mega Mountain amusement park, the three boys are joined by their computer genius neighbor, 13-year-old Amanda (Chelsey Earlywine), daughter of a movie special FX designer. The villainous Medusa (Loni Anderson) leads a ninja army to Mega Mountain. With her head henchman Lothar (Jim Varney), Medusa intends to move into Mega Mountain's master control center and hold the park patrons for a $10 million ransom. However, former TV star Dave Dragon (Hulk Hogan) happens to be making an appearance at the park, and the combination of Dave, Rocky, Colt, Tum Tum, and Amanda makes life difficult for Medusa and her warriors. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hulk Hogan, Loni Anderson, (more)
- 1985
Made for television, A Letter to Three Wives is a modernized version of the classic 1949 theatrical film of the same name. While on a charity picnic, the wives of three well-to-do men each receive a letter from a fourth woman, a flashy divorcée named Addie (who is never seen). With calculated sweetness and sympathy, Addie informs the ladies that she is about to run off with the husband of one of them. In flashback, each wife recalls her marriage, wondering if it is she who is about to be divested of her husband (and simultaneously asking herself why this might be happening). Loni Anderson, Michele Lee, and Stephanie Zimbalist star in the roles played by Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern, and Jeanne Crain (respectively) in the 1949 film. Ann Sothern herself is seen as the mother of Anderson's character, a part originally essayed by Connie Gilchrist. Johnny Mandel earned an Emmy nomination for his musical score, which is virtually the only real improvement on the 1949 version. A Letter to Three Wives first aired December 16, 1985, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This comedy extends and embellishes characters introduced on Saturday Night Live by regulars Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan in their sketch series of two head-bobbing losers who go on the town, looking for action, when they hear the What Is Love? disco tune. Looking cool, brothers Steve (Ferrell) and Doug Butabi (Kattan) always fail to pick up women in their hapless nightclub jaunts. In Beverly Hills, they work at a fake-flower store run by their father (Dan Hedaya). They are always denied entrance to the Roxbury, a leading discotheque, but an auto accident with Richard Grieco (portraying himself) gives them a foot in the door. Inside, they meet the club's owner (an uncredited Chazz Palminteri), and two gold-diggers (Elisa Donovan, Gigi Rice) believe they are wealthy businessmen. Steve finds his father shoving him into marriage with next-door neighbor Emily (Molly Shannon), but Doug keeps this from happening. Fortune smiles, and the Butabi brothers become the co-owners of a new nightclub. The real-life Roxbury on the Sunset Strip (once the location of the Imperial Gardens and the Players Club) was converted into a Japanese restaurant by the time this film was released. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan, (more)
One of the most expensive of Don Bluth's animated cartoon features, All Dogs Go to Heaven was also among the most successful. Set in late-'30s New Orleans, the story centers upon a roguish German shepherd named Charlie B. Barkin (voice of Burt Reynolds), who is killed early in the proceedings by his business partner, Carface (voice of Vic Tayback). Charlie travels to Heaven, and is promptly warned that if he heads back to Earth, he can never return; he does decide to go back to Earth, however, to exact revenge on Carface, who has kidnapped Anne-Marie, a little orphan girl who can talk to Animals.
The film also includes the vocal skills of Dom DeLuise, Charles Nelson Reilly, Vic Tayback, Melba Moore, Loni Anderson, and a host of others. All Dogs Go to Heaven was the first production of the Dublin-based Sullivan Bluth Studios. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The film also includes the vocal skills of Dom DeLuise, Charles Nelson Reilly, Vic Tayback, Melba Moore, Loni Anderson, and a host of others. All Dogs Go to Heaven was the first production of the Dublin-based Sullivan Bluth Studios. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Judith Barsi, (more)
- 1990
Loni Anderson stars as a woman who must confront her Mafioso husband if she is to retrieve her kidnapped child. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
As indicated by the title, this made-for-TV movie is a remake of the 1954 theatrical feature Three Coins in the Fountain. It's the mixture as before: three pretty American tourists head to Rome, looking for romance. Replacing the original film's Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters and Maggie McNamara are Loni Anderson (who coproduced the remake), Stepfanie Kramer, Shanna Reed. Also appearing is Anthony Newley, reprising the waspish character played in the 1954 version by Clifton Webb. The Oscar-winning title song, performed by Frank Sinatra in the original, is here rendered by Jack Jones. Filmed on location, Coins in the Fountain debuted September 28, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Loni Anderson, Stephanie Kramer, (more)
- 1982
In this musical drama a famed country singer and her newest competitor, a rising star, compete to become female vocalist of the year. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Millstone is the all-too-appropriate name of the Texas hometown of sophisticated career woman Martha (Loni Anderson). No sooner has Martha returned home after a 15-year absence than she witnesses a murder. Relating this information to her sisters, Martha is confused by their reaction. Only when it is nearly too late does the truth come out: The killer is Martha's own brother-in-law Eddie (Greg Evigan). This shock from the present only serves to dredge up long-buried secrets from the heroine's past--hence the title of this made-for-TV melodrama. First telecast by NBC on December 14, 1995, Deadly Family Secrets was based on Franklin Coen's novel Vinegar Hill--and also bears eerie echoes of the 1951 Ginger Rogers theatrical-movie vehicle Storm Warning. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
Michael Burns plays Freddy Griffith, a brilliant, altruistic and cheerfully goofy young inventor. Though his creations seemingly have value, they usually end up causing nothing but trouble (and bad special effects). Produced by veteran sitcom helmsman Hy Averback, this made-for-TV movie was intended as the pilot for a weekly comedy/adventure series. The first (and last) episode is all about a giant, super-powerful magnet designed to solve the world's energy problems--which predictably winds up in the wrong hands. The Adventures of Freddy was originally telecast as The Magnificent Magical Magnet of Santa Mesa. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1992
- PG
A loose sequel of the 1987 Munchies film, this movie turns the tables by offering the travails of a good Munchie (voice by Dom DeLuise). Found in an abandoned mine by a young boy (Jaime McEnnan), the creature offers to make all of his dreams come true, including help with bullies and bad grades. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Loni Anderson, Dom DeLuise, (more)
The original 1987 Munchies was a PG-rated horror spoof about a monster with an insatiable appetite for junk food. Though public domain was not forthcoming, a sequel, titled simply Munchie, came out in 1991; this time, the title character was an invisible imp who helped unpopular kids learn how to cope. Both films were chock-full of such TV icons as Harvey Korman, Dom DeLuise, Loni Anderson and Arte Johnson. The 1994 Munchie Strikes Back, starring Lesley-Anne Down and Andrew Stevens, eschewed the "scare" elements altogether and was geared strictly for the kiddie trade. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
After a long separation, a young girl finds her mother (Loni Anderson) and is surprised to find that she's working as a high-class call girl. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Loni Anderson, Paul Sorvino, (more)
Loni Anderson, James Naughton, and John Heard star in this tense tale of a woman whose life is changed forever after discovering that her husband is a dangerous drug kingpin. Deceived by her husband Rick (Naughton) into believing he is an average businessman, devoted housewife Lauren LaSalle (Anderson) is horrified to learn that he is in fact a high-profile drug dealer with a violent reputation. Upon learning this well-guarded secret, Lauren steals $2 million in cash from her husband, rounds up their daughter, and goes into hiding. But Rick isn't willing to let go of his daughter without a fight, and quickly begins using every resource at his disposal to bring his little girl back home. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Loni Anderson, James Naughton, (more)
- 1984
In this drama, based on a story by Edgar Wallace, two beautiful ex-wives learn that they have inherited their murdered ex-husbands private investigation agency. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1975
When an armored car is stolen, the SWAT team is faced with two disturbing questions: How do the thieves plan to use the all-but-impenetrable vehicle, and how will the team be able to stop them with conventional weapons? The answers are not long in coming: The armored-car robbers swoop down to steal the valuable crown and scepter used in the Miss American Beauty Pageant -- and kidnap Miss New Mexico (none other than Farrah Fawcett-Majors) in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve Forrest, Rod Perry, (more)
- 1989
A wealthy invalid discovers her husband's scheme to have her killed in this made-for-cable thriller--remade from the 1948 feature starring Barbara Stanwyck. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Loni Anderson, Carl Weintraub, (more)
The action and stunts in this fourth racing vehicle for Burt Reynolds could be accurately foreseen by most youngsters. Stroker Ace (Reynolds) is a race car driver who gets the short end of a contract with a fried-chicken entrepreneur (Ned Beatty) but can be expected to end up with the woman (Pembrook) in compensation -- and actually did (Pembrook is played by Loni Anderson in her first movie with Reynolds). By this time, the formula of racing cars, wild stunts, blond co-stars (Goldie Hawn, Farrah Fawcett, and Dolly Parton were the most recent) was wearing thin and Reynolds starred in only one more "Cannonball" film, ending his car-chase series there. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, (more)
- 1985
This video features some of the most hilarious gags ever cooked up by practical joke-meister Alan Funt and his gang. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1977
Bob's prickly patient, Mr. Carlin, is given yet another reason to be neurotic; a woman from his past has slapped him with a paternity suit. But upon meeting his "son" for the first time, Carlin hasn't the heart to tell the boy that the suit is a phony. Meanwhile, Bob has troubles of his own with a recalcitrant telephone paging service. Future WKRP in Cincinnati co-star Loni Anderson appears as "wronged woman" Leslie Greeley, Sparky Marcus plays Billy, and occasional Star Trek supporting player Mark Lenard is seen as Earl S. Plummer. Written by Andrew Smith, "Carlin's New Suit" originally aired on October 22, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
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