‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ Star Frank Bonner Dead at 79

Actor Frank Bonner, who performed gross sales supervisor Herb Tarlek within the TV sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, has died on the age of 79.

Bonner died Wednesday on account of issues from Lewy physique dementia.

The actor’s WKRP in Cincinnati costar Gary Sandy, who performed radio program director Andy Travis, posted a tribute to Bonner on Fb. “It’s true!” Sandy wrote. “Frank [passed] away yesterday, June sixteenth at 3:49 pacific time. RIP my nice buddy!!!”

Bonner was born on Feb. 28, 1942, in Little Rock, Ark. He landed his first appearing function within the experimental 1967 unbiased movie The Equinox … A Journey Into the Unknown, a couple of group of 4 youngsters within the California canyons who uncover an historical guide that unleashes a slew of supernatural demons upon the world. The movie was reshot, reedited and rereleased in 1970 because the cult basic Equinox, with Bonner as soon as once more taking part in Jim Hudson (and credited as Frank Boers Jr.).

Bonner appeared in a number of motion pictures and TV episodes all through the ’70s. In 1978, he started starring in WKRP in Cincinnati, which adopted the misadventures of a fledgling fictional Ohio radio station. His character, Herb Tarlek, was identified for his loud plaid fits and matching white belt and footwear.

WKRP in Cincinnati aired for 4 seasons earlier than ending in 1982 and loved a massively profitable syndication run over the subsequent decade. Bonner reprised his function as Herb Tarlek within the spinoff collection The New WKRP in Cincinnati from 1991 to 1993.

Bonner additionally labored extensively behind the digital camera, directing a number of episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati together with episodes of The Van Dyke Present, Who’s the Boss? and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.