Jennifer Runyon, the veteran actress known for 1980s roles in Ghostbusters and Charles in Charge, has died. She was 65.
Runyon passed away on March 6 with her husband, Todd Corman, and her children at her side after a six month battle with cancer, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. April Mills, an agent with Bayley Corman, Runyon’s daughter, in a statement to THR said, “We are very heartbroken for the entire family. She was an absolute gem, and loved her children so much. She will be greatly missed.”
Runyon’s daughter Bayley Corman on Instagram paid tribute to her mother with the message: “All of the best parts of me came from you. I would give anything for one more day together.” And her brother David Runyon on Facebook added: “My beautiful sister Jennifer has joined the angels in Heaven. Always dedicated to her convictions, Jenn was a wonderful mother and talented actress who especially loved the beauty in nature. Her soft voice and sweet smile will remain with me forever.”
Bewitched actress Erin Murphy on Instagram added: “So sad to share that my friend Jennifer Runyon Corman has passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Some people you just know you’ll be friends with before you even meet. She was a special lady. I’ll miss you Jenn. My thoughts are with your family and beautiful children.”
Runyon played a student in the Ivan Reitman’s 1984 action comedy Ghostbusters and Gwendolyn Pierce in the TV series Charles in Charge. Her 1980s credits also include playing Cindy Brady in the TV movie A Very Brady Christmas, Heather Merriweather in Up The Creek and Vicky in The In Crowd. Born on April 1, 1960 in Chicago, Runyon’s father was Jim Runyon, a popular radio disc jockey.
In a 1984 interview with Merv Griffin, Runyon recalled going to New York City to appear in the Another World soap, before landing in Los Angeles to establish her acting career: “I have been lucky because of the California look. I was nervous when I first started working as an actress that I would be typecast.
“But everything I have done has been so different, such a stretch for me. And it can only get better,” Runyon added. She is also survived by a son, Wyatt. And her other acting credits included Quantum Leap, Booker, Murder She Wrote, Gunfight at Silver Creek and Spectral Squad: The Haunting of Sophie Lawson.
March 9, 11:00 am. Story is update with a statement from April Mills, agent for Runyon’s daughter, Bayley Corman.
