Frank Bonner, Brash Salesman on ‘WKRP in Cincinnati,’ Dies at 79

Frank Bonner, the actor best known for playing Herb Tarlek, the cheeky salesman with a penchant for plaid polyester suits, in the popular television comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Wednesday at his Laguna Niguel, California, home. south of Los Angeles. He was 79.

His daughter Desiree Boers-Kort said the cause was complications from Lewy body dementia. He had learned about three years ago that he had the disease, which worsened mental and physical complications.

“WKRP in Cincinnati,” which aired on CBS from 1978 to 1982, played on a battered radio station that was trying to reinvent itself with a rock format. The cast included Gary Sandy as the competitive station manager and Tim Reid and Howard Hesseman as disc jockeys. The character of Mr. Bonner, the station’s sales manager, was known for his disgusting behavior, general incompetence and garish wardrobe.

Loni Anderson, who played Jennifer Marlowe, the station’s super-efficient receptionist – and the common object of Herb’s crude flirting – said in a statement that Mr. Bonner was “one of the funniest men I’ve had the pleasure to work with” and ” The nicest man I’ve ever known. “

Ms. Boers-Kort said that Mr. Bonner valued his time as an actor on “WKRP in Cincinnati” in part because it led him to his preferred career: directing. After directing six episodes of WKRP, he directed more than a dozen other shows in the 1980s and 90s, including Who’s the Boss? . “And” Just the Ten of Us “(in which he also had a recurring role).

Mr. Bonner repeated the role of Herb in the syndicated sequel “The New WKRP in Cincinnati” in the early 1990s. He has also appeared in Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Night Court, and many other shows.

Frank Bonner was born Frank Boers Jr. on February 28, 1942 in Little Rock, Ark. born and raised in the town of Malvern. His Hollywood career began in 1967 and took off in 1970 with roles in the film “Equinox” and the TV series “The Young Lawyers” and “Nancy”. He appeared on Mannix, Police Woman, Fantasy Island and other shows before getting the career-defining role of Herb Tarlek.

In addition to Mrs. Boers-Kort, his daughter Mr. Bonner leaves behind his wife Gayle Hardage Bonner. She was his high school mistress in Malvern, his daughter said, and they met again and eventually married four decades later. His four previous marriages were divorced.

His survivors also include two sons, Matthew and Justin; a stepdaughter, DeAndra Freed; seven grandchildren; and a great grandson. Another son, Michael, died before Mr. Bonner.

Mr. Bonner was delighted with Herbert’s ill-considered wardrobe, his daughter said, because he knew the character’s style was “one of the things people loved about him.” She said he kept some of Herbs’ distinctive white belts when the show ended.

The New York Times contributed to the coverage.