Loni Anderson’s Cause of Death Revealed Nearly 3 Weeks After She Died at 79

Loni Anderson’s cause of death has been confirmed nearly three weeks after her passing, just days shy of her 80th birthday.

On Friday, Aug. 22, it was revealed that the actress died from metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ.

Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare form of cancer that originates in the uterus and can spread “to other areas of the body, especially the lungs and liver, often causing life-threatening complications,” according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

No other factors were listed as contributing to Anderson’s death. The certificate indicates her remains were cremated and buried in Hollywood on Aug. 7.

Anderson’s longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, confirmed that the star passed away at age 79 on Aug. 3 at a Los Angeles hospital after a “prolonged” illness, just two days before her 80th birthday on Aug. 5.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” her family said in a statement.

Best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, Anderson starred on the show for four seasons from 1978 to 1982. She earned three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations for her work on the series.

Following WKRP, Anderson starred in the 1983 race car comedy Stroker Ace. During filming, she fell in love with her co-star and eventual husband, Burt Reynolds. Their secret wedding in 1988 at Reynolds’ ranch in Jupiter, Fla., was covered by PEOPLE at the time.

“I’m a very lucky man,” Reynolds said at the reception following the 20-minute ceremony. “I’m surrounded by love and dear friends, and I married my best friend today.”

Anderson added, “I feel like Cinderella. I married Prince Charming.” The couple later adopted a son, Quinton. They divorced in 1994 and have spoken openly about challenges in their marriage.

Reynolds — who died on Sept. 6, 2018, at age 82 — told PEOPLE in 2015 that marrying Anderson “was a really dumb move on my part,” while Anderson claimed that he would allegedly physically abuse her while under the influence of drugs, according to SFGate in 1995.

Following their divorce, Anderson appeared on television shows including Nurses, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and V.I.P., and played Tori Spelling’s mother in the 2006 movie So noTORIous.

Anderson was married four times. She first wed Bruce Hasselberg in 1964, with whom she had a daughter, Deirdra, before divorcing in 1966. She then married actor Ross Bickell from 1974 to 1981, followed by Reynolds, and finally musician Bob Flick in 2008.

Anderson is survived by Flick.