Jennifer Runyon, an actress known for her roles in Ghostbusters and the hit sitcom Charles in Charge, has died at the age of 65.
Runyon’s family confirmed the news in a social media post shared on March 8, saying she passed away on March 6 after a long health battle.
“This past Friday, our beloved Jennifer passed away,” the family wrote. “It was a long and difficult journey that ended with her surrounded by her family. She will always be remembered for her love of life and her devotion to family and friends. Rest in peace, our Jenn.”
Her friend and fellow actress Erin Murphy, known for her role on Bewitched, also confirmed the sad news online, revealing that Runyon had been battling cancer.
“Some people you just know you’ll be friends with before you even meet,” Murphy wrote in a tribute. “She was a special lady. I’ll miss you Jenn. My thoughts are with her family and beautiful children.”
Runyon was born in Chicago on April 1, 1960. She later married college basketball coach Todd Corman, and the couple went on to have two children together, Wyatt and Bayley.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Runyon appeared in several well-known films and television shows. She made her movie debut in the 1980 horror film To All a Good Night before landing roles in movies like Up the Creek and the blockbuster Ghostbusters.
In Ghostbusters, she played a college student who becomes part of one of the film’s memorable paranormal testing scenes alongside Bill Murray.
She also appeared in the 1984 sitcom Charles in Charge and later took on the role of Cindy Brady in the TV special A Very Brady Christmas.
Runyon continued working in television over the years, making guest appearances on shows including Murder, She Wrote, Quantum Leap, Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Fall Guy.
Later in life, she stepped back from acting. In 2014, she shared that she had become semi-retired from Hollywood and was working as a teacher.
Her daughter Bayley, who is also an actress and has appeared in shows like 9-1-1, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Jane the Virgin, posted a heartfelt tribute to her mother on social media.
“All of the best parts of me came from you,” Bayley wrote. “The kindest, most compassionate person I’ve ever known. My best friend. I wasn’t ready for this.”
Runyon leaves behind her husband and their two children, along with a legacy of memorable roles that fans continue to cherish.