Jennifer Runyon
Runyon at the 2017 Chiller Theatre Expo in Parsippany, New Jersey
Born (1960-04-01)April 1, 1960
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died March 6, 2026(2026-03-06) (aged 65)
United States
Occupation Actress
Years active 1980–2025
Notable work Ghostbusters
Charles in Charge
Spouse
Todd Corman
​
(m. 1991)​
Children 2
Father Jim Runyon

Jennifer Runyon (April 1, 1960 – March 6, 2026) was an American actress. She made her feature-film debut in the slasher film To All a Goodnight (1980), and had supporting roles in the comedies Up the Creek (1984) and Ghostbusters (1984). She played the lead role of Gwendolyn Pierce in the 1984 sitcom Charles in Charge on CBS during its first season. In 1988, she portrayed Cindy Brady in a CBS television film, A Very Brady Christmas.

Early life

Runyon was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 1, 1960,[1][2] the daughter of radio announcer and disc jockey Jim Runyon, and actress Jane Roberts.[3] She had a half-brother, Scott, from her father's first marriage.[4][5] Runyon's parents both worked for the radio station WCFCL-FM in Chicago.[6]

She grew up in various cities in the United States, as her father's disc jockey career required the family to move frequently.[7] Runyon spent her childhood in Chicago, Cleveland, Ohio, and Boston, Massachusetts.[6]

Career

Runyon and Timothy Carhart at Offenburg Comic Con, 2018

Runyon made her feature-film debut in the slasher film To All a Goodnight (1980), about a group of school girls stalked by a killer in a Santa Claus costume.[7] Then she was cast in a supporting role as Sally Frame on the soap opera Another World,[8] which she taped in New York from March 1981 until February 1983.[7] She had a small part as a student being given an ESP test by Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters (1984), and starred in Up the Creek also in 1984, the latter of which was filmed over several weeks in Bend, Oregon.[9]

She later appeared on television as Gwendolyn Pierce in the sitcom Charles in Charge (1984–1985), and replaced Susan Olsen as Cindy Brady in the television film A Very Brady Christmas (1988).

In 1988, Runyon played the lead in The In Crowd and was in the pilot of Quantum Leap.[10] She starred in the comedy 18 Again!. She appeared in Murder, She Wrote in an episode, "Seal of the Confessional" (1989) playing the character Kelly Barret alongside Angela Lansbury in the lead role. In 1990 she played a supporting role in the World War II parody A Man Called Sarge, produced by Gene Corman, her father-in-law. She also made a guest appearance on Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1991.

Personal life

On March 9, 1991, Runyon married Todd Corman, a collegiate basketball coach with stints at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, Albertson College in Caldwell, Idaho, and Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon; he also worked in film and television production during breaks between sports seasons.[11] The couple had a son, Wyatt, and a daughter, Bayley.[12][11]

In a 2014 interview, Runyon announced that she was semiretired from acting, and instead working as a teacher. She said that she was co-hosting a cooking podcast.[9]

Death

Runyon died of cancer on March 6, 2026, at the age of 65.[13][14] Her friend Erin Murphy said that Runyon had a "brief battle" with the disease.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1980 To All a Goodnight Nancy [7]
1984 Up the Creek Heather Merriweather [15]
Ghostbusters Female Student [15]
1985 The Falcon and the Snowman Carole [15]
1986 Flight of the Spruce Goose Terry [10]
Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story Angel Fisher Television film [10]
Blue de Ville J.C. Smith [10]
Pros & Cons Christy
1988 The In Crowd Vicky [15]
18 Again! Robin Morrison [15]
A Very Brady Christmas Cindy Brady Television film [16]
1990 A Man Called Sarge Fifi LaRue [10]
1991 Killing Streets Sandra Ross [10]
Tagteam Rita Valentine Television film [10]
1992 Till Death Us Do Part Judy Davis [10]
1993 Carnosaur Ann 'Thrush' [15]
2015 Silent Night, Bloody Night 2: Revival Carol Brickman [17]
2016 Terror Tales Melanie Segment: "Epidemic" [10]
2017 Bloodsucka Jones vs. The Creeping Death Nurse Zarkov [10]
2019 Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters Herself Documentary film [10]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1981–1982 Another World Sally Frame Main cast [16]
1983 The Fall Guy Episode: "Hollywood Shorties" [10]
Boone Connie Sue Episode: "Second Fiddle" [10]
1984 The Master Alicia Clayton Episode: "Hostages" [10]
1984–1985, 1987 Charles in Charge Gwendolyn Pierce Main cast (Season 1); guest appearance (Season 2) [16]
1985 Space Marcia Grant Miniseries [10]
1987 Magnum, P.I. Christine Maxfield Bentley Episode: "Murder by Night" [16]
The Highwayman Amanda Merrick Episode: "The Highwayman" [10]
Who's the Boss? Doreen Episode: "Hell on Wheels" [10]
Dear John Karen Episode: "The Younger Girl" [10]
Valerie Gwen Episode: "Foiled Again" [10]
1989 Quantum Leap Peggy Stratton Episode: "Genesis: Part 1 and 2 - September 13, 1956" [16]
1989–1991 Murder, She Wrote Rebecca Beiler / Kelly Barrett 2 episodes [16]
1990 Booker Linda Fowler Episode: "The Red Dot" [10]
1991 Beverly Hills, 90210 Christine Episode: "Down and Out of District in Beverly Hills" [10]
1992 Vinnie & Bobby Hillary Bomgarden Episode: "Spring is in the Air" [18]

References

  1. ^ Craddock, Jim (August 2001). VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. Visible Ink Press. p. 1250. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  2. ^ "Jennifer Runyon". The Hollywood Christmas Parade. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  3. ^ "Jennifer Runyon: Is she the 1980s' Marilyn Monroe?". Nl.newsbank.com. August 24, 1986. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
  4. ^ Morrow, Larry, ed. (2010). This is Larry Morrow: My Life on and Off the Air. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Company. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-598-51069-0.
  5. ^ Jacob, Arushi (March 8, 2026). "Jennifer Runyon, 'Ghostbusters' and 'Charles in Charge' Actress, Dies at 65". Variety. Archived from the original on March 9, 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Jennifer Runyon Obituary (1960–2026)". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d Specht, Cathie (February 17, 1987). "Courier TV Mail Q&A". The Courier. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Reichardt, Nancy M. (November 21, 1982). "Runyon has run-in with kook". The Daily Spectrum. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b Runyon, Jennifer (2014). "Killing Nancy: An Interview with Jennifer Runyon". To All a Goodnight (Blu-ray bonus featurette). Scorpion Releasing and Kino Lorber.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Jennifer Runyon Credits". TV Guide. Archived from the original on June 23, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Women's Basketball: Todd Corman". OSU Beavers. Oregon State University. November 2, 2011. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Comiter, Jordana (March 9, 2026). "Jennifer Runyon's Family: All About the Late Ghostbusters Actress' Husband and 2 Kids". People. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  13. ^ "'Ghostbusters' Actress Jennifer Runyon Dead at 65". TMZ. March 8, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  14. ^ Aldecoa, Kayla (March 8, 2026). "Iconic '80s Actress Dead at 65". Parade. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Jennifer Runyon Filmography". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 12, 2026.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Brown, Tracy (March 9, 2026). "Jennifer Runyon, 'Ghostbusters' and 'A Very Brady Christmas' actor, dies at 65". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2026.
  17. ^ DiVincenzo, Alex (March 9, 2026). "'Ghostbusters' Actress Jennifer Runyon Has Passed Away". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  18. ^ "Vinnie & Bobby". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 12, 2026.
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