Jennifer Runyon dead at 65: Ghostbusters and Charles in Charge actress passes after health battle
Actress Jennifer Runyon, best known for her roles in Ghostbusters and Charles in Charge, has died at the age of 65, her family has announced.
Her loved ones shared the news in a heartfelt Facebook post, saying: ‘This past Friday night our beloved Jennifer passed away. It was a long and arduous journey that ended with her surrounded by her family.’
They added she would ‘always be remembered for her love of life and her devotion to her family and friends’ and concluded with, ‘Rest in peace our Jenn.’
No specific cause of death was disclosed, but the message referenced a lengthy health battle.
Born in Chicago in April 1960, Runyon launched her acting career in 1980 with a role in the slasher film To All a Goodnight.
She soon became a familiar face on screens throughout the 1980s, often balancing film and television work.
Actress Jennifer Runyon, best known for her roles in Ghostbusters and Charles in Charge, has died at the age of 65, her family has announced; (pictured 2019)
Her breakout year came in 1984, when she appeared in the blockbuster comedy Ghostbusters as the nervous female student undergoing an ESP experiment
Her breakout year came in 1984, when she appeared in the blockbuster comedy Ghostbusters as the nervous female student undergoing an ESP experiment – a small but memorable part that has endured with fans of the classic film.
That same year she starred as Gwendolyn Pierce on the beloved sitcom Charles in Charge, a role that helped establish her as a recognizable television presence.
She starred opposite Scott Baio in the sitcom’s early run before it was retooled and relaunched in syndication.
Runyon’s film credits also included comedies like Up the Creek and The In Crowd.
She also had small roles in the world war parody A Man Called Sarge and the cult sci‑fi horror Carnosaur.
On television she showed impressive range with roles in soap Another World, guest turns on Magnum, P.I., Quantum Leap and Murder, She Wrote.
She even a part on Beverly Hills, 90210.
In 1988, she took on the nostalgic role of Cindy Brady in the holiday TV movie A Very Brady Christmas, stepping in for the original cast.
That same year she starred as Gwendolyn Pierce on the beloved sitcom Charles in Charge, a role that helped establish her as a recognizable television presence
On television she showed impressive range with roles in soap Another World, guest turns on Magnum, P.I., Quantum Leap and Murder, She Wrote
She continued to act throughout the 1980s but stepped back from regular work in the early 1990s.
Despite this, Runyon occasionally returned to the screen in later years, appearing in horror and cult projects such as Silent Night, Bloody Night 2: Revival (2015) and Terror Tales (2016).
Offscreen, she led a quieter life in Southern California with her husband, basketball coach Todd Corman.
Together, they raised two children while maintaining a low profile away from Hollywood’s spotlight.
