American actress Jennifer Runyon, known for her roles in the classic 1980s film Ghostbusters and the television sitcom Charles in Charge, has died at the age of 65. (ABC7 San Francisco)
Her family confirmed that she passed away on March 6, 2026. In a message shared on social media, relatives said she died surrounded by family after a long and difficult illness. (ABC7 San Francisco)
Runyon had recently been battling cancer, according to friends and people close to her. (People.com)
Career in Film and Television
Jennifer Runyon began her acting career in the early 1980s. One of her first film roles was in the horror movie To All a Goodnight (1980). She later appeared in the comedy film Up the Creek (1984) and the hit supernatural comedy Ghostbusters the same year. (Wikipedia)
(Photo by Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
In Ghostbusters, she played a college student who participates in an extrasensory perception experiment in the film’s opening scene. (The Sun)
Runyon also gained recognition on television. She played Gwendolyn Pierce in the popular sitcom Charles in Charge during its first season. Over the years, she appeared in several well-known TV series including Quantum Leap, Another World, and Murder, She Wrote. (Wikipedia)
She also portrayed Cindy Brady in the 1988 television film A Very Brady Christmas. (Wikipedia)
Later Life
Runyon was born in Chicago in 1960. Her father, Jim Runyon, worked as a radio announcer. (Wikipedia)
In 1991, she married basketball coach Todd Corman, and the couple had two children. (Wikipedia)
After stepping back from Hollywood, Runyon focused more on family life and later worked as a teacher. She remained connected to fans and occasionally appeared in entertainment projects and events. (Wikipedia)
Legacy
Although she was not always the lead star in major productions, Runyon became a familiar face in film and television during the 1980s. Her performances in popular movies and TV shows made her part of a generation of actors remembered fondly by fans of classic entertainment. (The Times of India)
Tributes from friends and colleagues described her as kind, warm, and deeply devoted to her family. (People.com)
Runyon is survived by her husband and two children.