Jennifer Runyon, ‘Ghostbusters’ actress, dead at 65

A beloved face from the 1980s film and television has left us. Jennifer Runyon, who brought warmth and screen presence to “Ghostbusters,” “Charles in Charge,” and numerous other projects, has died at 65. The Jennifer Runyon death announcement came via her family on Facebook, who shared that she passed away Friday night, surrounded by loved ones, after an extended health struggle.

“This past Friday night, our beloved Jennifer passed away,” the family wrote. “It was a long and arduous journey that ended with her surrounded by her family.” They remembered her as someone who will “always be remembered for her love of life and her devotion to her family and friends,” signing off with a simple, heartbreaking: “Rest in peace, our Jenn.”

No specific cause was disclosed, though the reference to a “long and arduous journey” suggests an illness Runyon faced privately while stepping back from public life in recent years.

For millions, Runyon exists in two unforgettable places. First, in the 1984 blockbuster “Ghostbusters,” where she appeared in the psychokinesis experiment scene alongside Jennifer Tilly. That moment, young, hopeful, caught in supernatural chaos, cemented her place in cinematic history.

Second, as Gwendolyn Pierce on the fan-favorite sitcom “Charles in Charge.” The Ghostbusters actress dies news hits particularly hard for fans of that show, where Runyon played Scott Baio’s love interest across multiple seasons, bringing charm and comic timing to the role.

But her resume ran deeper. Runyon appeared on the long-running soap opera “Another World” and guest-starred on prestige series including “Quantum Leap” and “Murder, She Wrote.” Each role added another layer to a career built on reliability and presence, the kind of actress who made every scene better simply by being in it.

Though she stepped away from Hollywood in later years, Runyon never truly left the public consciousness. Fans of 80s nostalgia kept her memory alive through screenings, streaming, and social media tributes celebrating the decade’s unique cinematic energy.

The Jennifer Runyon death at 65 closes a chapter on a specific kind of Hollywood story, not the tabloid headliner, but the working actor who showed up, delivered, and left an impression on everyone who watched. Her family’s tribute emphasized love, devotion, and the quiet strength of a woman who fought a long battle with grace.

She is survived by her family, her friends, and the countless viewers who will continue discovering her work for generations to come. Rest in peace, our Jenn.