Beloved ‘Ghostbusters’ Actress Dead at 65

Jennifer Runyon, the versatile actress celebrated for her memorable contributions to 1980s television and cinema, has passed away at the age of 65. Her family announced that she died on the evening of Friday, March 6, following a battle with cancer.

In a poignant message shared on social media, her loved ones described the loss, stating, “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 that she would “always be remembered for her love of life and her devotion to her family and friends.”

Her dear friend and Bewitched star, Erin Murphy, also honored her memory shortly after the news broke. “So sad to share that my friend Jennifer Runyon Corman has passed away after a brief battle with cancer,” Murphy wrote. “Some people you just know you’ll be friends with before you even meet.”

Born in Chicago in 1960, Runyon quickly made a name for herself in Hollywood with her breakout roles during the 1980s. She is perhaps best known for her iconic scene in the 1984 supernatural blockbuster Ghostbusters, where she played a student undergoing a test of extrasensory perception alongside Bill Murray.

Beyond that high-profile performance, she was a fixture on television screens, most notably as Gwendolyn Pierce on the first season of the popular sitcom Charles in Charge. Her credits also included a stint as Sally Frame on the long-running soap opera Another World, as well as stepping into the role of Cindy Brady for the holiday television movie A Very Brady Christmas.

Runyon later stepped back from the pressures of mainstream acting to focus on her personal life and career as an educator. She married collegiate basketball coach Todd Corman in 1991, and the two raised their children, Wyatt and Bayley, together.

Her daughter Bayley, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps as an actress in shows like 9-1-1, shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram, writing, “all of the best parts of me came from you. I would give anything for one more day together.”

While Runyon largely retired from the spotlight in the mid-2010s to dedicate her time to teaching, her impact on the entertainment landscape of the 1980s remains a cherished memory for many viewers.

She made occasional appearances at fan conventions, such as the Chiller Theatre Expo, where she connected with fans who grew up watching her across various beloved genres. Her work remains a testament to the charm and professional range she brought to her projects during that vibrant era of pop culture.

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