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Cincinnati Lost a Legend Yesterday

Frank Bonner, who played Herb Tarlek on WKRP in Cincinnati, dead at 79

By Clayton Trutor
WKRP in Cincinnati

Boy, this was a tough one.

One of my favorite fake Cincinnatians died yesterday.

Frank Bonner, the man who played Herb Tarlek on WKRP in Cincinnati, died at the age of 79. Bonner was a natural heel—playing a coarse underling with great enthusiasm and vigor.

After the show’s initial 1978 to 1982 run, Bonner appeared on a Growing Pains spin-off called Just the Ten of Us as a Catholic Priest (1988-1990). He also later appeared on a reboot of his original show called The New WKRP in Cincinnati (1991-1993).

Bonner also worked extensively as a television show director, including on six episodes of WKRP.

Give a listen to the WKPR’s fantastic theme song today and think of old Herb while you do:

Give a listen to the WKPR’s fantastic theme song today and think of old Herb while you do:

Give a listen to the WKPR’s fantastic theme song today and think of old Herb while you do:

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