'Ghostbusters' Actress Jennifer Runyon Dies at 65 After Cancer Bat

Family and Friends Share Heartbreaking Tributes

Her family confirmed the news in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday. “This past Friday night, our beloved Jennifer passed away. It was a long and arduous journey that ended with her surrounded by her family,” the statement read. “She will always be remembered for her love of life and her devotion to her family and friends. I know from above she’s looking down on all of us with her beautiful smile. Rest in peace, our Jenn.”

Jennifer Runyon, actress known for Ghostbusters and Charles in Charge, smiling in a professional portrait from her acting career.

Close friend and “Bewitched” actress Erin Murphy also shared a tribute, revealing Runyon’s cause of death. “So sad to share that my friend Jennifer Runyon Corman has passed away after a brief battle with cancer,” Murphy wrote on Facebook. “Some people you just know you’ll be friends with before you even meet. She was a special lady. I’ll miss you, Jenn. My thoughts are with your family and beautiful children.”

A representative later confirmed to Us Weekly that Runyon “passed away after a six-month battle with cancer. She felt loved and blessed by her family and friends. She was beloved by countless people and will be missed.

Daughter’s Moving Instagram Tribute

Runyon’s daughter, Bayley Corman, shared her own touching memorial on Instagram. The actress, who has appeared in “9-1-1” and “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” posted a carousel of photos and a video of the pair together.

Jennifer Runyon appearing as a student undergoing a paranormal assessment with Bill Murray's Peter Venkman in the 1984 film Ghostbusters.

“All of the best parts of me came from you. I would give anything for one more day together,” Bayley wrote. “The kindest, most compassionate person I’ve ever known—my best friend. I wasn’t ready for this.

Ghostbusters’ actress Jennifer Runyon Career Spanning Decades

Born April 1, 1960, in Chicago, Runyon began her acting career in 1980 with the slasher film “To All a Goodnight”. She gained recognition playing Sally Frame on the soap opera “Another World” from 1981 to 1983.

In 1984, she landed supporting roles in two memorable comedies: “Up the Creek” and “Ghostbusters”. In the latter, she appeared briefly as a student undergoing a paranormal assessment conducted by Peter Venkman, played by Bill Murray.

Jennifer Runyon in her role as Gwendolyn Pierce on the popular 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge.

That same year, she took on the lead role of Gwendolyn Pierce during the first season of the popular sitcom “Charles in Charge”.

In 1988, Runyon stepped into an iconic role when she portrayed Cindy Brady in the television film “A Very Brady Christmas,” replacing Susan Olsen, who was unavailable due to her honeymoon. Reflecting on the experience in a December 2025 interview, Runyon said, “I don’t know anybody who would not want to be a Brady once in their life, so it was fun”.

Also in 1988, she starred in “The In Crowd” and appeared in the pilot episode of “Quantum Leap”. Her television credits extended to guest appearances on “Murder, She Wrote,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Who’s the Boss?,” and “Beverly Hills, 9021

Ghostbusters’ actress Jennifer Runyon’s Personal Life and Later Years

Runyon married college basketball coach Todd Corman in 1991. The couple had two children together, son Wyatt and daughter Bayley.

By 2014, Runyon had semi-retired from acting and was working as a teacher. Friends remembered her as someone known for her warmth and strong devotion to family.