Jennifer Runyon Corman, 'Charles in Charge' Actress, Dies at 65
Jennifer Runyon Corman, the actress best known for her role in the 1980s sitcom "Charles in Charge" and the holiday film "A Very Brady Christmas," died on Friday, March 6. She was 65.
Her representative, Scott Ray, confirmed the news on March 8, saying she had died after "a long and arduous journey that ended with her surrounded by her family." No official cause of death was given, though her friend and "Bewitched" star Erin Murphy shared on social media that Runyon Corman had battled cancer.
"Some people you just know you'll be friends with before you even meet," Murphy wrote. "She was a special lady. I'll miss you, Jenn."
She is survived by her husband, Todd Corman, and their two children.
Her Breakout Role on 'Charles in Charge'
Runyon Corman joined the cast of "Charles in Charge" during its first season, which began airing in 1984. She played Gwendolyn Pierce, the girlfriend of Charles, the character played by Scott Baio. She reprised the role briefly at the end of Season 2 before moving on to other acting projects.
The show later became the subject of serious allegations. In 2018, Runyon's former co-star Nicole Eggert accused the series' lead, Scott Baio, of sexually assaulting her while she was a teenager working on the show. A second "Charles in Charge" cast member, Alexander Polinsky, also came forward alleging that Baio subjected him to physical abuse and harassment between the ages of 12 and 15. Baio denied the allegations from both co-stars.
Stepping Into 'A Very Brady Christmas'
In 1988, Runyon Corman took on one of her most recognizable roles when she was cast in the made-for-TV holiday film "A Very Brady Christmas." She replaced original cast member Susan Olsen as Cindy Brady for the production, introducing her to a new generation of fans already familiar with the beloved Brady Bunch franchise.
A Small Role in a Very Big Movie
Among her film credits, Runyon Corman appeared in the original 1984 "Ghostbusters," playing a female student opposite Bill Murray's Dr. Peter Venkman in an early scene. The role was brief, but the experience left an impression.
"When I went to the premiere, I was blown away by the movie," she said in a 2023 interview with the Horror Heathen YouTube channel. "I'm like, 'Oh my God. This is a big movie. I'm in a big movie.'"
She described Murray as someone who immediately put her at ease on set. "It was fun; it was playful," she said.
A Career Built Across Decades of Television
Born in Chicago, Runyon Corman moved to California at age 12 following the death of her father, a radio DJ. A neighbor who worked as a casting director encouraged her to take acting classes to bring her out of her shell. She described herself as "an extremely shy child" who found her footing through performance.
Her first film credit came in the 1980 thriller "To All a Goodnight." From there she built a steady television career, with appearances on "The Fall Guy," "Magnum, P.I.," "Quantum Leap," and "Murder, She Wrote."
She Met Her Husband on a Film Set
Runyon Corman and her husband Todd Corman were married for nearly 35 years at the time of her death. The two met on the set of the 1986 film "Dreams of Gold," shot in the Caribbean, where Corman was working as an assistant director and Runyon portrayed a character named Angel Fisher. They married on March 9, 1991.
Corman came from a different world before Hollywood found him. He began his career as a basketball coach after graduating from the University of Southern California, spending several years coaching at California high schools before moving into collegiate coaching at Loyola Marymount University in 1985. He later coached at Albertson College, Oregon State University, and Concordia University Irvine.
He eventually transitioned into the film and television industry as an assistant director, with credits that include the 1992 family film "Beethoven" and the 1996 hockey sequel "D3: The Mighty Ducks." His television work included "Beverly Hills, 90210" — a series on which his wife also made a guest appearance.
The Family She Chose to Put First
The couple welcomed two children, son Wyatt and daughter Bayley. After her first child was born, Runyon Corman stepped back from acting intentionally.
"I grew up in a family where my parents worked, and we had housekeepers and nannies," she told The Lady in Red Blog. "I didn't want that for my kids, because I know all I wanted was my mom. I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to experience every moment."
Bayley followed her parents into the entertainment industry, building her own acting credits with appearances on "9-1-1," "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina," and "Jane the Virgin." Wyatt, a graduate of Southern Methodist University and the University of Southern California, pursued a career in consulting.
The family confirmed Runyon Corman's death in a social media post on March 8, writing that she "will always be remembered for her love of life and her devotion to her family and friends."
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