Burt Reynolds, Hollywood icon of the ’70s and ’80s, dead at 82
BURT Reynolds, whose renowned swagger made him the highest paid movie star in his day, has died in the US at the age of 82.
News Corp Australia Network September 7, 20189:44am
Burt Reynolds dies aged 82
Reynolds’ manager, Erik Kritzer, confirmed the star’s death to The Hollywood Reporter, saying he passed away this morning at Jupiter Medical in Florida from a reported heart attack.
Burt Reynolds’ role in the terrifying Deliverance in 1972 made him a star. Picture: Alamy Source:Alamy
Burt Reynolds says Sally Field was the love of his life. Source:Supplied
The actor, who has nearly 200 film and TV credits, also starred in multiple successful films including 1974’s The Longest Yard, 1977’s Smokey And The Bandit, 1996’s Striptease and 1997’s Boogie Nights, the latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination.
Reynolds spent nearly five years as the No 1 box office attraction in America in the 1970s.
While he was known for many big roles he is almost as well-known for the role he turned down, including Harrison Ford’s Star Wars role of Hans Solo, Richard Gere’s role in Pretty Woman, James Bond in the 007 movies, Bruce Willis’ role in Die Hard, and Jack Nicholson’s roles in both Terms of Endearment and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
Reynolds had been battling health issues in recent years. In 2013, Reynolds’ manager said he was in intensive care in a Florida hospital for treatment of flu symptoms, including dehydration.
In 2010, he reportedly had a “planned” heart bypass operation, with his rep denying reports he’d been rushed to the hospital.
A signed photo of Russell Crowe (L) and Burt Reynolds wearing Souths NRL rugby league jumpers, circa 2000.Source:News Corp Australia
His family released a statement saying his death was a shock.
“My uncle was not just a movie icon; he was a generous, passionate and sensitive man who was dedicated to his family, friends, fans and acting students,” his niece, Nancy Lee Hess said in a statement. “He has had health issues, however, this was totally unexpected. He was tough. Anyone who breaks their tailbone on a river and finishes the movie is tough. And that’s who he was. My uncle was looking forward to working with Quentin Tarantino (in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) and the amazing cast that was assembled."
Reynolds was a former university football player who took up acting after an injury cut short his playing career, reports the New York Post.
Reynolds spent a decade taking on bit roles in Hollywood before breaking through with roles in some of the biggest films of the decade, including Deliverance, The Longest Yard and — the movie he’s best known for — Smokey And The Bandit.
Burt Reynolds said Sally Field was the love of his life. Picture: Supplied Source:Supplied
Burt Reynolds and Ronny Cox in Deliverance. Picture: Alamy Source:Alamy
Burt Reynolds and Sally Field attend the off-Broadway play Buried Child in New York in 1978. Picture: APSource:AP
Reynolds
was born in Lansing, Michigan, on February 11, 1936. His family settled
in Riviera Beach, Florida, after his father, who served in the Army,
returned from Europe in 1946. A star football player in high school,
Reynolds attended Florida State University on a sports scholarship.
Although he intended to go professional, his career was cut short by a series of injuries. Reynolds briefly contemplated a career in the police force, but a teacher recognised his talent while reading Shakespeare in English class and pushed him toward acting.
He began appearing on television in the late 1950s, but it wasn’t until 1962 that he secured a consistent role as the half-Native American blacksmith Quint Asper on Gunsmoke.
A decade later, he had his big-screen breakthrough in Deliverance, John Boorman’s psychological thriller about four friends whose rafting trip in rural takes a terrifying turn. Reynolds said he considered the Oscar-nominated film, which co-starred Jon Voight, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox, the best of his career.
Burt Reynolds (r) with former wife Loni Anderson (l) and son Quentin. Picture: Supplied Source:News Limited
Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson were like the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of the days. Picture: APSource:AP
The
film helped establish Reynolds as one of the most marketable stars of
the decade. He’d go on to star in a string of memorable hits including White Lightning (1973), The Longest Yard (1974), Gator (1976), Semi-Tough (1977) and Smokey And The Bandit (1977).
Reynolds starred in the film alongside future girlfriend Sally Field, playing Bo “Bandit” Darville, a charming outlaw tasked with transporting a truck filled with beer.
Reynolds, whose career ultimately spanned six decades, continued to act regularly, notably starring in the Cannonball Run franchise in the ’80s and the sitcom Evening Shade in the early ’90s, for which he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
But the most famous role of the latter part of his career was in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 film Boogie Nights where he played porn director Jack Horner.
While the film about the golden age of porn earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, it never stopped him from trashing the film, which he said he could never finish watching, or the director, who he said he didn’t like.
An action star who did many of his own stunts, Reynolds was also a charismatic rogue and relentless flirt on-screen, helping to make one of the biggest sex symbols of his time.
As did his infamous appearance in the nude as a Cosmopolitan centrefold in April 1972.
The actor was as much of a ladies’ man off-screen, and was married twice, to Judy Carne from 1963 to 1965 and to Loni Anderson from 1988 to 1993. Despite those two trips down the aisle, the love of Reynolds’ life appeared to be his Smokey And The Bandit co-star Field, who he famously described as “the one who got away”.
A man places flowers on Burt Reynolds’s star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Picture: Robyn Beck/AFPSource:AFP
As recently as July, there were reports Reynolds was hoping to reconnect with Field with whom he was estranged.
Field, however, gave a touching tribute to her ex-love.
“There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away. They stay alive, even forty years later. My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy,” she said.
In more recent years, the actor had battled a number of health issues. Picture: Splash NewsSource:Supplied
No
matter the role, Reynolds always tended to play loveable rascals,
something he knew audiences expected of him. “We’re only here for a
little while, and you’ve got to have some fun, right?,” he told The New York Times in early 2018.
“I don’t take myself seriously, and I think the ones that do, there’s some sickness with people like that.”
In 2017, Reynolds received critical acclaim for his final performance in the indie movie The Last Movie Star.
Burt Reynolds’ role in the terrifying Deliverance in 1972 made him a star. Picture: Alamy Source:Alamy
Burt Reynolds says Sally Field was the love of his life. Source:Supplied
The actor, who has nearly 200 film and TV credits, also starred in multiple successful films including 1974’s The Longest Yard, 1977’s Smokey And The Bandit, 1996’s Striptease and 1997’s Boogie Nights, the latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination.
Reynolds spent nearly five years as the No 1 box office attraction in America in the 1970s.
While he was known for many big roles he is almost as well-known for the role he turned down, including Harrison Ford’s Star Wars role of Hans Solo, Richard Gere’s role in Pretty Woman, James Bond in the 007 movies, Bruce Willis’ role in Die Hard, and Jack Nicholson’s roles in both Terms of Endearment and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
Reynolds had been battling health issues in recent years. In 2013, Reynolds’ manager said he was in intensive care in a Florida hospital for treatment of flu symptoms, including dehydration.
In 2010, he reportedly had a “planned” heart bypass operation, with his rep denying reports he’d been rushed to the hospital.
A signed photo of Russell Crowe (L) and Burt Reynolds wearing Souths NRL rugby league jumpers, circa 2000.Source:News Corp Australia
“My uncle was not just a movie icon; he was a generous, passionate and sensitive man who was dedicated to his family, friends, fans and acting students,” his niece, Nancy Lee Hess said in a statement. “He has had health issues, however, this was totally unexpected. He was tough. Anyone who breaks their tailbone on a river and finishes the movie is tough. And that’s who he was. My uncle was looking forward to working with Quentin Tarantino (in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) and the amazing cast that was assembled."
Reynolds was a former university football player who took up acting after an injury cut short his playing career, reports the New York Post.
Reynolds spent a decade taking on bit roles in Hollywood before breaking through with roles in some of the biggest films of the decade, including Deliverance, The Longest Yard and — the movie he’s best known for — Smokey And The Bandit.
Burt Reynolds said Sally Field was the love of his life. Picture: Supplied Source:Supplied
Burt Reynolds and Ronny Cox in Deliverance. Picture: Alamy Source:Alamy
Burt Reynolds and Sally Field attend the off-Broadway play Buried Child in New York in 1978. Picture: APSource:AP
Although he intended to go professional, his career was cut short by a series of injuries. Reynolds briefly contemplated a career in the police force, but a teacher recognised his talent while reading Shakespeare in English class and pushed him toward acting.
He began appearing on television in the late 1950s, but it wasn’t until 1962 that he secured a consistent role as the half-Native American blacksmith Quint Asper on Gunsmoke.
A decade later, he had his big-screen breakthrough in Deliverance, John Boorman’s psychological thriller about four friends whose rafting trip in rural takes a terrifying turn. Reynolds said he considered the Oscar-nominated film, which co-starred Jon Voight, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox, the best of his career.
Burt Reynolds (r) with former wife Loni Anderson (l) and son Quentin. Picture: Supplied Source:News Limited
Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson were like the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of the days. Picture: APSource:AP
Reynolds starred in the film alongside future girlfriend Sally Field, playing Bo “Bandit” Darville, a charming outlaw tasked with transporting a truck filled with beer.
Reynolds, whose career ultimately spanned six decades, continued to act regularly, notably starring in the Cannonball Run franchise in the ’80s and the sitcom Evening Shade in the early ’90s, for which he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
But the most famous role of the latter part of his career was in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 film Boogie Nights where he played porn director Jack Horner.
While the film about the golden age of porn earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, it never stopped him from trashing the film, which he said he could never finish watching, or the director, who he said he didn’t like.
An action star who did many of his own stunts, Reynolds was also a charismatic rogue and relentless flirt on-screen, helping to make one of the biggest sex symbols of his time.
As did his infamous appearance in the nude as a Cosmopolitan centrefold in April 1972.
The actor was as much of a ladies’ man off-screen, and was married twice, to Judy Carne from 1963 to 1965 and to Loni Anderson from 1988 to 1993. Despite those two trips down the aisle, the love of Reynolds’ life appeared to be his Smokey And The Bandit co-star Field, who he famously described as “the one who got away”.
A man places flowers on Burt Reynolds’s star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Picture: Robyn Beck/AFPSource:AFP
Field, however, gave a touching tribute to her ex-love.
“There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away. They stay alive, even forty years later. My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy,” she said.
In more recent years, the actor had battled a number of health issues. Picture: Splash NewsSource:Supplied
“I don’t take myself seriously, and I think the ones that do, there’s some sickness with people like that.”
In 2017, Reynolds received critical acclaim for his final performance in the indie movie The Last Movie Star.
— with the New York Post
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