View source for Burt Reynolds

{{Short description|American actor (1936–2018)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Burt Reynolds
| image              = Burt Reynolds 1991 portrait crop.jpg
| caption            = Reynolds in 1991
| birth_name         = Burton Leon Reynolds Jr.<ref name="Lartey">{{Cite news|last=Lartey|first=Jamiles|date=September 7, 2018|title=Burt Reynolds: Hollywood pays tribute to 'a true American icon'|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/sep/07/burt-reynolds-death-tributes-hollywood-actors-dolly-parton-sally-field|access-date=January 20, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|mf=y|1936|02|11}}
| birth_place        = [[Lansing, Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|mf=y|2018|9|6|1936|02|11}}
| death_place        = [[Jupiter, Florida]], U.S.
| resting_place      = [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]], [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| occupation         = Actor<!-- only most notable occupations per [[MOS:ROLEBIO]] -->
| alma_mater         = [[Florida State University]], [[Palm Beach State College|Palm Beach Junior College]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.palmbeachstate.edu/2018/09/07/pbsc-reflects-on-legacy-of-reynolds/|title=PBSC Reflects On Legacy of Reynolds|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> Report|website=Palm Beach State College|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510143045/https://news.palmbeachstate.edu/2018/09/07/pbsc-reflects-on-legacy-of-reynolds/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| years_active       = 1956–2018
| spouse             = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Judy Carne]]|1963|1965|reason=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Loni Anderson]]|1988|1994|reason=divorced}}}}
| partner            = {{ubl|[[Dinah Shore]] (1971–1975)|[[Sally Field]] (1976–1980)}}
| children           = 1
| website            = {{URL|https://burtreynolds.com/}}
}}

'''Burton Leon<!-- "Milo" is incorrect, father's middle name is irrelevant --> Reynolds Jr.''' (February 11, 1936&nbsp;– September 6, 2018) was an American actor<!-- only most notable occupations per [[MOS:ROLEBIO]] --> most famous during the 1970s and '80s.<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Byrne|first=Wayne|date=September 30, 2019|title=The Book of Burt Reynolds: uncovering a screen icon|language=en|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/the-book-of-burt-reynolds-uncovering-a-screen-icon-1.4035313|access-date=January 20, 2020|archive-date=October 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004194921/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/the-book-of-burt-reynolds-uncovering-a-screen-icon-1.4035313|url-status=live}}</ref> He became well known in television series such as ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' (1962–1965), ''[[Hawk (TV series)|Hawk]]'' (1966) and ''[[Dan August]]'' (1970–1971). He had leading roles in films such as ''[[Navajo Joe]]'' (1966), and ''[[100 Rifles]]'' (1969), and his breakthrough role was as Lewis Medlock in ''[[Deliverance]]'' (1972).

Reynolds played leading roles in financial successes such as ''[[White Lightning (1973 film)|White Lightning]]'' (1973), ''[[The Longest Yard (1974 film)|The Longest Yard]]'' (1974), ''[[Smokey and the Bandit]]'' (1977) (which started a seven-year box-office reign), ''[[Semi-Tough]]'' (1977), ''[[The End (1978 film)|The End]]'' (1978), ''[[Hooper (film)|Hooper]]'' (1978), ''[[Starting Over (1979 film)|Starting Over]]'' (1979), ''[[Smokey and the Bandit II]]'' (1980), ''[[The Cannonball Run]]'' (1981), ''[[Sharky's Machine]]'' (1981), ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film)|The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'' (1982), [[Smokey and the Bandit Part 3|''Smokey and the Bandit III'']] (1983), and ''[[Cannonball Run II]]'' (1984), several of which he directed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Legends of Action: Burt Reynolds|url=https://theactionelite.com/legends-of-action-burt-reynolds/|website=theactionelite.com|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226190209/http://theactionelite.com/legends-of-action-burt-reynolds/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Guides|first=Rough|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RcyxV1fFVpEC&q=burt+reynolds+lovable+rogue&pg=PT358|title=The Rough Guide to Cult Movies|date=August 2, 2010|publisher=Rough Guides UK|isbn=978-1-4053-8538-1|language=en}}</ref> He was nominated twice for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]].

Reynolds was voted the world's number-one [[Box office|movie]] actor from 1978 to 1982 in the annual [[Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll]], a six-year record he shares with [[Bing Crosby]]. After a number of [[Box-office bomb|box-office failures]], Reynolds returned to television, featuring in the situation comedy ''[[Evening Shade]]'' (1990–1994), which won a [[Golden Globe Award]] and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series]]. His performance as high-minded pornographer Jack Horner in [[Paul Thomas Anderson]]'s ''[[Boogie Nights]]'' (1997) brought him renewed critical attention, earning the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]], with nominations for an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] and a [[BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor]].<ref name="goldenglobes.com">{{cite web|title=Burt Reynolds|url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/person/burt-reynolds|access-date=March 29, 2018|website=[[Golden Globe Award]]|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]|location=United States|archive-date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624232957/http://www.goldenglobes.com/person/burt-reynolds|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=abc /><ref name="Rosen">{{cite web|last=Rosen|first=Christopher|date=December 3, 2015|title=Burt Reynolds says he 'hated' Paul Thomas Anderson|url=http://ew.com/article/2015/12/03/burt-reynolds-says-hated-paul-thomas-anderson/|access-date=March 19, 2017|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320145931/http://ew.com/article/2015/12/03/burt-reynolds-says-hated-paul-thomas-anderson/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Early life==
Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. was born on February&nbsp;11, 1936, to Burton Milo Reynolds Sr. and Harriet Fernette "Fern" (''née'' Miller).<ref name="orsg">{{cite web|author=Russell|first=James|date=April 23, 2002|title=Burton Reynolds, Father Of Actor|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-04-23/news/0204220538_1_mr-reynolds-jupiter-farms-burton-reynolds|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104211425/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-04-23/news/0204220538_1_mr-reynolds-jupiter-farms-burton-reynolds|archive-date=January 4, 2016|access-date=January 14, 2016|website=[[Sun-Sentinel]]}}</ref> His family descended from [[Dutch people|Dutch]], English, [[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scots-Irish]] and Scottish ancestry. Reynolds also claimed some [[Cherokee]] and Italian ancestry.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Baxter|first=Brian|date=September 6, 2018|title=Burt Reynolds obituary|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/sep/06/burt-reynolds-obituary|access-date=February 2, 2023|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=Chris|date=September 7, 2018|title=Burt Reynolds: What he lacked in talent he made up for with charm and sex appeal|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/burt-reynolds-dead-tribute-sex-symbol-smokey-and-the-bandit-johnny-carson-show-a8527006.html|website=[[The Independent]]|access-date=October 28, 2018|archive-date=October 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028235648/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/burt-reynolds-dead-tribute-sex-symbol-smokey-and-the-bandit-johnny-carson-show-a8527006.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During his career, Reynolds often claimed to have been born in [[Waycross, Georgia]], although in 2015, he stated that he was actually born in [[Lansing, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lacy|first=Eric|date=November 19, 2015|title=Burt Reynolds finally reveals he was born in Lansing|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|url=http://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/people/2015/11/19/burt-reynolds-finally-reveals-he-born-lansing/76040476/|access-date=November 19, 2015|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106203645/https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/people/2015/11/19/burt-reynolds-finally-reveals-he-born-lansing/76040476/|url-status=live}}</ref> In his autobiography, he stated that Lansing is where his family lived when his father was [[Conscription|drafted]] into the [[United States Army]].<ref name="birthplace">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcmdb.com/participant/participant.jsp?participantId=160584|title=Overview for Burt Reynolds|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930231857/http://www.tcmdb.com/participant/participant.jsp?participantId=160584|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/509:127/1/Burt_Reynolds.htm|title=Birthplace|publisher=Biography Channel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526163359/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/509%3A127/1/Burt_Reynolds.htm|archive-date=May 26, 2007}}</ref>

Reynolds, his mother, and his sister joined his father at [[Fort Leonard Wood#Military base|Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri]], where they subsequently lived for two years. When his father was sent to Europe, the family relocated to [[Lake City, Michigan|Lake City]], Michigan, where his mother had been raised.<ref>David Votta, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110420001440/http://lansingonlinenews.com/news/lost-lansing-burt-reynolds-native-son-and-now-wikipedia-agrees/ "Lost Lansing: Burt Reynolds Native Son (and now Wikipedia agrees)"], ''Lansing Online'', February 6, 2011.</ref> In 1946, the family relocated to [[Riviera Beach, Florida|Riviera Beach]], Florida, where in sixth grade, Reynolds began a lifelong close friendship with [[Dick Howser]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/1985-world-series-kansas-city-royals-st-louis-cardinals-bret-saberhagen-george-brett-102915|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312203604/https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/1985-world-series-kansas-city-royals-st-louis-cardinals-bret-saberhagen-george-brett-102915|archive-date=March 12, 2017|title=1985 World Series: The wild and crazy complete story of the Kansas City Royals' unlikely win|author=<!--staff-->|date=October 29, 2015|work=Fox Sports|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref> Reynolds's father eventually became chief of police of Riviera Beach, which is adjacent to the north end of [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]], Florida.

His nickname in Riviera Beach was "Buddy".<ref name="Vanity Fair 2016">{{cite web|last1=Zeman|first1=Ned|title=Burt Reynolds Isn't Broke, but He's Got a Few Regrets|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/burt-reynolds-on-career-bankruptcy-regrets|website=vanityfair.com|date=November 5, 2015|publisher=Vanity Fair|access-date=August 13, 2023|archive-date=March 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327231309/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/burt-reynolds-on-career-bankruptcy-regrets|url-status=live}}</ref> (The childhood nicknames of [[Marlon Brando]], the [[A list|superstar actor]] whom Reynolds was said to resemble and with whom he feuded, were "Bud" and "Buddy".)<ref name="Shelf Life">{{cite web|last1=Joe|title=A kid named Bud: Marlon Brando in Libertyville, 1938–1941|url=https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2017/02/16/a-kid-named-bud-marlon-brando-in-libertyville-1938-1941/|website=Shelf Life|date=February 17, 2017|publisher=Cook Memorial Public Library District|access-date=August 13, 2023|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813193840/https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2017/02/16/a-kid-named-bud-marlon-brando-in-libertyville-1938-1941/|url-status=live}}</ref>

At [[Palm Beach Lakes Community High School#History|Palm Beach High School]], Reynolds lettered in football and track and was named a first-team All-State fullback in 1953 and an honorable-mention selection to the 34th annual All-Southern team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reynolds on All-Southern squad |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=December 20, 1953}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Wildcats place four on All-State grid team |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=December 27, 1953}}</ref> He was initially offered a college football scholarship by [[University of Miami]] head coach [[Andy Gustafson]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Buddy Reynolds to attend Miami |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=December 19, 1953}}</ref> but eventually chose to play for head coach [[Tom Nugent]] at [[Florida State University]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Florida State Bound! |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=March 7, 1954}}</ref>

===College===
While at Florida State, Reynolds roomed with future college football coach, broadcaster, and analyst [[Lee Corso]], and also became a brother of the [[Phi Delta Theta]] fraternity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phideltatheta.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=161|title=Phi Delta Theta International Site – Famous Phis|publisher=Phideltatheta.org|access-date=November 8, 2011|archive-date=March 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316072537/http://www.phideltatheta.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=161|url-status=live}}</ref>
He earned his first start of the 1954 football season at right halfback in FSU's inaugural victory of the season against the [[University of Louisville]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Buddy Reynolds scores in Seminoles 47-6 win |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=October 3, 1954}}</ref> Reynolds tallied a one-yard touchdown in the game. Despite suffering a separated shoulder in the middle of the season,<ref>{{cite news |title=Buddy Reynolds back to Seminole campus |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=November 2, 1954}}</ref> Reynolds finished his freshman season with 16 carries for 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 76 yards, returned five punts, and had an interception on defense.<ref>{{cite news |title=Post Time with Bob Balfe |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=December 12, 1954}}</ref>

In 1955, Reynolds was slated to start in the backfield for the Seminoles (8–4 in 1954), but suffered torn cartilage in his right knee during preseason workouts. After testing the injured knee in a "B" game versus Georgia Tech, Reynolds realized he could not make cuts like he once did and left school.<ref>{{cite news |title=Buddy Reynolds quits Seminoles because of injury |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=September 28, 1955}}</ref> "I knew then I was finished as a football player," he told ''[[The Palm Beach Post]]''. A week later, Reynolds underwent a knee operation at St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach. His surgeon predicted he could resume his playing career the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reynolds knee operated on |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=October 5, 1955}}</ref>
Two months later, Reynolds, then 19, was critically injured in an automobile accident on State Road A1A, suffering internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen, after colliding with a stalled truck.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bud Reynolds said improved |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=December 21, 1955}}</ref> The driver of the truck fled the scene, according to the newspaper report. Reynolds said he lost a prized wristwatch from the 1955 Sun Bowl game in the crash, which left his vehicle totaled.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reynolds at home: may see visitors |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=December 31, 1955}}</ref>

Reynolds did not return to the Florida State campus for almost two years.<ref name=bogage>{{Cite news|last=Bogage|first=Jacob|date=September 6, 2018|title=The college football game that changed Burt Reynolds's life forever|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/09/06/the-college-football-game-that-changed-burt-reynoldss-life-forever/|access-date=May 9, 2021|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206193347/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/09/06/the-college-football-game-that-changed-burt-reynoldss-life-forever/|url-status=live}}</ref> To keep up with his studies, he enrolled at [[Palm Beach State College|Palm Beach Junior College]] (PBJC) in neighboring [[Lake Park, Florida|Lake Park]] in early 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 7, 2018|title=PBSC reflects on legacy of Reynolds|url=https://news.palmbeachstate.edu/2018/09/07/pbsc-reflects-on-legacy-of-reynolds/|access-date=May 9, 2021|website=Palm Beach State College|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510143045/https://news.palmbeachstate.edu/2018/09/07/pbsc-reflects-on-legacy-of-reynolds/|url-status=live}}</ref><!---Do NOT change. In the spring of 1956, Reynolds attended PBJC, when the school was still in Lake Park. The school did not move to Lake Worth until the Fall of 1956.---> When Reynolds returned to Florida State in 1957, he rejoined the football team as a backup halfback, but was hampered by lingering injuries from the car accident. In an away game against Boston College in late September, Reynolds averaged four yards on three carries and caught two passes. He was blamed, fairly or not, for the team's loss to [[North Carolina State University]] on October 12, 1957. Immediately after the game, he told his teammates that he was done with football.<ref name=bogage/> Convinced that his playing days were over, Reynolds returned home and got engaged to Jean Hayden, a former beauty queen from [[Jacksonville, Florida]], who was attending FSU.<ref>{{cite news |title=Post Time with Bob Balfe |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=October 27, 1957}}</ref> The couple never wed. Hayden, a speech major in college, wed FSU grad and Navy veteran Edwin Watson Richardson Jr., a car dealer in Tallahassee, in 1959.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jean Hayden - Edwin Richardson Jr. |publisher=The Tallahassee Democrat |date=August 9, 1959}}</ref>

===Early acting===
During his spring term at PBJC in 1956, Reynolds enrolled in an English class taught by [[Watson B. Duncan III]]. Duncan encouraged Reynolds to try out for a school play he was directing, ''[[Outward Bound (play)|Outward Bound]]''. He cast Reynolds in a main role based on having heard him read Shakespeare in class. Reynolds' performance earned him a best actor award at the 1956 PBJC Drama Awards.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reynolds trots off grid, onto boards to new honor |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=June 8, 1956}}</ref> "I read two words and they gave me a lead," he later said.<ref name="macho">{{Cite news|title=Burt Reynolds: Going Beyond Macho|author=Cohen, Barney|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 29, 1981|page=A.18}}</ref> In his autobiography, he referred to Duncan as his mentor and the most influential person of his life.<ref>Reynolds, pp. 57–59.</ref>

==Career==

===Theater===
The drama award Reynolds won in junior college included a scholarship to the Hyde Park Playhouse, a [[summer stock theater]] in [[Hyde Park, New York|Hyde Park]], New York. Reynolds considered the opportunity as an agreeable alternative to more physically demanding summer jobs, but did not yet consider acting as a possible career. While working there, Reynolds met [[Joanne Woodward]], who helped him find an agent.

"I don't think I ever actually saw him perform," said Woodward. "I knew him as this cute, shy, attractive boy. He had the kind of lovely personality that made you want to do something for him."<ref name="macho"/> He was cast in ''[[Tea and Sympathy (play)|Tea and Sympathy]]'' at the [[Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre|Neighborhood Playhouse]] in New York City. After his Broadway debut in ''Look, We've Come Through'', he received favorable reviews for his performance and went on tour with the cast, driving the bus as well as appearing on stage.<ref>Reynolds, pp. 59–63.</ref> After the tour, Reynolds returned to New York City and enrolled in acting classes, along with [[Frank Gifford]], [[Carol Lawrence]], [[Red Buttons]], and [[Jan Murray]]. "I was a working actor for two years before I finally took my first real acting class (with [[Wynn Handman]] at the Neighborhood Playhouse)," he said. "It was a lot of technique, truth, moment-to-moment, how to listen, improv."<ref name="macho"/>

After a botched improvisation in acting class, Reynolds briefly considered returning to Florida, but in December 1956, he was cast in a supporting role in a revival of ''[[Mister Roberts (play)|Mister Roberts]]'' at the [[New York City Center]], in which [[Charlton Heston]] played the starring role and [[Orson Bean]] played Ensign Pulver.<ref>{{cite news |title=Riviera youth opens Broadway career Dec. 5|publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=November 30, 1956}}</ref> After the play closed, director [[John Forsythe]] arranged a movie audition with [[Joshua Logan]] for Reynolds. The movie was ''[[Sayonara]]'' (1957). Reynolds was told that he could not be in the movie because he looked too much like Marlon Brando. Logan advised Reynolds to go to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], although Reynolds did not feel confident enough to do so.<ref>Reynolds, pp. 63–65.</ref> (Another source says that Reynolds did a screen test after studio talent agent [[Lew Wasserman]] saw the effect that Reynolds had on secretaries in his office, but the test was unsuccessful.<ref name="river">{{Cite news|title=Riverboat Set to Sink Maverick|author=Wolters, Larry|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=August 20, 1959|page=c10}}</ref>)

Reynolds worked in a variety of jobs, such as waiting tables, washing dishes, driving a delivery truck, and as a [[Bouncer (doorman)|bouncer]] at the [[Roseland Ballroom]]. He wrote that while working as a [[Stevedore|dockworker]], he was offered $150 to jump through a glass window on a live television show.<ref>Reynolds, pp. 65–67.</ref>

===Early television and ''Riverboat''===
[[File:Darren McGavin and Burt Reynolds in Riverboat.jpg|upright|thumb|Reynolds (right) with [[Darren McGavin]] in ''[[Riverboat (TV series)|Riverboat]]'']]
[[File:Burt Reynolds John Williams The Bard Twilight Zone 1963.jpg|upright|thumb|Reynolds (left) with [[John Williams (actor)|John Williams]] as [[William Shakespeare]] in ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' featuring Reynolds parodying [[look-alike]] [[Marlon Brando]]]]
Reynolds began acting for television during the late 1950s, with guest roles on shows such as ''[[Flight (TV series)|Flight]]'', ''[[M Squad]]'', ''[[Schlitz Playhouse]]'', ''[[The Lawless Years]]'', and ''[[Pony Express (TV series)|Pony Express]]''. He signed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios.<ref name="honest">{{Cite news|title=Television: Honest Injun|first=Joan|last=Barthel|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 24, 1966|page=77}}</ref> "I don't care whether he can act or not," said Wasserman. "Anyone who has this effect on women deserves a break."<ref name="river"/>

Reynolds's first big opportunity came when he was cast alongside [[Darren McGavin]], who was the main actor of the television series ''[[Riverboat (TV series)|Riverboat]]'' (1959–61), playing Ben Frazer, the boat's [[maritime pilot|pilot]]. According to a contemporary report, Reynolds was considered "a double for Marlon Brando".<ref name="river"/> The show played for two seasons, but Reynolds quit after only 20 episodes, claiming that he got along with neither McGavin nor the executive producer, and that he had "a stupid part".<ref name="bob">{{Cite news|title=Burt Joins 'Gunsmoke'|author=Thomas, Bob|work=Chicago Tribune|date=May 5, 1963|page=d15}}</ref> Reynolds subsequently said that he "couldn't get a job. I didn't have a very good reputation. You just don't walk out on a network television series."<ref name="honest"/>

Reynolds returned to guest-featuring in television shows. As he put it, "I played heavies in every series in town,"<ref name="bob"/> appearing in episodes of ''[[Playhouse 90]]'', ''[[Johnny Ringo (TV series)|Johnny Ringo]]'', ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'', ''[[Lock Up (TV series)|Lock Up]]'', ''The Blue Angels'', ''[[Michael Shayne (TV series)|Michael Shayne]]'', ''[[Zane Grey Theater]]'', ''[[The Aquanauts]]'', and ''[[The Brothers Brannagan]]''. "They were depressing years," he later said.<ref name="honest"/>

Reynolds starred in the low-budget film ''[[Angel Baby (1961 film)|Angel Baby]]'' (1961). He followed it with a role in a war film ''[[Armored Command]]'' (1961). "It was the one picture that [[Howard Keel]] didn't sing on," reminisced Reynolds. "That was a terrible mistake."<ref name="gene">{{Cite news|title=Workaholic Burt Reynolds sets up his next task: Light comedy|author=Siskel, Gene|work=Chicago Tribune|date=November 28, 1976|page=e2}}</ref>

In 1961, he returned to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] to appear in ''Look, We've Come Through'', directed by [[José Quintero]], but it lasted only five performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/look-weve-come-through-2891|title=Look, We've Come Through – Broadway Play – Original – IBDB|website=IBDB|access-date=September 8, 2018|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727082834/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/look-weve-come-through-2891|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reynolds continued to guest-star on episodes of ''[[Naked City (TV series)|Naked City]]'', ''[[Ripcord (TV series)|Ripcord]]'', ''[[Everglades (TV series)|Everglades]]'', ''[[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]]'', ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', and ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' ("[[The Bard (The Twilight Zone)|The Bard]]", an hour-long send-up of Reynolds's [[look-alike]] Marlon Brando). He later said, "I learned more about my craft in these guest shots than I did standing around and looking virile on ''Riverboat''."<ref name="smoke">{{Cite news|title=Wait a Minute, Marshal Dillon, What About Me?|author=Humphrey, Hal|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 22, 1964|page=C11}}</ref>

===''Gunsmoke''===
[[File:Burt Reynolds Gunsmoke 1962.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Reynolds as Quint Asper in ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', 1962]]

In 1962, [[Dennis Weaver]] wanted to quit the cast of ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', one of the top-rated shows in the country. The producers developed a new character, "half-breed" [[blacksmith]] Quint Asper. Reynolds was cast, chosen over 300 other contenders. He announced that he would stay on the show "until it ends. I think it's a terrible mistake for an actor to leave a series in the middle of it."<ref name="bob"/> Reynolds left ''Gunsmoke'' in 1965. He later said that being in that show was "the happiest period of my life. I hated to leave that show, but I felt I had served my apprenticeship and there wasn't room for two leading men."<ref name="honest"/>

He was cast in his first lead role in a movie, the low-budget action movie ''[[Operation C.I.A.]]'' (1965). He also guest-starred on the television series ''[[Flipper (1964 TV series)|Flipper]]'', ''[[The F.B.I. (TV series)|The F.B.I.]]'', and ''[[12 O'Clock High (TV series)|12 O'Clock High]]''.

===''Hawk'' and leading roles in films===
Reynolds was given the title role of a TV series, ''[[Hawk (TV series)|Hawk]]'' (1966–67), playing Native American detective John Hawk. It ran for 17 episodes before being cancelled.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hawk 'Murdered' by TV Movies; Burt Reynolds Looks to the Future|author=Lowry, Cynthia|work=Chicago Tribune|date=November 6, 1966|page=j13}}</ref>

He played another Native American in the [[spaghetti Western]] film ''[[Navajo Joe]]'' (1966), which was filmed in Spain. He said, "It wasn't my favorite picture." He later said, "I had two expressions—mad and madder."<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Stunt Man Leaps Into Star Status|author=Johnson, Patricia|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 11, 1968|page=c18}}</ref>

He guest-starred in ''[[Gentle Ben]]'', and made a pilot for a TV series, ''[[Premiere (TV series)|Lassiter]]'', in which he would have played a magazine journalist. It did not develop into a series.<ref>{{cite news|title=INSIDE TV: Run, Buddy, Run Waiting in Limbo|author=MacMINN, ALEENE|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 11, 1966|page=D22}}</ref>

Reynolds made a series of movies in quick succession: ''[[Shark!]]'' (1969), filmed in Mexico, was directed by [[Sam Fuller]], who removed his name from it, after which its release was held up for a number of years. Reynolds described ''[[Fade In (film)|Fade In]]'' as "the best thing I've ever done",<ref name="stoic">{{Cite news|title=Burt Reynolds, Who Plays Haff-Breeds Stoic About Roles|author=Clifford, Terry|work=Chicago Tribune|date=April 6, 1969|page=f14}}</ref> but it was not released for a number of years, and off of which director [[Jud Taylor]] took his name. ''[[Impasse (film)|Impasse]]'' (1969) was a war movie filmed in the Philippines. Reynolds plays the title role in ''[[Sam Whiskey]]'' (1969), a comic Western written by [[William W. Norton]], which Reynolds later said was "way ahead of its time. I was playing light comedy and nobody cared."<ref name="gene"/>

Reynolds starred with [[Jim Brown]] and [[Raquel Welch]] in another Western, ''[[100 Rifles]]'' (1969). He said, "I spent the entire time refereeing fights between Jim Brown and Raquel Welch."<ref>{{Cite news|title=BURT PRELUTSKY: Two Centerfolds|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 24, 1972|page=k14}}</ref>

In a 1969 interview, Reynolds expressed interest in playing roles like the John Garfield part in ''[[The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946 film)|The Postman Always Rings Twice]]'', but no one gave him the opportunity. "Instead, the producer hands me a script and says 'I know it's not there now kid, but I know we can make it work.'"<ref name="stoic"/>

Reynolds declined the leading role for the film ''[[M*A*S*H (film)|M*A*S*H]]'' (1970), which went to [[Elliott Gould]]. He starred in the film ''[[Skullduggery (1970 film)|Skullduggery]]'' (1970), filmed in Jamaica. He joked that after making "those wonderful, forgettable pictures... I suddenly realized I was as hot as [[Leo Gorcey]]."<ref name="quinn"/>

Reynolds featured in two television films: ''[[Hunters Are for Killing]]'' (1970) and ''[[Run, Simon, Run]]'' (1970). In the former, his character was originally a Native American, but Reynolds requested that this element be changed, feeling that he had played the persona too many times already, and that it was not needed for the character, anyway.<ref>{{cite news|title=TV Film a Feather for Burt's Bonnet|date=March 12, 1970|work=Los Angeles Times|page=g17}}</ref>

===''Dan August'' and talk shows===
[[File:Burt_Reynolds_1970.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Reynolds in 1970.]]
Reynolds played the title character in the police television drama ''[[Dan August]]'' (1970–71), produced by [[Quinn Martin]]. Reynolds had previously guest-starred in two episodes of Martin's production [[The F.B.I. (TV series)|''The F.B.I.'']]<ref>{{cite news|title=TV Today: ABC Star Vows to Oust Lord Series Petersen, Clarence|work=Chicago Tribune|date=August 11, 1970|page=a15}}</ref> The series was given a full-season order of 26 episodes, based on the reputation of Martin and Reynolds, but it struggled in the ratings against ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-0]]'' and was not renewed.<ref name="quinn">{{Cite news|title=New York Today: Burt Reynolds Courts Winning Record|author=Kramer, Carol|work=Chicago Tribune|date=December 20, 1970|page=s1}}</ref>

[[Albert R. Broccoli]] asked Reynolds to play [[James Bond]] after [[Sean Connery]], but Reynolds declined the role, saying, "An American can't play James Bond. It just can't be done."<ref>[http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1038368.php Monsters and Critics] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224193051/http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1038368.php |date=February 24, 2007 }}</ref>

After the cancelation of the series, Reynolds appeared in his first stage play in six years; a production of ''[[The Tender Trap (play)|The Tender Trap]]'' at Arlington Park Theatre. He was offered other TV pilots, but was reluctant to play a detective again.

Around this time, he had become well known as a charismatic talk-show guest, starting with an appearance on ''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]''. He made jokes at his own expense, calling himself America's most "[[Famous for being famous|well-known unknown]]", who made the kind of movies "they show in airplanes or prisons or anywhere else the people can't get out". He proved enormously popular and was frequently asked back by [[Merv Griffin|Griffin]] and [[Johnny Carson]]; he even guest-hosted ''[[The Tonight Show]]''.<ref name="macho"/> He was so popular as a guest that he was offered his own talk show, but he wanted to continue as an actor.<ref name="image">{{Cite news|title=Burt Changes His TV Image with Comedy|author=Martin, James|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 5, 1971|page=e2}}</ref>

He later said that his talk-show appearances were "the best thing that ever happened to me. They changed everything drastically overnight. I spent 10 years looking virile, saying, 'Put up your hands.' After the Carson, Griffin, [[The David Frost Show|Frost]], [[Dinah's Place|Dinah's show]], suddenly I have a personality."<ref>{{cite news|title=What Kind of Playmate Is Burt?|first=Roger|last=Ebert|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 26, 1972|page=D13}}</ref>

"I realized that people liked me, that I was enough," said Reynolds. "So if I could transfer that character—the irreverent, self-deprecating side of me, my favorite side of me—onto the screen, I could have a big career."<ref name="times">{{Cite news|title=THE REYNOLDS CURSE:MAKING IT LOOK EASY|author=Maslin, Janet|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 24, 1980|page=C.15}}</ref>

===''The Godfather'' and Marlon Brando feud===
Reynolds was considered for the role of [[Sonny Corleone]] in ''[[The Godfather (film)|The Godfather]]'', but [[Francis Ford Coppola]]'s desire to cast [[James Caan]] in the part prevailed. Talk arose that Reynolds's participation was vetoed by Marlon Brando, who had a lack of respect for him.<ref name="Esquire Brando Reynolds">{{cite web|last1=Nero|first1=Dom|title=Burt Reynolds Was Almost Michael Corleone in The Godfather—But Marlon Brando Stopped It|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a29123657/burt-reynolds-marlon-brando-feud-the-godfather/|website=Esquire.com|date=September 19, 2019|publisher=Esquire Magazine|access-date=August 13, 2023|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813183225/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a29123657/burt-reynolds-marlon-brando-feud-the-godfather/|url-status=live}}</ref> Brando denied that he played a role in thwarting the casting of Reynolds, saying in a January 1979 ''[[Playboy magazine|Playboy]]'' interview that Coppola would not have cast Reynolds in the part.
Reynolds later claimed that he declined the role of Sonny. (''The Godfather'' [[Movie producer|producer]] [[Albert S. Ruddy]] later produced ''[[The Cannonball Run (film)|The Cannonball Run]]'' and ''[[Cannonball Run II]]'', two Reynolds movie successes during the 1980s.)

The Brando-Reynolds feud became Hollywood legend. Reynolds said that he could not understand Brando's enmity toward him. In a 2015 interview with ''[[The Manchester Guardian|The Guardian]]'', Reynolds said, "He was a strange man. He didn't like me at all." He did not consciously imitate Brando, nor act like him, nor try to look like him; he even grew a mustache so that people would stop saying that he looked like Brando.<ref name="Guardian video">{{cite AV media|title=Burt Reynolds in conversation with the Guardian: 'Marlon Brando was a strange man' – archive video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBn9tQA6eEo|publisher=Guardian News|via=YouTube|access-date=August 13, 2023|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813183046/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBn9tQA6eEo&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

When he was finally introduced to Brando, Reynolds said that he told him that he was the finest actor in the world. Brando replied, "I wish I could say the same for you."<ref name= "Guardian video" />

===''Deliverance'' and ''Cosmopolitan'' centerfold===
Reynolds had a major role in the movie ''[[Deliverance]]'', directed by [[John Boorman]], who cast him on the basis of a talk-show appearance. "It's the first time I haven't had a script with [[Paul Newman]] and [[Robert Redford]]'s fingerprints all over it," Reynolds joked. "The producers actually came to me first."<ref name="image"/>

"I've waited 15 years to do a really good movie," he said in 1972. "I made so many bad pictures. I was never able to turn anyone down. The greatest curse in Hollywood is to be a well-known unknown."<ref name="ebert">{{cite news|title=What Kind of Playmate Is Burt?|author=Ebert, Roger|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 26, 1972|page=D13|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/26/archives/what-kind-of-playmate-is-burt.html|access-date=September 16, 2018|archive-date=September 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916093052/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/26/archives/what-kind-of-playmate-is-burt.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Around this time, Reynolds also gained notoriety when he began a well-publicized relationship with [[Dinah Shore]], who was 20 years his senior, and after he posed nude in the April 1972 issue of ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/09/06/how-burt-reynolds-changed-the-way-we-thought-about-sex-by-getting-naked-on-a-bearskin-rug/|title=Burt Reynolds changed the way we thought about sex — by getting naked on a bearskin rug|date=September 7, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907134034/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/09/06/how-burt-reynolds-changed-the-way-we-thought-about-sex-by-getting-naked-on-a-bearskin-rug/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17896980|title=Burt Reynolds nude: 10 facts about the Cosmo centrefold|work=BBC News|date=April 30, 2012|access-date=June 21, 2018|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620192136/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17896980|url-status=live}}</ref> Reynolds said that he posed for ''Cosmopolitan'' for "a kick. I have a strange sense of humor," and because he knew that ''Deliverance'' was about to be released.<ref name="ebert"/> He later expressed regret for posing for ''Cosmopolitan''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Burt Reynolds: Nude photo cost 'Deliverance' Oscar glory|url=http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=771035|website=MSN|access-date=January 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101045813/http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=771035|archive-date=November 1, 2012}}</ref> ''Deliverance'' was a commercial and critical success, which along with talk-show appearances, helped establish Reynolds as a major [[movie star|movie actor]]. "The night of the Academy Awards, I counted a half-dozen Burt Reynolds jokes," he later said. "I had become a household name, the most talked-about star at the award show."<ref name="macho"/>

Reynolds was subsequently in ''[[Fuzz (film)|Fuzz]]'' (1972), reuniting with Welch, and also made a cameo in [[Woody Allen]]'s film ''[[Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) (film)|Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)]]'' (1972).  He also returned to the stage, appearing in ''The Rainmaker'' at the Arlington.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Burt Reynolds—Beauty Is Skin-deep, but Talent Will Out|author=Warga, Wayne|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 26, 1972|page=o1}}</ref>

Reynolds had the title role of ''[[Shamus (film)|Shamus]]'' (1973), playing a private detective. The movie drew lackluster reviews, but nonetheless became a box-office success. Reynolds described it as "not a bad film, kind of cute".<ref name="gene"/> He also was in ''[[The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (film)|The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing]]'' (1973), co-featuring [[Sarah Miles]]. The film was a minor success, perhaps best remembered for the scandal of Miles's lover, an aspiring screenwriter, dying by suicide during the filming.<ref name="gene"/>

Reynolds meant to reunite with Boorman in ''[[Zardoz]]'', but fell ill and was replaced by [[Sean Connery]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Laying to Rest Burt-Is-Dying Rumor|author=Haber, Joyce|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 21, 1973|page=f10}}</ref>

===''White Lightning'' and Southern movies===
Another turning point in Reynolds's career came when he made the light-hearted car-chase film written by William W. Norton, ''[[White Lightning (1973 film)|White Lightning]]'' (1973). Reynolds later called it "the beginning of a whole series of films made in the South, about the South, and for the South... you could make back the cost of the negative just in Memphis alone. Anything outside of that was just gravy."<ref name="gene"/> Car-chase movies became Reynolds's most profitable genre. At the end of 1973, Reynolds was voted into the list of the 10 most-popular movie actors in the US at number four. He stayed on that list until 1984.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

He made a sports comedy with [[Robert Aldrich]], ''[[The Longest Yard (1974 film)|The Longest Yard]]'' (1974), which was popular. Aldrich later said, "I think that on occasion, he's a much better actor than he's given credit for. Not always; sometimes he acts like a caricature of himself."<ref name="aldrich"/>

Reynolds starred in two big-budget fiascos: ''[[At Long Last Love (film)|At Long Last Love]]'' (1975), a musical for [[Peter Bogdanovich]], and ''[[Lucky Lady]]'' (1975), with [[Gene Hackman]] and [[Liza Minnelli]]. More popular was another light-hearted car-chase film, ''[[W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings]]'' (1975), and a police drama with Aldrich, ''[[Hustle (1975 film)|Hustle]]'' (1975).<ref name="gene"/> He also had a [[cameo appearance]] in [[Mel Brooks]]'s ''[[Silent Movie (film)|Silent Movie]]'' (1976).

Toward the end of his life, Reynolds revealed that he declined the role of [[Han Solo]] in ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]''.<ref name="Variety Reynolds">{{cite web|last1=Sippell|first1=Margeaux|title=Roles Burt Reynolds Turned Down, From Bond to Solo|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/burt-reynolds-turned-down-roles-bond-solo-1202930436/|website=Variety|date=September 6, 2018|access-date=August 13, 2023|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120210557/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/burt-reynolds-turned-down-roles-bond-solo-1202930436/|url-status=live}}</ref> Reynolds told ''[[Business Insider]]'' in 2016, "I just didn't want to play that kind of role at the time. ...Now I regret it. I wish I would have done it."<ref name="Business Insider Star Wars">{{cite web|title=Before Harrison Ford, Reynolds was offered the role of Han Solo.|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/iconic-roles-burt-reynolds-turned-down-2018-9#before-harrison-ford-reynolds-was-offered-the-role-of-han-solo-1|website=businessinsider.com|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=August 13, 2023|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813184628/https://www.businessinsider.com/iconic-roles-burt-reynolds-turned-down-2018-9#before-harrison-ford-reynolds-was-offered-the-role-of-han-solo-1|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Directorial work===
Reynolds made his directorial debut in 1976 with ''[[Gator (film)|Gator]]'', the sequel to ''White Lightning'', written by Norton.<ref name="new">{{Cite news|title='Good Ole Boy' Stars in Dixie Film-Making Boom|author=B. DRUMMOND AYRES Jr|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 1, 1975|page=31}}</ref> "I waited 20 years to do it [directing] and I enjoyed it more than anything I've ever done in this business," he said after filming. "And I happen to think it's what I do best."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Two stars talk about films—and life: 'Public is most important' At the bottom line . . .|first=David|last=Sterritt|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=February 9, 1976|page=17}}</ref>

He was reunited with Bogdanovich for the comedy ''[[Nickelodeon (film)|Nickelodeon]]'' (1976), which was a commercial disappointment. Aldrich later commented, "Bogdanovich can get him to do the telephone book! Anybody else has to persuade him to do something. He's fascinated by Bogdanovich. I can't understand it."<ref name="aldrich">{{Cite news|title=I CAN'T GET JIMMY CARTER TO SEE MY MOVIE!|author=Aldrich, Robert|work=Film Comment|location=New York|volume=13|issue=2 (Mar/Apr 1977)|pages=46–52}}</ref> He turned down the part of [[Clark Gable]] in ''[[Gable and Lombard]]''.<ref name="end"/>

===''Smokey and the Bandit'' and career peak===
[[file:Red Bandit Jacket.jpg|thumb|upright|Reynolds in 1980 wearing the Bandit jacket used in ''[[Smokey and the Bandit II]]'']]
Reynolds had the biggest success of his career with the car-chase film ''[[Smokey and the Bandit]]'' (1977), directed by [[Hal Needham]] and co-starring [[Jackie Gleason]], [[Jerry Reed]], and [[Sally Field]]. He followed it with a comedy about football players, ''[[Semi-Tough]]'' (1977), featuring [[Jill Clayburgh]] and [[Kris Kristofferson]], and produced by [[David Merrick]]. He directed his second film ''[[The End (1978 film)|The End]]'' (1978), a dark comedy, playing a role originally written for [[Woody Allen]].<ref>{{Cite news|title='I'm a Star in Spite of My Movies': Burt Reynolds|first=Robert|last=Lindsey|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 15, 1978|page=D11}}</ref> More popular was a comedy that he made with Needham and Field, ''[[Hooper (film)|Hooper]]'' (1978), in which he played an aging [[stunt performer|stunt man]].

"My ability as an actor gets a little better every time," he said about this time. "I'm very prolific in the amount of films I make—two-and-a-half or three a year—and when I look at any picture I do now compared to ''Deliverance'', it's miles above what I was doing then. But when you're doing films that are somewhat similar to each other, as I've been doing, people take it for granted."<ref name="end">{{Cite news|title='The End' is just the beginning|author1=McBride, Joseph|author2=Riley, Brooks|work=Film Comment|location=New York|volume=14|issue=3 (May/Jun 1978)|pages=16–21}}</ref>

For ''[[California Suite (film)|California Suite]]'' (1978), Reynolds declined a leading role, which went to [[Alan Alda]].<ref name="end"/> Reynolds said:
<blockquote>
"I'd rather direct than act. I'd rather do that than anything. It's the second-best sensation I've ever had." He added that [[David Merrick]] had offered to produce two movies that Reynolds would direct without having to act in them.<ref name="end"/>
</blockquote>

Reynolds tried a change of pace with ''[[Starting Over (1979 film)|Starting Over]]'' (1979), a romantic comedy, co-starring Jill Clayburgh and [[Candice Bergen]]. The film is co-written and produced by [[James L. Brooks]]. Reynolds plays a jewel thief in ''[[Rough Cut (1980 film)|Rough Cut]]'' (1980) produced by Merrick, who fired and rehired director [[Don Siegel]] during filming.

Reynolds had two huge successes with more car films directed by Needham: ''[[Smokey and the Bandit II]]'' (1980) and ''[[The Cannonball Run]]'' (1981). He starred in [[David Steinberg]]'s film ''[[Paternity (film)|Paternity]]'' (1981) and directed himself in an action film, ''[[Sharky's Machine]]'' (1981).

Reynolds wanted to try a musical again, and agreed to do ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film)|The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'' (1982). It was a box-office success, as was ''[[Best Friends (1982 film)|Best Friends]]'' (1982) with [[Goldie Hawn]]. In 1982, Reynolds was voted the most popular actor in the US for the fifth year in a row.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Around that time, he stated:
<blockquote>
The only thing I really enjoy is this business, and I think my audience knows that. I've never been able to figure out exactly who that audience is. I know there have been a few pictures even my mother didn't go see, but there's always been an audience for them. I guess it is because they always know that I give it 100 percent, and good or bad, there's going to be quite a lot of me in that picture. That's what they're looking for. I don't have any pretensions about wanting to be Hamlet. I would just like to be the best Burt Reynolds around.<ref name="way">{{Cite news|title=HE'S MAKING MOVIES HIS WAY|author=Norbom, Mary Ann|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=4 Aug 1983|page=D.1}}</ref>
</blockquote>

===Career decline===
James L. Brooks wrote the role of astronaut Garrett Breedlove in ''[[Terms of Endearment]]'' (1983) with Reynolds in mind. However, Reynolds refused the role, and instead starred in another car-chase comedy ''[[Stroker Ace]]'' (1983), directed by Needham. The ''Endearment'' part went to [[Jack Nicholson]], who won an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]]. Reynolds said in 1987, "I felt I owed Hal more than I owed Jim," but ''Stroker Ace'' failed.{{r|los}} Reynolds admitted that refusing the role was a mistake. 
<blockquote>
I regret that one most of all because it was a real acting part.... I wish I would have done it, and thinking back now, it was really a stupid decision, but I made a lot of stupid decisions in that period. It must have been my stupid period.<ref name="Business Insider">{{cite web|last1=Guerrasio|first1=Jason|title=Burt Reynolds was such a screen icon that even the list of roles he turned down is legendary, from James Bond to Han Solo|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/iconic-roles-burt-reynolds-turned-down-2018-9|website=businessinsider.com|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=13 August 2023|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813184038/https://www.businessinsider.com/iconic-roles-burt-reynolds-turned-down-2018-9|url-status=live}}</ref>
</blockquote>

In 1983, an unnamed producer said that while Reynolds's salaries would not decrease because of ''Stroker Ace''{{'}}s failure, "if two or three more such pictures don't work, people will just stop putting him in that kind of movie and that's the kind of film for which he gets paid the most".<ref name="harmetz19830726">{{Cite news|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|date=July 26, 1983|title=THE TALK OF HOLLYWOOD; AT THE STUDIOS, STAR BILLING MEANS A PARKING SPACE; The Talk of Hollywood|language=en-US|pages=C11|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/26/movies/talk-hollywood-studios-star-billing-means-parking-space-talk-hollywood.html|access-date=April 11, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524142748/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/26/movies/talk-hollywood-studios-star-billing-means-parking-space-talk-hollywood.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Reynolds felt that it was a turning point in his career from which he never recovered. "That's where I lost them," he said of his fans.<ref name="los">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-04-ca-1803-story.html|title=Burt Reynolds is the Comeback Kid|last=Modderno|first=Craig|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 4, 1987|page=L6|access-date=July 2, 2014|archive-date=February 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217173024/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-01-04/entertainment/ca-1803_1_burt-reynolds|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Clint & Sondra & Burt & Loni.jpg|thumb|Clint Eastwood, [[Sondra Locke]], Burt Reynolds, and [[Loni Anderson]] at the premiere of ''[[City Heat]]'' (1984)]]

For director [[Blake Edwards]], Reynolds starred in ''[[The Man Who Loved Women (1983 film)|The Man Who Loved Women]]'' (1983), a remake in English of [[François Truffaut]]'s 1977 film ''[[The Man Who Loved Women (1977 film)|L'Homme qui aimait les femmes]]'', but it also failed. In an interview at about this time, he said:
<blockquote>
Getting to the top has turned out to be a hell of a lot more fun than staying there. I've got [[Tom Selleck]] crawling up my back. I'm in my late 40s. I realize I have four or five more years where I can play certain kinds of parts and get away with it. That's why I'm leaning more and more toward directing and producing. I don't want to be stumbling around town doing [[Gabby Hayes]] parts a few years from now. I'd like to pick and choose and maybe go work for a perfume factory like Mr. [[Cary Grant]], and look wonderful with everybody saying, 'Gee, I wish he hadn't retired'.<ref name="way"/>
</blockquote>
''[[Cannonball Run II]]'' (1984), directed by Needham, brought in some money, but only half of the original. ''[[City Heat]]'' (1984), which teamed Reynolds and [[Clint Eastwood]], was mildly popular, but was considered a major critical and box-office disappointment. Reynolds was injured badly during filming when he was hit in the jaw with a real chair instead of a breakaway prop, causing him excruciating chronic pain, as well as a sharp weight loss that resulted in rumors circulating for years that he had [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]].<ref name="los"/>

Reynolds returned to directing with ''[[Stick (film)|Stick]]'' (1985), from an [[Elmore Leonard]] novel, but it was both a critical and commercial failure. So, too, were three other action movies that he made: ''[[Heat (1986 film)|Heat]]'' (1986), based on a novel by [[William Goldman]], ''[[Malone (film)|Malone]]'' (1987), and ''[[Rent-a-Cop]]'' (1987) with Liza Minnelli.<ref name="los"/> He later said that he did ''Heat'' and ''Malone'' "because there were so many rumors about me [having AIDS]. I had to get out and be seen."<ref name="rap"/>

In 1987, Reynolds teamed with [[Bert Convy]] to co-produce the game show ''[[Win, Lose or Draw]]'' for their production company Burt and Bert Productions. The show was based on "sketch pad charades", a game that he often played with his friends in his living room in Jupiter. [[Vicki Lawrence]] hosted the daytime version for [[NBC]], while Convy hosted the syndicated version until 1989, when he quit to host ''[[3rd Degree (game show)|3rd Degree]]'', also created by Reynolds and Convy.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Reynolds starred in ''[[Switching Channels]]'' (1988), a remake of the comedy ''[[The Front Page]]''. It was a box-office bomb. Even more poorly received was ''[[Physical Evidence]]'' (1989), directed by [[Michael Crichton]]. Reynolds received excellent reviews for the caper comedy ''[[Breaking In (1989 film)|Breaking In]]'' (1989), but the commercial reception was poor.<ref name="sayles">Gerry Molyneaux, ''John Sayles'', Renaissance Books, 2000 p 182</ref> The moderately successful animated film ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven]]'' (1989), in which Reynolds voiced Charlie B. Barkin, was one of his few successes at the time.<ref name="nbc">{{cite web|author=Arkin|first=Daniel|date=September 6, 2018|title=Burt Reynolds, charismatic star of 1970s blockbusters, dies at 82|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/burt-reynolds-charismatic-star-1970s-blockbusters-dies-82-n907206|access-date=October 2, 2023|work=[[NBC News]]}}</ref>
"When I was doing very well," he said at the time, "I wasn't conscious I was doing very well, but I became very conscious when I wasn't doing very well. The atmosphere changed."<ref name="rap">{{Cite news|title=REYNOLDS RAP|author=Scott, Jay|work=The Globe and Mail|date=June 7, 1987|page=E.1}}</ref>

===Return to TV: ''B.L. Stryker'' and ''Evening Shade''===
Reynolds returned to television with the [[detective story|detective series]] with ''[[B.L. Stryker]]'' (1989–90). It ran two seasons, during which time Reynolds played a supporting part in ''[[Modern Love (1990 film)|Modern Love]]'' (1990).

Reynolds starred in the situation comedy television series, ''[[Evening Shade]]'' (1990–94) as former [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] player Woodward "Wood" Newton. The series was a considerable success, with 98 episodes over four seasons. This role earned him a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series]]. Reynolds credited this role for his membership in [[Steeler Nation]]. During his tenure on ''Evening Shade'', Reynolds played in other projects, starting with a cameo in ''[[The Player (1992 film)|The Player]]'' (1992) (playing himself complaining about people in Hollywood).

Reynolds starred in the [[crime film]] ''[[Cop and a Half]]'' (1993).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59496-COP--12?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727055957/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59496-COP--12?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 25, the [[Randy Travis]] television special ''[[Wind in the Wire (film)|Wind in the Wire]]'' first aired; Reynolds was among the guests.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 25, 1993|title=Premiere of 'Trouble with Larry' on Ch. 11 at 7 p.m.|work=The Galveston Daily News}}</ref> On October 15, [[CBS]] first broadcast the television movie ''[[The Man from Left Field]]'', co-featuring [[Reba McEntire]]. Reynolds starred and directed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-the-man-from-left-field-vol-40-no-16/|title=Picks and Pans Review: The Man from Left Field|website=People|language=en|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=July 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718022020/https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-the-man-from-left-field-vol-40-no-16/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Character actor===
After ''Evening Shade'' ended in 1994, Reynolds played the lead in a horror movie, ''[[The Maddening]]'' (1995). He gradually became more of a character actor, though; he had major support roles in ''[[Citizen Ruth]]'' (1996), an early work from [[Alexander Payne]], and ''[[Striptease (film)|Striptease]]'' (1996) with [[Demi Moore]]. Reynolds had to audition for ''Striptease''. The movie's producer later said, "To be honest, we were not enthusiastic at first. There was the hair and his reputation, but we were curious... At the first audition, on the first day, Burt had to take off his [[toupee]] in front of six or seven people. It was tough for him, but he did it. It was a very, very humbling thing to do, but by the end of the audition, it was really clear that Burt was the guy."<ref name="deliverance"/> "I knew I could play him," said Reynolds. "I could make him likable and dangerous. There are very few people who can do that. I always played likable and dangerous. I had a persona. Unfortunately, my persona became bigger than my acting."<ref name="deliverance">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/16/magazine/deliverance.html |title=Deliverance |first=Lynn |last=Hirschberg |author-link=Lynn Hirschberg |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |date=June 16, 1996 |access-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134427/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/16/magazine/deliverance.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Reynolds accepted a salary of $350,000;{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}<!-- Empty reference <ref name="Army"/--> lower than what he had been paid earlier in his career.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Mitchell|last=Fink|title=The Insider|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=July 31, 1995|volume=44|issue=5|page=37}}</ref>" Reynolds got the role and earned some strong reviews for his performance, and the film was successful at the box office although it was panned by critics.<ref name="deliverance"/> Reynolds based his performance as Congressman Dilbeck on politicians he knew from his youth, as his father was a police chief and prominent local Republican.<ref name="Cramer">{{cite journal|first=Barbara |last=Cramer |title=Striptease |journal=Films in Review |date=September 1996 |volume=47 |number=9 |pages=67–68}}</ref>

Reynolds was a supporting actor in ''[[Frankenstein and Me]]'' (1996), ''[[Mad Dog Time]]'' (1996), ''[[The Cherokee Kid]]'' (1996), ''[[Meet Wally Sparks]]'' (1997) with [[Rodney Dangerfield]], and ''[[Bean (film)|Bean]]'' (1997) with [[Rowan Atkinson]]. He had the lead in ''[[Raven (1996 film)|Raven]]'' (1996), a [[straight-to-video]] action movie. About this time, he claimed he was depleted financially, having spent $13&nbsp;million.<ref name="deliverance"/>

In 1996, Reynolds' agent said "Regarding Burt, there's a split between the executives in town who are under 40 and those who are over 40. The younger executives are more open to Burt because they grew up loving ''Deliverance''. But the older executives remember how crazy he was, and they are less receptive."<ref name="deliverance"/> He also hosted segments for the Encore Action premium cable network during the late 1990s and 2000s.

===''Boogie Nights'' and career revival===
[[file:Burt-Reynolds 2011-04-15 photoby Adam-Bielawski.jpg|thumb|upright|Reynolds in 2011.]]
Reynolds played a porn film director in the successful film ''[[Boogie Nights]]'' (1997), which was considered a comeback role for him. He received 12 acting awards and three nominations for the role, including a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]], Reynolds' first and only nomination for the award. Despite the acclaim, Reynolds disliked working on the film, particularly not getting along with writer-director [[Paul Thomas Anderson]], and reportedly dismissed his agent for recommending it.<ref name="WaPo">{{cite news|last1=Rao|first1=Sonia|title=Burt Reynolds hated 'Boogie Nights' so much that he fired his agent afterward|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/09/06/burt-reynolds-hated-boogie-nights-so-much-that-he-fired-his-agent-afterward/|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=August 15, 2023|archive-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307140123/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/09/06/burt-reynolds-hated-boogie-nights-so-much-that-he-fired-his-agent-afterward/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Boogie Nights'' co-star [[William H. Macy]] stated in an interview that Reynolds was clueless about the film and had become out of touch with the film industry due to his age.<ref name="IndieWire">{{cite web|last1=Bergeson|first1=Samantha|title=William H. Macy: Burt Reynolds Was 'Clueless' Making Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Boogie Nights'|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/william-h-macy-burt-reynolds-clueless-boogie-nights-1234769943/|website=IndieWire|date=October 6, 2022|access-date=August 15, 2023|archive-date=August 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815170817/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/william-h-macy-burt-reynolds-clueless-boogie-nights-1234769943/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reynolds was offered a role in Anderson's third film, ''[[Magnolia (film)|Magnolia]]'' (1999), but he declined it.<ref name="Rosen" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Ellis-Petersen|first=Hannah|title=Burt Reynolds: 'I regret turning down Greta Garbo'|date=December 3, 2015|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/03/burt-reynolds-guardian-live-interview-hate-paul-thomas-anderson|access-date=March 20, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310104448/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/03/burt-reynolds-guardian-live-interview-hate-paul-thomas-anderson|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, he clarified he did not hate ''Boogie Nights'' itself and called it "extraordinary", saying his opinion of the film has nothing to do with his relationship with Anderson.<ref>{{Citation|last=Mandatory|title=Deliverance Interviews (Ronny Cox, Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds & Ned Beatty)|date=July 11, 2012|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PnqGa3ffq4I| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211103/PnqGa3ffq4I| archive-date=November 3, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=March 1, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In his second autobiography, ''But Enough About Me'' (2015), Reynolds attempted to come to terms with his difficult nature. In a 2015 ''[[GQ]]'' interview, he said that his problem with Anderson was a matter of their differing personalities:<ref name="GQ 2015">{{cite web|last1=Hainey|first1=Michael|title=Burt Reynolds On Toupees, Trump, and Why He'd Never Work with Paul Thomas Anderson Again|url=https://www.gq.com/story/burt-reynolds-trump-toupee-paul-thomas-anderson|website=gq.com|date=December 2015|publisher=Gentleman's Quarterly|access-date=August 15, 2023|archive-date=August 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815174950/https://www.gq.com/story/burt-reynolds-trump-toupee-paul-thomas-anderson|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{blockquote|text=I think mostly because he was young and full of himself. Every shot we did, it was like the first time [that shot had ever been done]. I remember the first shot we did in ''Boogie Nights'', where I drive the car to Grauman's Theater. After he said, "Isn't that amazing?" And I named five pictures that had the same kind of shot. It wasn't original. But if you have to steal, steal from the best.}}
Despite his Oscar nomination for ''Boogie Nights'' and a new appreciation of his acting talent by [[movie critics]], Reynolds failed to return to the [[A list]]; while work was plentiful, prestige projects were lacking.<ref name="The Dissolve">{{cite web|last1=Tobias|first1=Scott|title=Boogie Nights gave Burt Reynolds a comeback that didn't stick|url=https://thedissolve.com/features/departures/560-boogie-nights-gave-burt-reynolds-a-comeback-that-d/|website=thedissolve.com|publisher=The Dissolve|access-date=August 15, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519102338/https://thedissolve.com/features/departures/560-boogie-nights-gave-burt-reynolds-a-comeback-that-d/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He had the lead in ''[[Big City Blues (1997 film)|Big City Blues]]'' (1997) and supporting roles in ''[[Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms]]'' (1998) and ''[[Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business]]'' (1998).

Reynolds returned to directing with ''[[Hard Time (film)|Hard Time]]'' (1998), an action TV movie featuring himself. It resulted in two sequels, which he did not direct, ''[[Hard Time: The Premonition]]'' (1999) and ''[[Hard Time: Hostage Hotel]]'' (1999) (the latter directed by Hal Needham).

He featured in the straight-to-video ''[[The Hunter's Moon (film)|The Hunter's Moon]]'' (1999), ''Stringer'' (1999), and ''Waterproof'' (2000). He played supporting roles in ''[[Pups (film)|Pups]]'' (1999) and ''[[Mystery, Alaska]]'' (1999), and had the lead in ''[[The Crew (2000 film)|The Crew]]'' (2000) alongside [[Richard Dreyfuss]].

Reynolds directed ''[[The Last Producer]]'' (2000), featuring himself, and was second-billed in [[Renny Harlin]]'s ''[[Driven (2001 film)|Driven]]'' (2001), featuring [[Sylvester Stallone]]. He was also in ''[[Tempted (film)|Tempted]]'' (2001), ''[[Hotel (2001 film)|Hotel]]'' (2001) (directed by [[Mike Figgis]]), and ''[[The Hollywood Sign (film)|The Hollywood Sign]]'' (2001).

He voiced [[List of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City characters#Avery Carrington|Avery Carrington]] in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'', released in 2002.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/03/ray-liotta-vice-city/|title=Going Hollywood Wasn't Easy for Grand Theft Auto|first=Chris|last=Kohler|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=March 28, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2017|archive-date=December 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222142859/https://www.wired.com/2012/03/ray-liotta-vice-city/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reynolds was [[Billing (performing arts)|top-billed]] in ''[[Snapshots (2002 film)|Snapshots]]'' with [[Julie Christie]], an $11&nbsp;million Anglo-Dutch-American picture that failed to find a wide release. He also featured in ''[[Time of the Wolf (2002 film)|Time of the Wolf]]'' (2002) and ''[[Hard Ground]]'' (2003), and had supporting roles in ''Johnson County War'' (2002) with [[Tom Berenger]], and ''[[Miss Lettie and Me]]'' (2003) with [[Mary Tyler Moore]].

He was in a series of supporting roles that referred to earlier performances: ''[[Without a Paddle]]'' (2004), a riff on his role in ''Deliverance'', ''[[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|The Longest Yard]]'' (2005), a remake of his 1974 success with [[Adam Sandler]] playing Reynolds' old role (while Reynolds played the [[Michael Conrad]] part from the original); and ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard (film)|The Dukes of Hazzard]]'' (2005) as [[Boss Hogg]] as a reference to his performances in 1970s car-chase movies.<ref>Kane, M. (May 22, 2005). "Keep On Truckin' – Burt Reynolds is still the hottest man in Hollywood (No, really). Reynolds Rolls – The superstud of the '70s is back on top with eight films this year." ''New York Post''.</ref>

Reynolds continued to play lead roles in movies such as ''[[Cloud 9 (2006 film)|Cloud 9]]'' (2006), ''[[Forget About It (film)|Forget About It]]'' (2006), ''[[Deal (2008 film)|Deal]]'' (2008), and ''[[A Bunch of Amateurs]]'' (2008), and supporting parts in ''[[End Game (2006 film)|End Game]]'' (2006), ''[[Grilled (film)|Grilled]]'' (2006), ''[[Broken Bridges]]'' (2006), ''[[In the Name of the King]]'' (2007), ''[[Not Another Not Another Movie]]'' (2011), and ''[[Reel Love (2011 film)|Reel Love]]'' (2011).

He had a guest role in an episode of ''[[Burn Notice]]'', "Past and Future Tense" (2010). Reynolds voiced himself as the mayor of Steelport in ''[[Saints Row: The Third]]'', released in 2011. Players can recruit Reynolds as a "homie", depending on their in-game choices. Reynolds also voiced himself in the animated series ''[[Archer (2009 TV series)|Archer]]'', in the episode "The Man from Jupiter" (2012). The character of Sterling Archer was largely inspired by Burt Reynolds.

He was top billed in ''Category 5'' (2014) and ''[[An Innocent Kiss|Elbow Grease]]'' (2016) and could be seen in key roles in ''[[Pocket Listing (film)|Pocket Listing]]'' (2016), and ''Hollow Creek'' (2015). He returned to a regular role on TV in ''Hitting the Breaks'' (2016), but it only ran for 10 episodes. He was in ''Apple of My Eye'' (2016) and took the lead in ''[[The Last Movie Star]]'' (2017).

In May 2018, Reynolds joined the cast of [[Quentin Tarantino]]'s movie ''[[Once Upon a Time in Hollywood]]'' as [[George Spahn]] (an 80-year-old blind man who rented out his ranch to [[Charles Manson]]), but he died before filming his scenes and was replaced by [[Bruce Dern]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Heath|first=Paul|title=Burt Reynolds Is In Talks To Join Quentin Tarantino's Next|website=The Hollywood News|date=May 9, 2018|url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2018/05/09/burt-reynolds-is-in-talks-to-join-quentin-tarantinos-next/|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909235015/http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2018/05/09/burt-reynolds-is-in-talks-to-join-quentin-tarantinos-next/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=Burt Reynolds Did Not Shoot His Scenes in Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'|website=Variety|date=September 6, 2018|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/burt-reynolds-dead-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-1202930623/|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907033856/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/burt-reynolds-dead-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-1202930623/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Nordine|first=Michael|title=Bruce Dern Replaces Burt Reynolds in Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'|website=IndieWire|date=September 27, 2018|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/09/bruce-dern-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-burt-reynolds-1202007586/|access-date=September 28, 2018}}</ref>

===Posthumous releases===
Reynolds appeared posthumously in the 2020 movie ''[[Defining Moments (film)|Defining Moments]]'', which includes his final performance.

===Other ventures===
Reynolds was credited as the author of a 1972 mass-market [[paperback book]] ''Hot Line: The Letters I Get...And Write!'' that featured seminude "[[beefcake]]" photos of the actor, playing up his image as a male sex symbol. He also published two autobiographies, ''My Life'' in 1994 and ''But Enough About Me'' in 2015.

Reynolds co-authored the 1997 children's book, ''Barkley Unleashed: A Pirate's Tail'', a "whimsical tale [that] illustrates the importance of perseverance, the wonders of friendship and the power of imagination".<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Barkley-Unleashed-A-Pirates-Tail/dp/0787110272 "Barkley Unleashed: A Pirate's Tail"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305111114/http://www.amazon.com/Barkley-Unleashed-A-Pirates-Tail/dp/0787110272 |date=March 5, 2016 }}, Amazon.</ref>

In 1973, Reynolds released the country/easy listening album ''[[Ask Me What I Am]]''. He also sang in two movie musicals: ''At Long Last Love'' (1975) and ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' (1982).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20082781,00.html|title=Dolly Does Hollywood!|first=Peter|last=Travers|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=August 2, 1982|access-date=May 15, 2014|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220601/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20082781,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Loni Anderson and Burt Reynolds.jpg|thumb|Reynolds and [[Loni Anderson]] at the [[43rd Primetime Emmy Awards]] in 1991.]]
Reynolds in college "was so good-looking, I used him as bait," college roommate [[Lee Corso]] recalled. "He'd walk across campus and bring back two girls, one beautiful and one ugly; I got the ugly girl. His ugly girlfriends were better than anyone I could get on my own."<ref name="woods20151002">{{Cite magazine|last=Woods|first=Sean|date=October 2, 2015|title=Lee Corso's Life Advice|url=https://www.mensjournal.com/features/lee-corsos-life-advice-20151002/|magazine=Men's Journal|language=en-US|access-date=November 29, 2020|archive-date=May 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519102340/https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/lee-corsos-life-advice-20151002|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Marriages and long-term relationships===
Reynolds was married to English actress [[Judy Carne]] from 1963 to 1965. He lived with actress [[Miko Mayama]] from 1968 to 1971.<ref>Reynolds, Burt. ''But Enough About Me'' pages 108–109</ref> American singer-actress [[Dinah Shore]] (20 years his senior) and he were in a relationship from early 1971 until 1975.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dinah, Ageless, Is Reveling in Her 60s|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/26/style/dinah-ageless-is-reveling-in-her-60-s.html|author=Klemesrud, Judy|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 26, 1981|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-date=September 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015856/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/26/style/dinah-ageless-is-reveling-in-her-60-s.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the mid-1970s, Reynolds briefly dated singer [[Tammy Wynette]].<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124540180 Tammy Wynette: The 'Tragic Country Queen'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101234257/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124540180 |date=November 1, 2019 }} NPR.org, March 14, 2010, accessed October 5, 2019</ref>

He had a relationship from 1976 to 1980 (then off-and-on until 1982) with American actress [[Sally Field]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/movies/angie-dickinson-says-burt-reynolds-wounded-over-sally-field/|title=Burt Reynolds Was 'Wounded' Over Sally Field Breakup, Says Friend Angie Dickinson|author=McNeil, Liz|work=People|date=September 14, 2018|access-date=September 15, 2018|archive-date=September 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915084705/https://people.com/movies/angie-dickinson-says-burt-reynolds-wounded-over-sally-field/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Armstrong, Lois|title=Burt & Sally In Love|website=People|date=April 23, 1979|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-burt-sally-in-love-vol-11-no-16/|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=May 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514092024/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20073466,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> during which time they appeared together in four films. In 2016, he regarded Field as the love of his life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a23100864/sally-field-burt-reynolds-relationship-memoir/|last=Friedman|first=Megan|date=December 13, 2019|title=Why Sally Field Was "Glad" Burt Reynolds Never Got the Chance to Read Her Memoir|work=[[Good Housekeeping]]|access-date=December 26, 2021|archive-date=December 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226222501/https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a23100864/sally-field-burt-reynolds-relationship-memoir/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reynolds was married to American actress [[Loni Anderson]] from 1988 to 1994. They had an adopted son, Quinton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Actress Loni Anderson's Kids: Quinton Reynolds & Deidra Hoffman Today |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/actress-loni-andersons-kids-quinton-reynolds-deidra-hoffman-today/ar-AA1JQ3ZM |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=MSN}}</ref><ref>"Burt and Loni, and Baby Makes Glee", ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', September 3, 1988.</ref> Anderson and he separated after he became infatuated with a cocktail waitress, Pam Seals, with whom he later traded lawsuits, which were settled out of court.<ref name=abc />

===Business endeavors===

====Professional sports====
A lifelong fan of [[American football]], he once told [[Johnny Carson]] on ''[[The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson|The Tonight Show]]'' he would rather have played in the [[NFL]] than win an [[Academy Award|Oscar]]. Reynolds was a minority owner of the [[Tampa Bay Bandits]] of the [[United States Football League|USFL]] from 1982 to 1986.<ref>{{cite news|last=McEwen|first=Tom|date=March 14, 1986|title=Reynolds fades from Bandits' picture|page=5-C|work=[[The Tampa Tribune]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23499261/reynolds_fades_from_bandits_picture/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032333/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23499261/reynolds_fades_from_bandits_picture/|url-status=live}} {{free access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mizell|first=Hubert|date=December 4, 1982|title=For a series non-participant, Burt sure gives a hoot|page=C1|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref> The team's name was inspired by the ''Smokey and the Bandit'' trilogy and [[Skoal (tobacco)#Bandits and Pouches|Skoal Bandit]], a primary sponsor for the team as a result of also sponsoring Reynolds' motor-racing team.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 13, 1983|title=Don't bet on it|page=B5|work=[[The Journal News]]|location=White Plains, New York}}</ref>

Reynolds co-owned a [[NASCAR]] [[Winston Cup Series]] team, [[Mach 1 Racing]], with Hal Needham, which ran the No. 33 Skoal Bandit car with driver [[Harry Gant]].<ref>{{cite news|date=June 10, 1983|title=Bandit to visit Cherokee|page=12|work=[[The Gaffney Ledger]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23499363/bandit_to_visit_cherokee/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032344/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23499363/bandit_to_visit_cherokee/|url-status=live}} {{free access}}</ref>

====Restaurants and dinner theater====
During the late 1970s, Reynolds opened Burt's Place, a nightclub restaurant in the [[CNN Center|Omni International Complex]] in [[Atlanta]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/life/epic-downtown-development-failure-still-remembered-fondly/ZGHVZPCOTNFHDB3P7K3HCT65YA/|title=Epic downtown development failure still remembered fondly|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last1=Boone|first1=Christian|access-date=February 8, 2023|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208015809/https://www.ajc.com/life/epic-downtown-development-failure-still-remembered-fondly/ZGHVZPCOTNFHDB3P7K3HCT65YA/|url-status=live}}</ref> in the [[Hotel District]] of [[downtown Atlanta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pecannelog.com/2010/10/05/the-swing-of-things-at-burts-place/|title=The swing of things at Burt's Place|publisher=Pecannelog.com|date=October 5, 2010|access-date=November 8, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119195907/http://pecannelog.com/2010/10/05/the-swing-of-things-at-burts-place/|archive-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref> The establishment closed after a year. ("Burt's Place" also was the name of a building that was part of the guesthouse complex at Reynolds' [[Tequesta, Florida]], estate in [[Palm Beach County, Florida]].)<ref name="Vanity Fair 2016" />

He also owned the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre in Jupiter, Florida, with an emphasis on training young performers trying to enter show business.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Bob|date=April 22, 1983|title=Burt Reynolds is happy at 48|page=4D|work=[[Messenger-Inquirer]]|location=Owensboro, Kentucky|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23499178/burt_reynolds_is_happy_at_48/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032313/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23499178/burt_reynolds_is_happy_at_48/|url-status=live}} {{free access}}</ref> The theater opened in 1979 and was later renamed the Burt Reynolds Jupiter Theater. Reynolds operated it until 1989 and leased it until 1996. It had a series of ownership changes until becoming the [[Maltz Jupiter Theatre]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=Theatre History|url=https://www.jupitertheatre.org/theatre-history|website=Maltz Jupiter Theatre|access-date=May 8, 2023|archive-date=May 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508131850/https://www.jupitertheatre.org/theatre-history|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1984, he opened a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, named Burt & Jacks, which he co-owned with Jack Jackson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-06-21/features/8702230384_1_burt-reynolds-port-director-clan-reunion|title=Bash At Burt & Jack's Like A Family Reunion|date=June 21, 1987|work=Sun Sentinel|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907020625/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-06-21/features/8702230384_1_burt-reynolds-port-director-clan-reunion|url-status=dead}}</ref> The restaurant was defunct at the time of his death.<ref name="Florida Today">{{cite web|last1=Sangalang|first1=Jennifer|title=Burt Reynolds and his many ties to Florida|url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2018/09/06/burt-reynolds-florida/1215362002/|website=floridatoday.com|publisher=Florida Today|access-date=August 15, 2023|archive-date=August 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815030907/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2018/09/06/burt-reynolds-florida/1215362002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Partnering with [[Killen Music Group]] owner [[Buddy Killen]], Reynolds invested in [[Po' Folks (restaurant)|Po' Folks]], a chain of country-cooking, family-style restaurants located in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.<ref name="Florida Today" /> The chain, which was named after a [[Bill Anderson]] song, along with subsequent Killen-Reynolds investment in another Southern restaurant chain, failed.<ref name="Vanity Fair 2016" />

===Personal bankruptcy===
During the height of his movie career, Reynolds made as much as $10&nbsp;million  a year (roughly {{Inflation|US|10000000|1978|r=-5|fmt=eq}}), but he proved to be a poor businessman. Along with music industry executive [[Buddy Killen]], who produced his 1973 [[country and western music|country and western]]/[[easy listening music|easy listening]] [[sound recording|album]] ''[[Ask Me What I Am]]'', Reynolds invested in [[Po' Folks (restaurant)|Po' Folks]], a Southern regional restaurant chain named after a [[Bill Anderson]] song. As Po' Folks failed, Reynolds and Killen invested in another regional chain, Daisy's Diner, which also failed. Reynolds had invested the capital as an individual, not as a corporate investment, and was responsible personally for the liabilities when Po' Folks and the Daisy's Diner failed. In all, his investments in the [[Restaurants|restaurant industry]] resulted in losses of $20&nbsp;million.<ref name="Vanity Fair 2016" />

Reynolds suffered a steep decrease of his career earnings after the cancellation of ''Evening Shade'', as his popularity waned due to bad publicity from his divorce from Loni Anderson, which became [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] fodder. His decrease of earnings as an actor plus the great expense of his divorce settlement, child support, and alimony payments to Anderson caused a cash depletion by the mid-1990s.<ref name="Vanity Fair 2016" />

[[CBS]], the network that produced ''Evening Shade'' and managed the program's syndication, sued him for failing to repay a $3.7&nbsp;million loan in 1996.<ref name="Vanity Fair 2016" /> Subsequently, he filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] bankruptcy, due in part to an extravagant lifestyle, a divorce from Anderson, and failed investments in restaurant chains.<ref>Laura J. Margulies (2008), "[http://www.law-margulies.com/CM/BankruptcyArticles/BankruptcyArticles3.asp Famous Bankruptcies]" ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330001759/http://www.law-margulies.com/CM/BankruptcyArticles/BankruptcyArticles3.asp |date=March 30, 2013}}).</ref><ref name=EW>Gary Eng Walk (October 7, 1998), "[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,83772,00.html Burt Reynolds closes the book on Chapter 11] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207020333/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,83772,00.html |date=December 7, 2008 }}", ''Entertainment Weekly''</ref>  Reynolds emerged from bankruptcy two years later.<ref name=abc /> During his bankruptcy proceedings, Reynolds listed $6.65&nbsp;million in assets against debts totaling $11.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="Vanity Fair 2016" />

On August 16, 2011, [[Merrill Lynch]] Credit Corporation filed foreclosure papers, claiming Reynolds owed US$1.2&nbsp;million on his home in [[Hobe Sound, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Burt Reynolds faces being thrown out of home|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8705621/Burt-Reynolds-faces-being-thrown-out-of-home.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8705621/Burt-Reynolds-faces-being-thrown-out-of-home.html|archive-date=January 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=August 16, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Until its sale during bankruptcy,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lipka|first=Mitch|title=Burt Reynolds Needs Deliverance|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-04-03/news/9804020478_1_reynolds-personal-bankruptcy-reynolds-film-million-dollars|access-date=April 28, 2014|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|date=April 3, 1998|archive-date=April 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429080119/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-04-03/news/9804020478_1_reynolds-personal-bankruptcy-reynolds-film-million-dollars|url-status=dead}}</ref> he owned the Burt Reynolds Ranch, where scenes for ''Smokey and the Bandit'' were filmed and which once had a petting zoo. In April 2014, the 153-acre (62&nbsp;ha) rural property was rezoned for residential use and the [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach County]] school system was empowered to sell it, which it did to residential developer [[Hovnanian Enterprises|K. Hovnanian Homes]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Capozzi|first=Joe|title=Old Burt Reynolds Ranch: Changes OK'd to allow 30-home development|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/old-burt-reynolds-ranch-changes-okd-to-allow-30-ho/nfj3T/|access-date=April 28, 2014|newspaper=Palm Beach Post|date=April 28, 2014}}</ref>

===Health problems===
Reynolds suffered from [[hypoglycemia]], which he discussed publicly on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson''.<ref name="Carson Show">{{cite web|title=JOHNNY CARSON INTERVIEW BURT REYNOLDS Oct 02 1973|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCrKJZMq29I|website=YouTube|date=May 2020|publisher=ZANY|access-date=August 14, 2023|archive-date=August 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814191614/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCrKJZMq29I|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Independent">{{cite web|last1=Hayward|first1=Anthony|title=Burt Reynolds obituary: Charismatic star known for having fun both on and off the screen|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/burt-reynolds-death-boogie-nights-longest-yard-smokey-bandit-deliverance-obituary-a8526561.html|website=independent.uk.co|date=September 7, 2018|publisher=The Independent|access-date=August 13, 2023|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813191127/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/burt-reynolds-death-boogie-nights-longest-yard-smokey-bandit-deliverance-obituary-a8526561.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During his numerous appearances on ''The Tonight Show'', Reynolds also told Johnny Carson that he suffered from [[Generalized anxiety disorder|anxiety]].

The [[Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures]] awarded the Richard "Diamond" Farnsworth Award to Reynolds in 2015.<ref name="The Independent" /> [[Richard Farnsworth]] was a stunt man who made the transition into a successful acting career. Having performed stunts early during his career, the debilitating health problems of an aging stunt man was central to the storyline of Reynolds' 1978 movie ''Hooper'', which is subtitled on the poster "The Greatest Stuntman Alive." Reynolds, who said he was a card-carrying member of the [[stunt performers]] guild, often performed his own stunts in movies, such as the fall over the waterfall in ''Deliverance'', where he injured his [[coccyx]].<ref name="Carson Show" /> He also had to be operated on for a [[hernia]] that resulted from a fight scene in ''The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing''.<ref name="The Independent" />

His worst on-set injury occurred while filming ''City Heat'' in 1984; Reynolds was struck in the face with a metal chair on the first day of filming, which resulted in [[temporomandibular joint dysfunction]]. He was restricted to a liquid diet and lost 30 pounds from not eating. The [[Analgesic|painkillers]] he was prescribed resulted in addiction, which lasted several years.

He underwent back surgery in 2009 and a quintuple [[coronary artery bypass surgery]] in February 2010.<ref name="abc">{{cite web|author=Fisher|first=Luchina|date=August 18, 2011|title=Burt Reynolds On His Money Woes|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/burt-reynolds-bottoms-florida-foreclosure/story?id=14324008|access-date=October 25, 2017|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626184701/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/burt-reynolds-bottoms-florida-foreclosure/story?id=14324008|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Death and tributes==
Reynolds died of a heart attack at the Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida, on September 6, 2018, at the age of 82.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Natale|first1=Richard|title=Burt Reynolds, Star of 'Deliverance,' 'Smokey and the Bandit,' Dies at 82|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/burt-reynolds-died-dead-smokey-and-the-bandit-1202930270/|date=September 6, 2018|newspaper=Variety|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032303/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/burt-reynolds-died-dead-smokey-and-the-bandit-1202930270/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Burt Reynolds Dead at 82 After Heart Attack|work=TMZ|date=September 6, 2018|url=http://www.tmz.com/2018/09/06/burt-reynolds-dead-at-82-heart-attack/|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907045710/http://www.tmz.com/2018/09/06/burt-reynolds-dead-at-82-heart-attack/|url-status=live}}</ref> His ex-wife Loni Anderson and their son Quinton held a private memorial service for Reynolds at a funeral home in [[North Palm Beach, Florida]], on September 20. Those in attendance included [[Sally Field]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-burt-reynolds-funeral-20180919-story.html|title=Sally Field among dozens of mourners at Reynolds funeral service|work=NY Daily News|first=Storm|last=Gifford|date=September 19, 2018|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007040222/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-burt-reynolds-funeral-20180919-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> FSU coach [[Bobby Bowden]], friend [[Lee Corso]], and quarterback [[Doug Flutie]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/burt-reynolds-ex-wife-loni-anderson-and-son-honor-actor-with-intimate-florida-service|title=Burt Reynolds' ex-wife Loni Anderson and son honor actor with 'intimate' Florida service|work=Fox News|date=September 22, 2018|first=Morgan|last=Evans|access-date=September 22, 2018|archive-date=September 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922134220/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/09/22/burt-reynolds-ex-wife-loni-anderson-and-son-honor-actor-with-intimate-florida-service.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Reynolds' body was cremated and his ashes were given to his niece, Nancy Lee Brown Hess.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/general/burt-reynolds-remains-cremated-60732105/|title=Burt Reynolds' remains cremated|last=WENN|date=September 10, 2018|website=Hollywood.com|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729153922/https://www.hollywood.com/general/burt-reynolds-remains-cremated-60732105/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was subsequently interred at [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]] on February 11, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/burt-reynolds-laid-to-rest-2-years-after-death/|title=Burt Reynolds laid to rest 2 years after his death|work=People|access-date=February 12, 2021|date=February 12, 2021|archive-date=February 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212053238/https://people.com/movies/burt-reynolds-laid-to-rest-2-years-after-death/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September of that year, a bronze bust of Reynolds was placed at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dalton|first=Andrew|date=September 21, 2021|title=Bronze bust unveiled at Burt Reynolds' Hollywood gravesite|work=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/bronze-bust-unveiled-burt-reynolds-hollywood-gravesite-80140673|access-date=September 27, 2021|archive-date=September 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927230115/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/bronze-bust-unveiled-burt-reynolds-hollywood-gravesite-80140673|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the day of Reynolds' death, [[Antenna TV]], which broadcasts ''The Tonight Show'' nightly, broadcast an episode of ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' from February 11, 1982, featuring an interview and a ''[[This Is Your Life (American franchise)|This Is Your Life]]''-style skit with Reynolds. The local media in Atlanta and elsewhere in the state noted on their television news programs that evening that he was the first to make major movies in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], all of which were successful, which helped make the state one of the top filming locations in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/burt-reynolds-credited-with-helping-put-georgia-s-film-industry-in-the-spotlight/828588580|title=Burt Reynolds credited with helping put Georgia's film industry in the spotlight|last=EndPlay|date=September 6, 2018|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907110337/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/burt-reynolds-credited-with-helping-put-georgia-s-film-industry-in-the-spotlight/828588580|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11alive.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/the-a-scene/how-burt-reynolds-was-the-grandfather-to-the-georgia-film-industry/85-591560384|title=How Burt Reynolds was the grandfather to the Georgia film industry|date=September 6, 2018|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-date=May 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519102341/https://www.11alive.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/the-a-scene/how-burt-reynolds-was-the-grandfather-to-the-georgia-film-industry/85-591560384|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walb.com/story/38635035/burt-reynolds-shows-support-to-the-south-ga-film-industry|title=Burt Reynolds shows support to the South GA film industry|website=www.walb.com|date=July 13, 2018|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907144730/http://www.walb.com/story/38635035/burt-reynolds-shows-support-to-the-south-ga-film-industry/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/burt-reynolds-grandfather-to-the-georgia-film-industry/93-492775237|title=Burt Reynolds: Grandfather To The Georgia Film Industry|date=November 18, 2017|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-date=May 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519102340/https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/burt-reynolds-grandfather-to-the-georgia-film-industry/93-492775237|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[2018 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State football]] team honored Reynolds with helmet decals reading "BAN ONE", in the design and style of the license plate of the Trans Am from ''Smokey and the Bandit'', plus Reynolds' signature, worn for the rest of the 2018 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/fsu-honor-burt-reynolds-ban-helmet-decal/story?id=57680342|title=FSU to honor Burt Reynolds with 'BAN ONE' helmet decal|work=ABC News|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2023|archive-date=April 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410020712/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/fsu-honor-burt-reynolds-ban-helmet-decal/story?id=57680342|url-status=live}}</ref>  His niece, Nancy Lee Hess, produced a 2020 biography and documentary about Reynolds titled ''I Am Burt Reynolds''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nancy Lee Hess|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12182677/|website=IMDb|access-date=May 1, 2022|archive-date=May 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501123324/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12182677/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=I Am Burt Reynolds|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13721940/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk1|website=IMDb|access-date=May 1, 2022|archive-date=May 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501123323/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13721940/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Geiger|first1=Jefferson|title=US premiere of 'I Am Burt Reynolds' showcases actor's life at Breck Film Fest|url=https://www.summitdaily.com/news/us-premiere-of-i-am-burt-reynolds-showcases-actors-life-at-breck-film-fest/|access-date=May 1, 2022|work=[[Summit Daily News]]|date=September 16, 2021|archive-date=July 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706095811/https://www.summitdaily.com/news/us-premiere-of-i-am-burt-reynolds-showcases-actors-life-at-breck-film-fest/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Legacy and appraisal ==
During the height of his career, Reynolds was considered a male [[sex symbol]] and icon of American masculinity. Stephen Dalton wrote in ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' that Reynolds "always seemed to embody an uncomplicated, undiluted, effortlessly likable strain of American masculinity that was driven much more by sunny mischief than angsty machismo."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Dalton|first=Stephen|date=September 6, 2018|title=Critic's Notebook: Burt Reynolds Was a Charmingly Preposterous Icon of American Masculinity|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/critics-notebook-burt-reynolds-1140707|access-date=January 20, 2020|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730015814/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/critics-notebook-burt-reynolds-1140707|url-status=live}}</ref> Reynolds's roles were often defined by his larger-than-life physicality and masculinity, contrasted with juvenile but self-aware humor.<ref name="Lartey"/> Though he was not considered a serious dramatic actor during his heyday, his later career was defined by performances that often referenced his own reputation, creating what Dalton called "sophisticated, soulful performances".<ref name=":2" />

[[Michael Chiklis]] has credited Reynolds for rescuing his acting career when Reynolds hired him for a role in ''B.L. Stryker'' after Chiklis was "blackballed" for his involvement in portraying [[John Belushi]] in the movie ''[[Wired (film)|Wired]]'' (1989).  Chiklis said that Reynolds knew what Chiklis was going through because he "grew up during the [[McCarthyism|McCarthy era]] and didn't believe in blackballing."<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Chiklis Interview Part 1 of 3 - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG|date=December 13, 2013|work=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation]]|url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/michael-chiklis?clip=77019|access-date=November 15, 2023|archive-date=November 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115150928/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/michael-chiklis?clip=77019|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Accolades ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Burt Reynolds}}
Reynolds was nominated twice for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series|Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series]] in 1991 and 1992 for ''Evening Shade'', winning in 1991 and losing to [[Craig T. Nelson]] in ''[[Coach (TV series)|Coach]]'' the next year.

He was nominated for a [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor Oscar]] in 1998, losing out to [[Robin Williams]] in ''[[Good Will Hunting]]''.

Reynolds won [[Golden Globe Awards]] for Best Actor in a Television Series-Musical or Comedy for ''Evening Shade'' in 1992, and as Best Supporting Actor in ''[[Boogie Nights]]'' in 1998. He also was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actor in a Television Series-Drama for ''[[Dan August]]'' in 1971, as Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy for ''[[The Longest Yard (1974 film)|The Longest Yard]]'' in 1975 and as Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical/Comedy for ''[[Starting Over (1979 film)|Starting Over]]'' in 1980. He also received Best Actor in a TV series nominations for ''Evening Shade'' in 1991 and 1993.<ref name="Golden Globes">{{cite web|title=In Memoriam: Burt Reynolds, Golden Globe winner, 1936–2018|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/memoriam-burt-reynolds-golden-globe-winner-1936-2018#:~:text=Reynolds%20won%20Golden%20Globes%20for%20his%20work%20in,work%20in%20director%20Paul%20Thomas%20Anderson%E2%80%99s%20Boogie%20Nights.|website=Golden Globe Awards|date=September 6, 2018|publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association|access-date=August 15, 2023|archive-date=August 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815034118/https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/memoriam-burt-reynolds-golden-globe-winner-1936-2018#:~:text=Reynolds%20won%20Golden%20Globes%20for%20his%20work%20in,work%20in%20director%20Paul%20Thomas%20Anderson%E2%80%99s%20Boogie%20Nights.|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reynolds won four [[People's Choice Awards]], as Favorite Motion Picture Actor and Favorite All-Around Male in 1983, as Favorite Motion Picture Actor (tied with [[Clint Eastwood]]) in 1984, and as Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Series in 1991.

In 2015, the [[Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures]] awarded Reynolds the Richard "Diamond" Farnsworth Award, named after [[Richard Farnsworth]], the career stunt man who made the transition into a successful acting career.<ref name="The Independent" />

He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Florida State University in 1981 and later endorsed the construction of a new performing arts facility in Sarasota, Florida.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smiljanich|first=Dorothy|date=March 18, 1984|title=Reynolds and professor are building up the arts|page=G1|work=The Tampa Tribune}}</ref>

There is a Burt Reynolds Park in [[Jupiter, Florida]], maintained by [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach County]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Parks & Recreation: Burt Reynold Park|url=https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Locations/Burt-Reynolds.aspx|publisher=Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation|access-date=August 15, 2023|archive-date=August 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815033322/https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Locations/Burt-Reynolds.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Main|Burt Reynolds filmography}}

==Bibliography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
! Year
! Category
! Info
! ISBN

|-
| ''Hot Line: The Letters I Get...And Write!''
| {{dts|1972}}
| non-fiction
| New York: Signet
| {{ASIN|B000X0USY0}}

|-
| ''My Life''
| {{dts|1994}}
| Autobiography
| New York: Hyperion. 
| {{ISBNT|978-0-7868-6130-9}}

|-
| ''Seminole Seasons''
| {{dts|1994}}
| Sports
| Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company
| {{ISBNT|978-0-8783-3869-6}}

|-
| ''Barkley Unleashed: A Pirate's Tail''
| {{dts|1997}}
| Children's book
| Dove Kids Book & Audio
| {{ISBNT|978-0-7871-1027-7}}

|-
| ''But Enough About Me: A Memoir''
| {{dts|2015}}
| Autobiography
| G.P. Putnam's Sons
| {{ISBNT|978-0-3991-7354-7}}

|}

==Discography==
* ''[[Ask Me What I Am]]'' (1973)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Burt-Reynolds-Ask-Me-What-I-Am/release/1620505|title=Burt Reynolds – Ask Me What I Am|website=Discogs|year=1973|language=en|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702150810/https://www.discogs.com/Burt-Reynolds-Ask-Me-What-I-Am/release/1620505|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Title
! colspan="3"| Chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
! rowspan="2"| Songwriter
|-
! style="width:45px;"| <small>[[Hot Country Songs|US Country]]</small>
! style="width:45px;"| <small>[[Billboard Hot 100|US]]</small>
! style="width:45px;"| <small>CAN Country</small>
|-
| 1980
| "Let's Do Something Cheap and Superficial"
| style="text-align:center;"| 51
| style="text-align:center;"| 88<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/burt-reynolds/chart-history/hsi/|title=Let's Do Something Cheap and Superficial|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128185808/https://www.billboard.com/artist/burt-reynolds/chart-history/hsi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 33
| ''Smokey and the Bandit 2:<br/>Original Soundtrack''
| Richard Levinson
|-
| 1982
| "Sneakin' Around" (with [[Dolly Parton]])
| style="text-align:center;"| -*
| style="text-align:center;"| -*
| style="text-align:center;"| -*
| ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (soundtrack)]]''
| Dolly Parton
|}

==See also==
*[[Sasha Gabor]], [[Pornographic films|adult film]] [[Pornographic film actors|star]] who was a [[lookalike]] of Burt Reynolds (as well as of [[Sean Connery]]), portraying him (respectively both) in numerous pornographic parody films, including ''Tracey and the Bandit'' (1987) and ''Boogie Knights'' (1998). (Gabor's first credited acting gig was in a non-pornographic role, playing the character "Burt Reynolds" in the ''[[Harper Valley PTA (TV series)|Harper Valley PTA]]'' episode "Svengali of the Valley" during Season 2 of the TV series in 1982.)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Anderson, Loni. (1997) ''My Life in High Heels''. Avon Books. {{ISBN|978-0-380-72854-1}}
* Field, Sally (2018). ''In Pieces''. New York City: Grand Central Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1-5387-6302-5}}.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930081617/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,878005-1,00.html "Show Business: Frog Prince"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (August 21, 1972).
* Zeman, Ned (December 2015). [http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/burt-reynolds-on-career-bankruptcy-regrets#6 "Burt Reynolds Isn't Broke, but He's Got a Few Regrets"]. ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''. Interview and photographs.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|0000608}}
* {{TCMDb name | 160584%7C25111 }}

{{Burt Reynolds}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Burt Reynolds
|list =
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{EmmyAward ComedyLeadActor}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Actor TV Comedy}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture}}
}}
{{Mach 1 Racing}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reynolds, Burt}}
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