Burt Reynolds (1936-2018)
Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 11:29PM by Nathaniel R
Burt Reynolds in his iconic breakout role in "Deliverance"Burt Reynolds passed away today of a heart attack. He was 82 years old. Though he lived a long blessed life, it's always a bummer to lose a bonafide movie star. It was particularly exciting recently to learn he'd been cast in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) since Quentin Tarantino has proven so skilled in the past at reviving talent whose heyday had passed and making us think about them differently or just think about them a lot again. Sadly, from our understanding he hadn't yet begun work so though the picture is currently filming they'll have to recast his supporting role. in the picture so it will need to be recast.
Did you have any feelings about him?
I personally had to grow into Burt Reynolds. When you're a little kid you accept that whoever is a star is a massive star, even if you don't know why, their origin story being firmly in the past. When I became interested in movies (the mid 80s) he was already "over" and then when I did start seeing him I didn't get it at all, at least not at first...
I think the first Burt movie I saw in theaters was Switching Channels (1988) and I didn't understand why a star of Kathleen Turner's magnitude was working with... 'this guy? what?'
Kathleen Turner and Burt Reynolds in "Switching Channels" - they hated each other and it shows in the movie. 
His only Oscar nomination came from "Boogie Nights"
I've never been a "masc for masc" type of gay and his hypermasculinity - the body hair, the hairline, the blocky face, the body language, was just not for me. Some stars definitively belong to particular eras (this is not a critique, just a fact) and when that era is past, their career peaks (if there are any) afterwards are generally reflective of or reflecting on that era. So it took Boogie Nights (1997), Paul Thomas Anderson's masterpiece about a "family" of pornographers in the 1970s to open my eyes to his particular gift. Let's just say that Oscar nomination was richly deserved and Warren Beatty was a fool to pass on that role.
After Boogie Nights it was like a fog lifted and the star charisma was suddenly so very obvious... how had I missed it? That should have been his second nomination following his riveting star turn in Deliverance (1972). You might think it's silly -- I actually do and I'm the one confessing it -- but Archer's obsession with him also definitely boosted my affection for him and helped me see the cocky hypermasculinity as a kind of savvy commentary on itself. I learned to love him in retrospect enough to feel a bit sad about his departure.
Some favorite Burt Reynolds photographs to end with. RIP, Burt.
Burt and Jon Voight in the pool
Burt's funny sequence in "Silent Movie"
He considered Sally Field 'the one that got away' and he blamed himself.
A bit Brando'esque sans moustache
Reader Comments (23)
I did grow up in the late 70's and early 80's, so I saw "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Cannonball Run" in theaters, and many of his movies of that time were on HBO every 5 minutes.
I have soft spots, in particular, for his directing and performance in the gritty "Sharkey's Machine", and, while I haven't seen it in a long time, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" was a lot of naughty, age inappropriate fun. (Check out that college football shower scene!)
And he is just my type. All American Masculine Male. That chest!
Rest in Peace.
He was great in Boogie Nights. Julianne Moore put out a lovely tweet on him always being kind to her. RIP.
I like hairy-ass men and mustaches. Reynolds was sexy in his prime. The role of Jack Horner was also offered to Sydney Pollack. Who lamented his decision after seeing the movie.
Many actors were frightened of the material. Marisa Tomei was an early choice for Amber Waves. She turned it down because she hadn't done nudity. Of course afterwards her chichis started appearing in everything.
Christopher Plummer is adept at saving a project last minute just FYI for Tarantino’s project
Has anyone here seen Starting Over?
I really loved him in that! Opposite the wonderful Jill Clayburgh and with a fun supporting performance from Candice Bergen. Both ladies were Oscar nominated and I believe Reynolds received a Golden Globe nomination. It's a cute little hidden gem worth checking out!
I was hoping his role in QT's new film would be this great final performance of his career. Still, the fact that he was so charismatic through the Smokey and the Bandit movies as well as showing he had chops in Deliverance while giving his career-defining performance in Boogie Nights as I still feel he should've won the Oscar that year.
Plus, it's a shame he never married Sally Field and instead went with some idiotic bimbo from some lame TV show as even his mother didn't approve of that relationship. His mama was right.
Thank you Burt for all of those movies and being awesome. Shame Florida State got its ass kicked but you know we can't win them all.
I liked Burt Reynolds. I recently rewatched the Smokey and the Bandit movies and The Cannonball Run as I was wanting some Reynolds/Hal Needham nostalgia. Still lots of fun. Deliverance is another very good performance and an interesting commentary on his persona, and he was very warm and funny in the comedy series Evening Shade. And we should remember the extent of his stardom: in his heyday, he was a huge, huge star.
thevoid99: You said some lovely things about Burt but I think it's wrong to call someone an idiotic bimbo.
It's really cool, a
Decided to visit this site, before I was finding the info about android installs, because I really love cinema and I'm interested in what is happening there. It's so bad that such a star left our world. I hope that he will be better in the Paradise.
The 1930s-1960s actors are more remembered than the actors of other eras I think. The big superstar Burt Reynolds memory disappeared with other stars memories like Jon Voight, Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen, actors he worked with.
Burt Reynolds is an effective actor with a good material(comedy, drama, action), funny, charming man and openly a sex symbol opposite to "I don't want them to see me as a piece of meat". And has a masterpiece in his bag, the beautiful and brutal Deliverance. And there's a lot of sexy pictures everywhere.
Some male celebrities strive to show virility/masculinity - Burt Reynolds never needed.
Our family loved Burt in the '70s. Mom already liked him on Gunsmoke and Dan August. We thought he was a riot on Johnny Carson, Carol Burnett, and Sonny & Cher... And esp when he jumped out of Dinah Shore' s closet on her morning show! Burt was right up there with Clint by the last half of the 70s, mixing crowd pleasers with some quality serious work. I think Burt would have made a great Sonny Corleone, myself. The 70s was Burt's era, a shame he couldn't sustain it...
Years ago I worked in a large record store. One day Mr. Reynolds came into my department (solo) and embarked on a long happy browse through our pretty massive pop vocal section (we're talking Doris Day, Vic Damone, Dinah Shore type vocals). During that time several shoppers approached him, some discreetly - others noisily invading his space. Whatever the case, he remained quietly friendly and gracious throughout. Naturally emanating the vibe of a thoroughly nice guy. Through the years, I've often remembered what a good impression he left on me that day. And of course - with yesterday's news - I'm remembering it again. R.I.P Mr. R.
Also @Brad : I agree about "Starting Over". A lovely movie full of terrific performances. Reynold's warm comic turn definitely merited Oscar consideration that year.
I also grew up in the 70s, but my older sisters were in the Newman/Redford camp. With that said, Reynokds was a household name, and you cannot deny his charisma. I also recommend Starting Over as a charming little gem with one of Reynolds' most enjoyable relatable performances given his uber star status at the time.
He's like the Ultimate Daddy.By the time I was into Weaver,Close and Pfeiffer his time as Top Star had peaked until 1997 with his richly deserved Oscar nom and he shoulda been the winner,RIP a True Movie Star,people went to see his films because of him something not many younger actors can boast about nowadays,Burt is from a time when a Film Star was a true BO film star and not a hanger on a franchise though Burt had 1 of those,plus he loved Sally Field.
A travesty he wasn't nominated for STARTING OVER - by far his most exquisite turn.
I first discovered him via TV when I was a very young kid, first in the TV movie Run, Simon, Run where he played a troubled Indian with Inger Stevens in her last performance before her too early death and then on Dan August which my Dad was a big fan of.
Actually my Dad was such a big fan that when Deliverance came out the next year he took my entirely too young self to see it without reading the reviews. It was quite the shocking experience but I still thought it was a good film. I watched it years later and was glad to see it held up to my memory and of course I got much more out of it. I think it's probably the best overall film he made with what might be his best performance.
That was the real start of his ascendancy to the top concurrent with the Cosmo centerfold which was a HUGE deal at the time since it was such a completely unique occurrence for a star of his stature-even a second tier one which he was when he did the shoot-and lead to the formation of Playgirl and several other male celebs such as Fabian and George Maharis posing nude as well.
During that time he really did come across as a ol' boy radiating charm, humor and charisma and for a brief time his movies like Shamus, The Longest Yard and Smokey and the Bandit were free wheeling good times but as he admitted he was more interested in having a good time than building a durable career and his movies started to run to the junky side and his slide was pretty quick.
There were gems mixed in like Starting Over but they were thin on the ground and he really soured a great deal of his public goodwill with his simply appalling behavior during his divorce from Loni Anderson where he acted like the worst type of cad.
But I was genuinely saddened to hear of his passing, not really surprised since he's looked unwell for several years, and recall him with the fond memories of his heyday,
I grew up in the 70s, and Burt Reynolds was one of the last true movie stars. Not like today, but an actor whose name alone could make you want to go to the movies. We just don't have anybody like that today. He was as big of a deal making a drive-in flick as a prestige picture. In 1972, he starred in White Lightning AND Deliverance. Four years later, he was in Gator for the summer, and then at Christmas, Bogdanovich's Nickelodeon. And he was a sex symbol both women and men admired; his appeal was universal. He looked as good in a pair of jeans as a full tux. And you could just tell he loved what he did. And he must have, because the man worked A LOT. in 1975, he had four movies--At Long Last Love, W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings, Hustle and Lucky Lady. His presence on screen was warm, easy, inescapable.
Are we twins separated at birth?
I also thot he shld've won for Boogie Nights. I like Robin Williams but his Oscar was a make up win for his three prev losses!
I'm glad Reynolds at least won the Golden Globes n NYFCC n NSFC n thE LAFCC for it!
RIP...Jack Horner!
I liked him in The Longest Yard, Starting Over and Boogie Nights. I never got into the Bandit or Cannonball movies. He was an interesting and funny guy, but he always seemed to be bitter, and someone who was in a lot of emotional and physical pain. RIP.
His "cocky hypermasculinity"? I don't think so. The guy just had a natural sex appeal and charm (it was like he was always winking at the camera) that is sorely lacking from today's cinema hotties (the very vanilla and bland Chrises and Ryans).
And Boogie Nights should have been his third Oscar nod (and, finally, a win). He brings the fire in Deliverance. And Starting Over is such a smart rom com; Jill and Candice sparkle, but Burt is the funny glue that holds it all together (and keeps you laughing out loud). #HatTipBurt
He was as good as Jon Voight in the incredible Deliverance. My favorite performance, though, was in the much-maligned At Long Last Love, a film I adored: Madeline Kahn was at her best, John Hillerman was the perfect deadpan butler and Eileen Brennan -cigarette dangling from her mouth and all- was the best thing to happen to a kitchen since Thelma Ritter in The Mating Season!