Burt Reynolds facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burt Reynolds
Reynolds in 1991
Born	Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (1936-02-11)February 11, 1936 Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Died	September 6, 2018(2018-09-06) (aged 82) Jupiter, Florida, U.S.
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Florida State University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1958–2018
Spouse(s)	Judy Carne ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1965)​ Loni Anderson ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 1994)​
Partner(s)	Dinah Shore (1971–1975) Sally Field (1976–1980)
Children	1

Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was a famous American actor. He was known for his charm and humor, becoming a huge star in the 1970s.

Burt Reynolds first became well-known in TV shows like Gunsmoke (1962–1965). His big break in movies came with Deliverance (1972). He then starred in many popular films, often playing a fun-loving character. These included Smokey and the Bandit (1977), The Longest Yard (1974), and The Cannonball Run (1981). He was even the world's top box-office star for five years in a row!

Later, he won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for his role in the TV show Evening Shade (1990–1994). He also received an Academy Award nomination for his acting in Boogie Nights (1997).

Early Life and Education

Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. was born on February 11, 1936. His family had roots from different parts of Europe. While he often said he was born in Georgia, he later confirmed he was born in Lansing, Michigan.

His family moved around a bit when he was young. They lived in Missouri and then in Lake City, Michigan. In 1946, they settled in Riviera Beach, Florida. His father became the Chief of Police there.

High School Football Star

In high school, Burt Reynolds was a talented football player. He played as a fullback at Palm Beach High School. He was so good that he received many scholarship offers from colleges.

College and Injury

Burt Reynolds went to Florida State University on a football scholarship. He played as a halfback starting in 1954. He even shared a room with future football coach Lee Corso.

However, his football career was cut short by injuries. He hurt his knee in his second year. Later, he was in a serious car accident that caused more injuries. He decided to stop playing football after that.

Discovering Acting

While recovering from his injuries, Burt attended Palm Beach State College. His English teacher, Watson B. Duncan III, encouraged him to try out for a play. Burt got the main role and even won an award for his performance! This was the start of his acting journey. He later called his teacher his most important mentor.

Acting Career Begins

Winning the Florida State Drama Award gave Burt a scholarship to a summer theater in New York. He didn't think acting would be his career at first. But there, he met actress Joanne Woodward, who helped him find an agent.

He moved to New York City and started taking acting classes. He also performed in plays on Broadway, which is the highest level of theater in the United States. He worked hard, even driving the bus for one play's tour!

Early TV Roles

Burt Reynolds started acting on television in the late 1950s. He appeared as a guest star on many different shows. He even signed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios.

His first big TV role was in the series Riverboat (1959–61). He played Ben Frazer. However, he left the show after a while because he didn't enjoy the part. After that, it was harder for him to find work for a bit. He often played "bad guys" in other TV shows.

His first movie role was in Angel Baby (1961). He also appeared in a war film called Armored Command (1961).

Becoming Quint Asper in Gunsmoke

In 1962, Burt Reynolds got a big role in the popular TV show Gunsmoke. He played Quint Asper, a blacksmith who was part Native American. He stayed on the show for three years, leaving in 1965. He later said this was a very happy time in his life.

After Gunsmoke, he got his first main role in a movie, an action film called Operation C.I.A. (1965).

Hawk and More Movies

Burt Reynolds then starred in another TV series, Hawk (1966–67), where he played a Native American detective. He also played a Native American in the movie Navajo Joe (1966).

He made several other movies quickly, including Shark! (1969) and the Western 100 Rifles (1969). He often felt he wasn't getting the serious roles he wanted.

Dan August and Talk Show Fame

From 1970 to 1971, Burt Reynolds starred in the police drama Dan August. Even though the show didn't last long, it helped him become more famous.

Around this time, Burt became a very popular guest on TV talk shows. He was funny and made jokes about himself. This showed people his great personality and made him a household name. He even guest-hosted The Tonight Show. He said these appearances changed his career completely.

Movie Star Status

Breakthrough with Deliverance

Burt Reynolds' career truly took off with the movie Deliverance (1972). The director, John Boorman, cast him after seeing him on a talk show. The movie was a huge success and made Burt Reynolds a major movie star.

He then appeared in other films like Fuzz (1972) and Shamus (1973).

The King of Car-Chase Films

A big turning point was the car-chase film White Lightning (1973). This movie started a trend for Burt Reynolds, who became famous for starring in fun, action-packed car movies. These films were very popular and made a lot of money. By the end of 1973, he was one of the top ten most popular movie stars.

He also starred in the sports comedy The Longest Yard (1974), which was also a big hit.

Directing Movies

Burt Reynolds made his first movie as a director in 1976. It was called Gator, and it was a sequel to White Lightning. He really enjoyed directing and felt it was something he did very well.

Smokey and the Bandit and Peak Fame

Burt Reynolds had the biggest hit of his career with the car-chase comedy Smokey and the Bandit (1977). He starred alongside Jackie Gleason and Sally Field. This movie was incredibly popular.

He continued to make successful films, including The End (1978), which he also directed, and Hooper (1978), where he played a stuntman. He was the most popular star in the U.S. for five years in a row, from 1978 to 1982!

He made two more very successful car movies with director Hal Needham: Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and The Cannonball Run (1981). He also directed himself in the action film Sharky's Machine (1981).

Later Career and Comeback

Career Challenges

In the mid-1980s, some of Burt Reynolds' movies didn't do as well at the box office. He turned down a role in Terms of Endearment (1983) that later won an Academy Award for another actor. He chose to do another car-chase comedy, Stroker Ace (1983), which was not successful.

During the filming of City Heat (1984), he was accidentally hit in the face. This caused him a lot of pain and led to weight loss.

Return to Television

Burt Reynolds returned to TV with the series B.L. Stryker (1989–90). Then, he starred in the sitcom Evening Shade (1990–94). In this show, he played a former football player. The show was very popular and earned him an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

During this time, he also appeared in the children's film Cop & 1/2 (1993).

Character Actor Roles

After Evening Shade ended, Burt Reynolds started taking on more supporting roles, becoming a character actor. He appeared in films like Bean (1997) with Rowan Atkinson.

Boogie Nights and Acclaim

In 1997, Burt Reynolds starred in the critically acclaimed film Boogie Nights. This role was seen as a big comeback for him. He received many awards and nominations, including his first and only Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also won a Golden Globe Award for this role.

He continued to act in many films and TV shows, often playing roles that reminded people of his earlier famous characters. For example, he was in a remake of The Longest Yard (2005) and The Dukes of Hazzard (2005).

He also lent his voice to video games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) and Saints Row: The Third (2011). He even voiced himself in the animated TV series Archer (2012).

His last main role was in the film The Last Movie Star (2017). He also appeared in films released after his death, like Defining Moments (2020).

Other Interests

Burt Reynolds was a big fan of American football, thanks to his college days. He even owned a part of a football team called the Tampa Bay Bandits. He also co-owned a NASCAR racing team.

He wrote a children's book called Barkley Unleashed: A Pirate's Tail in 1997. He also released a country music album called Ask Me What I Am in 1973.

He owned a dinner theater in Florida, where he helped train young performers.

Personal Life

Burt Reynolds was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Judy Carne from 1963 to 1965. He later married actress Loni Anderson in 1988, and they adopted a son named Quinton. They divorced in 1994.

He had a well-known relationship with actress Sally Field from 1976 to 1980. He later said she was the love of his life.

Despite his successful career, Burt Reynolds faced financial difficulties. In 1996, he filed for bankruptcy, partly due to a lavish lifestyle and some failed business investments. He recovered from this two years later.

Death and Legacy

Burt Reynolds passed away on September 6, 2018, at the age of 82, from a heart attack. A private memorial service was held for him in Florida. His ashes were later buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in California.

Burt Reynolds is remembered as an important figure in American popular culture. He was known for his strong, masculine roles, often combined with a playful sense of humor. He helped make the state of Georgia a popular place for filming movies.

Filmography

Discography

• Ask Me What I Am (1973)

Singles

Awards and Nominations

Other Honors

• 1978: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• 2000: Children at Heart Award.
• 2003: Atlanta IMAGE Film and Video Award.

Works

• Reynolds, Burt. (1994) My Life. New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 0-7868-6130-4
• Reynolds, Burt. (2015) But Enough About Me: A Memoir. G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN: 0-3991-7354-4

Images for kids

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  Reynolds (right) with Darren McGavin in Riverboat

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  With John Williams as William Shakespeare in The Twilight Zone

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  Reynolds as Quint Asper in Gunsmoke, 1962

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  Reynolds in 1970

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  Reynolds in 1980 wearing the Bandit jacket used in Smokey and the Bandit II

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  Reynolds in 2011

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  Reynolds and Loni Anderson at the 43rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 1991

See also

In Spanish: Burt Reynolds para niños