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Burt Reynolds
Age: 73
Height: 5' 11"
Birth Place: Waycross, Georgia, USA
Born: Feb. 11th, 1936
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Burt Reynolds' Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: Enduring, strong-featured and genial star of US cinema, Burt Reynolds started off in TV westerns in the 1960s and then carved his name into 1970/1980s popular culture as a male sex symbol (posing near naked for "Cosmopolitan" magazine) and on-screen as both a rugged action figure and then as a wisecracking, Southern-type "good olé' boy".
Handsome Reynolds originally hailed from Waycross, Georgia, before his family moved to Florida, where he excelled as an athlete and played with Florida State University. He became an All Star Southern Conference halfback (and was earmarked by the Baltimore Colts) before a knee injury and a car accident ended his football career. Midway through college he dropped out and headed to New York with aspirations of becoming an actor. There he worked in restaurants and clubs while pulling the odd TV spot or theatre role.
He was spotted in a New York City production of "Mister Roberts" and signed to a TV contract and eventually had recurring roles in such shows as "Gunsmoke" (1955), "Riverboat" (1959) and his own series, "Hawk" (1966).
Reynolds continued to appear in non-demanding western roles, often playing an Indian halfbreed, in films such as Navajo Joe (1966), 100 Rifles (1969) and Sam Whiskey (1969). However, it was his tough-guy performance as macho Lewis Medlock in the John Boorman backwoods nightmare Deliverance (1972) that really stamped him as a bona-fide star. Reynolds' popularity continued to soar with his appearance as a no-nonsense private investigator in Shamus (1973) and in the Woody Allen comedy Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972). Building further on his image as a Southern boy who outsmarts the local lawmen, Reynolds packed fans into theaters to see him in White Lightning (1973), The Longest Yard (1974), W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975) and Gator (1976).
At this time, ex-stuntman and longtime Reynolds buddy Hal Needham came to him with a "road film" script. It turned out to be the incredibly popular Smokey and the Bandit (1977) with Sally Field and Jerry Reed (I), which took over $100 million at the box office. That film's success was followed by Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). Reynolds also appeared alongside Kris Kristofferson (I) in the hit football film Semi-Tough (1977), with friend Dom DeLuise in the black comedy _End, The (1978)_ (which Reynolds directed), in the stunt-laden buddy film Hooper (1978) and then in the self-indulgent, star-packed road race flick The Cannonball Run (1981).
The early 1980s started off well with a strong performance in the violent cop film Sharky's Machine (1981), which he also directed, and he starred with Dolly Parton in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and with fellow macho superstar Clint Eastwood in the coolly received City Heat (1984). However, other projects such as Stroker Ace (1983), Stick (1985) and Paternity (1981) failed to catch fire with fans and Reynolds quickly found himself falling out of popularity with movie audiences. In the late 1980s he appeared in only a handful of films, mostly below average, before his old friend television came to the rescue and he shone again in two very popular TV shows, "B.L. Stryker" (1989) and "Evening Shade" (1990), for which he won an Emmy.
He was back on screen, but still the roles weren't grabbing the public's attention, until his terrific performance as a drunken politician in the otherwise woeful Striptease (1996) and then another tremendous showing as a manipulative porn director in Boogie Nights (1997), which scored him a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Like the phoenix from the ashes, Reynolds had resurrected his popularity and, in the process, had gathered a new generation of young fans, many of whom had been unfamiliar with his 1970s film roles. He put in entertaining work in Pups (1999), Mystery, Alaska (1999), Driven (2001) and Time of the Wolf (2002). Definitely one of Hollywood's most resilient stars, Reynolds has continually surprised all with his ability to weather both personal and career hurdles and his 40-plus years in front of the cameras is testament to his staying ability, his acting talent and his appeal to film audiences.
TRIVIA:
- Like many other celebrities, he is an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
- Lost the 1997 Razzie award for Worst Supporting Actor to 'Marlon Brando' (qv) by a mere single vote. Reynolds was nominated for his performance in _Striptease (1996)_ (qv) and Brando for his role in _The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)_ (qv). The vote was cast by Razzie awards founder John Wilson, who always chooses to vote last.
- Mentioned in 'Bruce Springsteen' (qv)'s song "Cadillac Ranch".
- He had a long love affair with 'Dinah Shore' (qv).
- After having worked with director 'John Boorman' (qv) in _Deliverance (1972)_ (qv), Burt Reynolds was cast by Boorman one year later to play the title character in the science-fiction Zardoz. Later, Reynolds had to pull out due to illness, and Sean Connery got the part. Burt and John Boorman almost worked together again, this time in 1980, when Boorman was attached, for some time, to direct him in "Sharky's Machine (1998)'. When Boorman left the picture, Reynolds directed the film himself.
- Was named the #1 top money-making star at the box office in Quigley _Publications' annual poll of movie exhibitors for five consecutive years from 1978 - 1982, equaling the record set by 'Bing Crosby' (qv) from 1944 - 1948. Only 'Tom Cruise' (qv), who was named #1 six times between 1986 and 2001, has won more box office crowns. Both 'Clint Eastwood' (qv) and 'Tom Hanks' (qv) also have been #1 five times, but non-consecutively.
- He bared almost all for a Cosmopolitan centerfold in 1972.
- Had a relationship with 'Sally Field' (qv) for many years, but she refused his numerous proposals, and they eventually broke up.
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