Burt Reynolds
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Last Updated: 6/28/26
Real Name: Burton Leon Reynolds, Jr.
Born: February 11, 1936
Died: September 6, 2018 (Aged 82)
Height: 5' 10"
Grade: A
Actor/Movie Star: 20%-80%
Prime Years: 1972-87 and 1997
Most Famous Film: Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Most Infamous Film: Cop and a Half (1993)
Most Famous TV Show: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1971-92)
Masterpiece: Deliverance (1972), White Lightning (1973), and Boogie Nights (1997)
Outstanding: The Longest Yard (1974), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Hooper (1978),
Sharky's Machine (1981), and Heat (1986)
Honorable: Hustle (1975)
Opinion:
With or without mustache? I prefer it on, but the resemblance to Marlon Brando is uncanny. A huge, huge, huge
movie star, Burt Reynolds is 100% charismastic, representing the South so well that it's impossible to separate
these two. What many people fail to realize is he's a very competent actor. Sure, Burt Reynolds plays himself
all the time, but how he takes on different characters and absorbs the ambience isn't an easy feat as
perfectly illustrated in White Lightning. Even his surprise cameos in obscure films and TV shows such
as The Golden Girls, Sherman's March (which includes a Burt Reynolds lookalike who easily passes
muster), and Beverly Hills, 90210 are worth the price of admission
Furthermore, Burt Reynolds is an icon in the mold of Clark Gable. That's why he was box-office champ for
five consecutive years, a record that stands to this day which is shared with Bing Crosby. Although enormously
famous for Smokey and the Bandit, the foremost film on anybody's mind should be Deliverance when
Burt Reynolds shockingly gave the greatest performance of his career as Lewis Medlock. Making a dramatic
comeback in Boogie Nights after years of ugly divorce from Loni Anderson and bankruptcy, the good ol' boy
proved once again that he could act with the best of them.
Confirmed:
Had lied for many decades about being born in Waycross, Georgia (it was actually Lansing, Michigan) but did it
to preserve his supposedly Southern pedigree. Was nicknamed "Buddy" from early age because his father was
"Big Burt." Father fought in the Battle of the Bulge and the D-Day Invasion during WWII, having been promoted to
the rank of colonel. After he returned from overseas, the family moved to Florida. Father became chief of police
while mother worked as a head nurse at a hospital.
Was constantly getting into trouble and got disciplined by his father through belt whippings. Spent two days
in jail on purpose by his father and was never in trouble again afterwards. Made friends with a kid named James
Hooks who had a rough upbringing and decided he should go home with him, causing his parents to adopt him
legally in the future.
Worked as a stuntman for years, hence the film Hooper to pay homage, and was an expert driver as seen
in Deliverance, White Lightning, Gator, and Smokey and the Bandit.
Made fun of himself constantly and was always blunt about his shortcomings. Named Deliverance the best
film he had ever worked on.
Rumors: None.