The recent passing of 82-year-old iconic actor, director, and producer Burt Reynolds (1926–2018) from a heart attack earlier this month brought heartbreaking reactions from fans and fellow celebrities.
Reynold’s friend, actress and country singer Dolly Parton posted on her Facebook following Reynold’s death:
“Oh, how sad I am today along with Burt’s millions of fans around the world as we mourn one of our favorite leading men. I know we will always remember his funny laugh, that mischievous sparkle in his eyes, and his quirky sense of humor. You will always be my favorite sheriff. Rest in peace, my little buddy, and I will always love you.”
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger also shared his respect for Reynolds:
“Burt Reynolds was one of my heroes. He was a trailblazer. He showed the way to transition from being an athlete to being the highest-paid actor, and he always inspired me. He also had a great sense of humor — check out his Tonight Show clips. My thoughts are with his family.”
Burt Reynold Movies We’ll Never Forget
Reynolds was most known for his acting roles in the movies Deliverance (1972), The Longest Yard (1974), Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and its sequel Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), The Cannonball Run (1981), and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982).
More recently, he appeared in the films Boogie Nights (1997), Mystery, Alaska (1999), Broken Bridges (2006), The Last Movie Star (2017), and Miami Love Affair (2017).
He also was well-known for his TV roles in Gunsmoke (1962–1965) and Evening Shade (1990–1994).
Burt Reynolds’ Romances Engaged the Public
Reynolds had a larger-than-life personality, as well as a number of high-profile romances throughout his life.
His relationships included singer-actress Dinah Shore, actress Faye Dunaway, Miss America 1976 Tawny Little, country singer Tammy Wynette, tennis champion Chris Evert, actress Adrienne Barbeau, and actress Sally Field. And his marriages included English actress Judy Carne and American actress Loni Anderson.
Sally Field’s Connection to Burt Reynolds
Actress Sally Field and Burt Reynolds dated from 1977 to 1982, and while they never married, they had a special relationship that it turns out neither one ever forgot.
Reynolds and Field starred in many movies together, including Smokey and the Bandit and Smokey and the Bandit II, Hopper (1978), and The End (1978).
Field is also known for her roles in the TV sitcoms Gidget (1965–1966) and The Flying Nun (1967–1970) and her movie roles in Sybil (1976), Norma Rae (1979), Places in the Heart (1994), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Forrest Gump (1994), and, most recently, The Amazing Spiderman (2012).
The Love of His Life
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Reynolds told Vanity Fair magazine in 2015 that Sally Field was “the love of my life.”
He went on to tell the magazine: “[I] miss her terribly. Even now, it’s hard on me. I don’t know why I was so stupid. Men are like that, you know. You find the perfect person, and then you do everything you can to screw it up.”
Field and Reynold originally met in 1977 while filming Smokey and the Bandit, and they began dating soon afterward. They dated for four years before parting ways. But Reynolds never knew Field felt the same regret that he did.
After Reynolds passed earlier this month, Field released a heartfelt statement about Reynolds: “There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away. They stay alive, even 40 years later. My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy.”
Check out the video below to learn more about Burt Reynolds and Sally Field’s extraordinary relationship.
