History of Burt Reynolds in Timeline
Burt Reynolds, an American actor, achieved stardom in the 1970s and 80s. He gained initial recognition in television, with roles in series like Gunsmoke, Hawk, and Dan August. He transitioned to leading roles in films like Navajo Joe and 100 Rifles, but his breakthrough came with his role as Lewis Medlock in the movie Deliverance. Reynolds became a major box-office draw, known for his charismatic persona and action-comedy roles.
1 hour ago : Burt Reynolds' Career Regrets, Saline County Visit, and a Movie Production Disaster
Burt Reynolds expressed regret over declining iconic roles. He once visited Saline County. One of his movies faced firings, rehirings and lawsuits being called a disaster.
February 11, 1936: Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. Born
On February 11, 1936, Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. was born. He would later become an actor famous in the 1970s and 80s.
February 11, 1936: Birth of Burton Leon Reynolds Jr.
On February 11, 1936, Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. was born to Burton Milo Reynolds Sr. and Harriet Fernette "Fern" (née Miller).
1946: Family Relocation
In 1946, Burt Reynolds's family relocated to Riviera Beach, Florida, where he began a lifelong close friendship with Dick Howser.
1953: All-State Fullback
In 1953, Burt Reynolds was named a first-team All-State fullback at Palm Beach High School.
1954: First Start of the 1954 Football Season
Burt Reynolds earned his first start of the 1954 football season at right halfback in FSU's inaugural victory of the season against the University of Louisville, where he tallied a one-yard touchdown.
1955: Injury and Car Accident
In 1955, Burt Reynolds suffered torn cartilage in his right knee and was critically injured in an automobile accident, suffering internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen.
December 1956: Mister Roberts
In December 1956, Burt Reynolds was cast in a supporting role in a revival of Mister Roberts at the New York City Center.
1956: PBJC Drama Awards
In 1956, Burt Reynolds won a best actor award at the PBJC Drama Awards for his performance in a school play.
1956: Enrolls at Palm Beach Junior College
In early 1956, Burt Reynolds enrolled at Palm Beach Junior College (PBJC) to keep up with his studies.
October 12, 1957: End of Football Career
On October 12, 1957, after being blamed for the team's loss to North Carolina State University, Burt Reynolds quit the football team at Florida State University, convinced his playing days were over.
1957: Sayonara Audition
In 1957, after being arranged by director John Forsythe, Burt Reynolds auditioned for the movie Sayonara, but was told he looked too much like Marlon Brando.
1959: Riverboat
In 1959, Burt Reynolds was cast in the television series Riverboat, playing Ben Frazer, the boat's pilot.
1959: Engagement Ends
In 1959, Burt Reynolds's fiancee, Jean Hayden, wed Edwin Watson Richardson Jr. The couple never wed.
1961: Look, We've Come Through
In 1961, Burt Reynolds returned to Broadway to appear in Look, We've Come Through.
1961: Angel Baby and Armored Command
In 1961, Burt Reynolds starred in the low-budget film Angel Baby and followed it with a role in a war film Armored Command.
1962: Gunsmoke
In 1962, Burt Reynolds began appearing in the television series Gunsmoke.
1966: Hawk and Navajo Joe
In 1966, Burt Reynolds became well known in the television series Hawk and starred in the film Navajo Joe.
1966: Hawk
In 1966, Burt Reynolds was given the title role of a TV series, Hawk, playing Native American detective John Hawk.
1969: Movies in Quick Succession
In 1969, Burt Reynolds made a series of movies in quick succession, including Shark!, Fade In, Impasse, and Sam Whiskey.
1969: 100 Rifles
In 1969, Burt Reynolds played a leading role in the film 100 Rifles.
1970: M*A*S*H and Skullduggery
In 1970, Burt Reynolds declined the leading role for the film M*A*S*H, and he starred in the film Skullduggery, filmed in Jamaica.
1970: Television Films
In 1970, Burt Reynolds featured in two television films: Hunters Are for Killing and Run, Simon, Run.
1970: Dan August Premiere
In 1970, Burt Reynolds played the title character in the police television drama Dan August.
1971: Golden Globe Nomination for Dan August
In 1971, Burt Reynolds was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actor in a Television Series-Drama for "Dan August".
April 1972: Cosmopolitan Nude Layout
In April 1972, Burt Reynolds posed nude for Cosmopolitan magazine for "a kick" and because Deliverance was about to be released. He later expressed regret for the shoot, which along with talk-show appearances and the success of Deliverance, helped establish him as a major movie actor. He became a household name, the most talked-about star at the Academy Awards show.
1972: Film and Stage Appearances
In 1972, Burt Reynolds appeared in the film Fuzz with Raquel Welch and made a cameo in Woody Allen's film Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask). He also returned to the stage in The Rainmaker at the Arlington.
1972: Desire to make a good movie
In 1972, Burt Reynolds expressed his desire to make a really good movie after making many bad pictures, saying he could not turn anyone down, and that the greatest curse in Hollywood is to be a well-known unknown.
1972: Deliverance
In 1972, Burt Reynolds had his breakthrough role as Lewis Medlock in Deliverance.
1973: White Lightning
In 1973, Burt Reynolds played a leading role in the financial success White Lightning.
1973: Shamus and The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
In 1973, Burt Reynolds starred in Shamus, playing a private detective, which was a box-office success despite lackluster reviews. He also appeared in The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, which was remembered for the scandal of Sarah Miles's lover dying by suicide during filming.
1973: White Lightning and Rise in Popularity
In 1973, Burt Reynolds starred in White Lightning, which he called "the beginning of a whole series of films made in the South, about the South, and for the South." The film's success led to car-chase movies becoming his most profitable genre. At the end of 1973, he was voted into the list of the 10 most popular movie actors in the US at number four.
1974: The Longest Yard
In 1974, Burt Reynolds played a leading role in the financial success The Longest Yard.
1975: Big-Budget Films and Car-Chase Movies
In 1975, Burt Reynolds starred in two big-budget fiascos, At Long Last Love and Lucky Lady, and the more popular car-chase film W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings and the police drama Hustle.
1975: Golden Globe Nomination for The Longest Yard
In 1975, Burt Reynolds was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy for "The Longest Yard".
1976: Nickelodeon and Gable and Lombard
In 1976, Burt Reynolds appeared in the comedy Nickelodeon, which was a commercial disappointment, and turned down the part of Clark Gable in Gable and Lombard.
1976: Silent Movie Cameo
In 1976, Burt Reynolds had a cameo appearance in Mel Brooks's Silent Movie.
1976: Directorial Debut with Gator
In 1976, Burt Reynolds made his directorial debut with Gator, the sequel to White Lightning, written by William W. Norton. He said that he enjoyed directing more than anything he'd ever done in the business.
1977: Smokey and the Bandit and Semi-Tough
In 1977, Burt Reynolds had the biggest success of his career with the car-chase film Smokey and the Bandit, directed by Hal Needham. He followed it with a comedy about football players, Semi-Tough.
1977: L'Homme qui aimait les femmes Release
The original movie L'Homme qui aimait les femmes, a French film that would be later remade with Burt Reynolds in 1983, was released in 1977.
1978: Top Movie Actor
From 1978, Burt Reynolds was voted the world's number-one movie actor in the annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll.
1978: California Suite Role Rejection
In 1978, Burt Reynolds declined a leading role in California Suite, which subsequently went to Alan Alda.
1978: The End and Hooper
In 1978, Burt Reynolds directed his second film The End, a dark comedy, and starred in the comedy Hooper, directed by Hal Needham, in which he played an aging stunt man.
January 1979: Playboy Interview
In January 1979, Marlon Brando denied in a Playboy interview that he played a role in preventing Burt Reynolds from being cast as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, stating that Francis Ford Coppola wouldn't have cast Reynolds in the part.
1979: Starting Over
In 1979, Burt Reynolds played a leading role in Starting Over.
1980: Smokey and the Bandit II
In 1980, Burt Reynolds had a huge success with Smokey and the Bandit II, directed by Hal Needham.
1980: Rough Cut
In 1980, Burt Reynolds played a jewel thief in Rough Cut, produced by David Merrick.
1980: Golden Globe Nomination for Starting Over
In 1980, Burt Reynolds received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical/Comedy for "Starting Over".
1981: The Cannonball Run and Sharky's Machine
In 1981, Burt Reynolds played leading roles in The Cannonball Run and Sharky's Machine.
1981: Honorary Doctorate from Florida State University
In 1981, Burt Reynolds was awarded an honorary doctorate from Florida State University.
February 11, 1982: Appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
On February 11, 1982, Burt Reynolds appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, featuring an interview and a 'This Is Your Life'-style skit with Reynolds.
1982: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
In 1982, Burt Reynolds played a leading role in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
1982: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Best Friends
In 1982, Burt Reynolds starred in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Best Friends with Goldie Hawn. He was voted the most popular actor in the US for the fifth year in a row.
1982: Top Movie Actor
Until 1982, Burt Reynolds was voted the world's number-one movie actor in the annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll, a six-year record he shares with Bing Crosby.
1983: Smokey and the Bandit III
In 1983, Burt Reynolds played a leading role in Smokey and the Bandit III.
1983: Stroker Ace and Rejection of Terms of Endearment
In 1983, Burt Reynolds refused the role of astronaut Garrett Breedlove in Terms of Endearment, and instead starred in Stroker Ace, directed by Hal Needham. He admitted that refusing the role was a mistake.
1983: The Man Who Loved Women
In 1983, Burt Reynolds starred in The Man Who Loved Women, a remake of the 1977 film L'Homme qui aimait les femmes, but it also failed.
1983: People's Choice Awards
In 1983, Burt Reynolds won two People's Choice Awards, as Favorite Motion Picture Actor and Favorite All-Around Male.
1983: Career Turning Point
In 1983, following the failure of Stroker Ace, an unnamed producer suggested that Burt Reynolds's salaries would not decrease immediately, but further failures could lead to him being typecast, affecting his earnings. Reynolds felt that it was a turning point in his career from which he never recovered.
1984: Stayed in top 10 popular actors
Burt Reynolds remained on the list of the 10 most popular movie actors in the US until 1984, after being voted into the list in 1973.
1984: Cannonball Run II
In 1984, Burt Reynolds played a leading role in Cannonball Run II.
1984: Cannonball Run II and City Heat
In 1984, Burt Reynolds starred in Cannonball Run II, which brought in less money than the original, and City Heat, which was a critical and box-office disappointment. He was injured during the filming of City Heat, causing him chronic pain and weight loss that sparked rumors about AIDS.
1984: People's Choice Award
In 1984, Burt Reynolds won a People's Choice Award as Favorite Motion Picture Actor (tied with Clint Eastwood).
1984: Injury on "City Heat" Set
In 1984, while filming "City Heat", Burt Reynolds suffered a severe on-set injury when struck in the face with a metal chair, leading to temporomandibular joint dysfunction, a liquid diet, weight loss, and a subsequent addiction to painkillers.
1985: Stick Directing Failure
In 1985, Burt Reynolds directed Stick, from an Elmore Leonard novel, which was a critical and commercial failure.
1986: Heat
In 1986, Burt Reynolds starred in Heat, based on a novel by William Goldman.
1987: Regretting the refusal of Terms of Endearment
In 1987, Burt Reynolds expressed his regret in refusing the role in "Terms of Endearment" in 1983, stating that he felt he owed Hal more than Jim.
1987: Malone and Rent-a-Cop
In 1987, Burt Reynolds starred in Malone and Rent-a-Cop with Liza Minnelli. He said he made Heat and Malone to dispel rumors about him having AIDS.
1987: Win, Lose or Draw Co-Production
In 1987, Burt Reynolds teamed with Bert Convy to co-produce the game show Win, Lose or Draw for their production company Burt and Bert Productions. The show was based on sketch pad charades, a game he often played with friends.
1988: Switching Channels
In 1988, Burt Reynolds starred in Switching Channels, which was a box-office bomb.
1989: Bert Convy's Departure from Win, Lose or Draw
In 1989, Bert Convy quit hosting the syndicated version of Win, Lose or Draw to host 3rd Degree, also created by Reynolds and Convy.
1989: Hiring Michael Chiklis for B.L. Stryker
In 1989, Burt Reynolds hired Michael Chiklis for a role in B.L. Stryker, which Chiklis credits with rescuing his acting career after being "blackballed" for his role in the movie Wired.
1989: B.L. Stryker Detective Series
In 1989, Burt Reynolds returned to television with the detective series B.L. Stryker.
1989: Physical Evidence, Breaking In and All Dogs Go to Heaven
In 1989, Burt Reynolds starred in Physical Evidence and Breaking In, and voiced Charlie B. Barkin in the moderately successful animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven.
1990: Supporting Part in Modern Love
In 1990, Burt Reynolds played a supporting part in Modern Love.
1990: Evening Shade
In 1990, Burt Reynolds returned to television, featuring in the situation comedy Evening Shade.
1991: Golden Globe Nomination for Evening Shade
In 1991, Burt Reynolds received a Golden Globe nomination for Evening Shade as Best Actor in a TV series.
1991: People's Choice Award
In 1991, Burt Reynolds won a People's Choice Award as Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Series.
1991: Emmy Award Win
In 1991, Burt Reynolds won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in "Evening Shade".
1992: The Player Cameo
In 1992, Burt Reynolds made a cameo in The Player, playing himself complaining about people in Hollywood while on Evening Shade.
1992: Emmy Nomination
In 1992, Burt Reynolds was again nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Evening Shade, but lost to Craig T. Nelson in Coach.
1992: Golden Globe Award for Evening Shade
In 1992, Burt Reynolds won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series-Musical or Comedy for "Evening Shade".
1993: Golden Globe Nomination for Evening Shade
In 1993, Burt Reynolds received another Golden Globe nomination for Evening Shade as Best Actor in a TV series.
1993: Cop and a Half, Wind in the Wire and The Man from Left Field
In 1993, Burt Reynolds starred in the crime film Cop and a Half. He was a guest on Randy Travis's Wind in the Wire television special, and he starred in and directed the television movie The Man from Left Field.
1994: Evening Shade End
In 1994, Burt Reynolds's work on Evening Shade ended.
1998: Oscar Nomination
In 1998, Burt Reynolds was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role, but lost to Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting.
1998: Golden Globe Award for Boogie Nights
In 1998, Burt Reynolds won a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actor in "Boogie Nights".
2009: Back Surgery
In 2009, Burt Reynolds underwent back surgery to address ongoing health issues.
February 2010: Quintuple Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
In February 2010, Burt Reynolds underwent a quintuple coronary artery bypass surgery to address heart issues.
2015: Birthplace Statement
In 2015, Burt Reynolds stated that he was born in Lansing, Michigan, despite often claiming to have been born in Waycross, Georgia.
2015: Richard "Diamond" Farnsworth Award
In 2015, the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures awarded Burt Reynolds the Richard "Diamond" Farnsworth Award.
2015: Reynolds Interview with The Guardian
In a 2015 interview with The Guardian, Burt Reynolds discussed his relationship with Marlon Brando, stating that Brando didn't like him and that Reynolds didn't consciously imitate him. He even grew a mustache so that people would stop saying that he looked like Brando.
2016: Regret over declined Han Solo Role
In 2016, Burt Reynolds revealed that he declined the role of Han Solo in Star Wars, telling Business Insider that he regretted the decision.
September 6, 2018: Death
On September 6, 2018, Burt Reynolds passed away.
2018: Death and Tributes
In 2018, upon the passing of Burt Reynolds, television networks rebroadcasted his Tonight Show appearance, local media acknowledged his impact on the Georgia film industry, and the Florida State football team honored him with helmet decals during the 2018 season.
2020: "I Am Burt Reynolds" Biography and Documentary
In 2020, Nancy Lee Hess, Burt Reynolds's niece, produced a biography and documentary about him titled "I Am Burt Reynolds".
February 11, 2021: Interment at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
On February 11, 2021, Burt Reynolds was interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
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