Growing up
Burt Reynolds was born on February 11, 1936, in Lansing, Michigan. As he reveals in the memoirs, his relationship with parents Fern and Burton Raynolds was quite complicated. While his mom was the emotional and supportive one, his dad was more judgmental and hard on expressing positive emotions.
Burt Reynolds was born on February 11, 1936, in Lansing, Michigan. As he reveals in the memoirs, his relationship with parents Fern and Burton Raynolds was quite complicated. While his mom was the emotional and supportive one, his dad was more judgmental and hard on expressing positive emotions.
Burt’s family moved to Riviera Beach when he was ten. He found satisfaction in playing football and was pretty good at it. In fact, his football talent got him scholarship offers from several universities. He picked Florida State University and continued to play the position of halfback while also being a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Burt’s family moved to Riviera Beach when he was ten. He found satisfaction in playing football and was pretty good at it. In fact, his football talent got him scholarship offers from several universities. He picked Florida State University and continued to play the position of halfback while also being a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Reynolds was a part of his school football team from 1954 to 1957. Due to some injuries, he was forced to quit before he wanted to. He did get to relive this part of his life as he was shooting The Longest Yard in 1974, where he was cast as a professional quarterback. Burt’s father advised him to become a parole officer, which he did.
Reynolds was a part of his school football team from 1954 to 1957. Due to some injuries, he was forced to quit before he wanted to. He did get to relive this part of his life as he was shooting The Longest Yard in 1974, where he was cast as a professional quarterback. Burt’s father advised him to become a parole officer, which he did.
Reynolds took different classes at Palm Beach Junior College, among which was a life-changing English class. Professor Watson B. Duncan III, who was teaching the said class, recognized the acting potential in Reynolds and made him audition for a play Outward Bound. Reynolds got the leading role and so his acting career started.
Reynolds took different classes at Palm Beach Junior College, among which was a life-changing English class. Professor Watson B. Duncan III, who was teaching the said class, recognized the acting potential in Reynolds and made him audition for a play Outward Bound. Reynolds got the leading role and so his acting career started.
The now famous actor never minded taking on racy roles. He wasn’t shy and getting naked was not a problem. All this lead to him posing nude for Cosmopolitan in 1972. The issue came out after the releasing of his movie Deliverance. In the memoirs, Reynolds said that he actually regrets his decision to pose nude.
The now famous actor never minded taking on racy roles. He wasn’t shy and getting naked was not a problem. All this lead to him posing nude for Cosmopolitan in 1972. The issue came out after the releasing of his movie Deliverance. In the memoirs, Reynolds said that he actually regrets his decision to pose nude.
During his rich career, Reynolds turned down two big roles that he probably regrets now. The first one was the role of Han Solo in Star Wars film (for which Harrison Ford was cast) and the other was the role of James Bond after Sean Connery. Reynolds explained he had turned it down because he didn’t think it was fit for an American actor.
During his rich career, Reynolds turned down two big roles that he probably regrets now. The first one was the role of Han Solo in Star Wars film (for which Harrison Ford was cast) and the other was the role of James Bond after Sean Connery. Reynolds explained he had turned it down because he didn’t think it was fit for an American actor.
It’s not a secret that Reynolds was popular with the ladies in his early acting days. Burt was particularly attracted to sporty girls, and famously dated professional tennis player Chris Evert for a while. She explained why their relationship was special to her: “If Burt likes you, he really takes good care of you. Successful women aren’t a threat to him, and I think that’s what attracted me to him.” It’s not a secret that Reynolds was popular with the ladies in his early acting days.
Burt was particularly attracted to sporty girls, and famously dated professional tennis player Chris Evert for a while. She explained why their relationship was special to her: “If Burt likes you, he really takes good care of you. Successful women aren’t a threat to him, and I think that’s what attracted me to him.”
In the memoir But Enough About Me, the actor said everything that was on his mind. He has surely been through a lot during his 60-year-long career. That also means he must have numerous regrets. During the ‘70s, he was considered “the perfect actor,” but his career went a bit downhill as the years went by. Reynolds admitted he took various roles for completely random reasons, for example, a particular actress in the cast.
In the memoir But Enough About Me, the actor said everything that was on his mind. He has surely been through a lot during his 60-year-long career. That also means he must have numerous regrets. During the ‘70s, he was considered “the perfect actor,” but his career went a bit downhill as the years went by. Reynolds admitted he took various roles for completely random reasons, for example, a particular actress in the cast.
Burt met Dinah Shore, who was 20 years older then him, in 1970 on a talk show. He was 35, she was 54. Reynolds remembers Dinah kindly: “I’d never met anyone like her. I realized there was a big age gap between us but it didn’t make the slightest difference. I was already in love with her…” The two dated for four years but broke up because Dinah couldn’t give Burt children.
Burt met Dinah Shore, who was 20 years older then him, in 1970 on a talk show. He was 35, she was 54. Reynolds remembers Dinah kindly: “I’d never met anyone like her. I realized there was a big age gap between us but it didn’t make the slightest difference. I was already in love with her…” The two dated for four years but broke up because Dinah couldn’t give Burt children.
Reynolds’ acting career wasn’t the only one he’s had in his life. He was also successful in sports, as already mentioned, modeling and singing. His debut album Ask Me What I Am came out in 1973 and did pretty well. The album included a huge poster of the actor/singer in his famous jumpsuit and a cowboy hat.
Reynolds’ acting career wasn’t the only one he’s had in his life. He was also successful in sports, as already mentioned, modeling and singing. His debut album Ask Me What I Am came out in 1973 and did pretty well. The album included a huge poster of the actor/singer in his famous jumpsuit and a cowboy hat.
In 1982, Reynolds starred in 1982’s The Best Little House in Texas, along legendary Dolly Parton. The movie was an adaptation of a 1978 musical of the same name. The production had to change its title to less controversial The Best Little Cathouse in Texas for some printed ads.
In 1982, Reynolds starred in 1982’s The Best Little House in Texas, along legendary Dolly Parton. The movie was an adaptation of a 1978 musical of the same name. The production had to change its title to less controversial The Best Little Cathouse in Texas for some printed ads.
Reynolds had one famous roommate while he was in college at Florida State University. It was Lee Corso, who later became legendary ESPN broadcaster and analyst. Corso’s other roommate in the college days was Ron Fraser, the University of Miami baseball team coach.
Reynolds had one famous roommate while he was in college at Florida State University. It was Lee Corso, who later became legendary ESPN broadcaster and analyst. Corso’s other roommate in the college days was Ron Fraser, the University of Miami baseball team coach.
Reynolds dated many women in the ‘70s, but his greatest love remained the actress Sally Field. The two of them met on the set while they were filming the 1997’s Smokey and the Bandit. Reynolds claims they had an intense chemistry that couldn’t be denied so they soon started dating. Burt and Sally stared in four movies together. Burt even called her one of the most underrated Hollywood actresses and said he was lucky to have been working with her. They dated for five years.
Reynolds dated many women in the ‘70s, but his greatest love remained the actress Sally Field. The two of them met on the set while they were filming the 1997’s Smokey and the Bandit. Reynolds claims they had an intense chemistry that couldn’t be denied so they soon started dating. Burt and Sally stared in four movies together. Burt even called her one of the most underrated Hollywood actresses and said he was lucky to have been working with her. They dated for five years.
Braking up with Field remains one of Reynolds’ biggest regrets. He was quoted saying: “She was the love of my life and I screwed the relationship up. That sense of loss never goes away.” To this day, he still misses her. And even though both of them went on to marry other people, they are currently both single.
Braking up with Field remains one of Reynolds’ biggest regrets. He was quoted saying: “She was the love of my life and I screwed the relationship up. That sense of loss never goes away.” To this day, he still misses her. And even though both of them went on to marry other people, they are currently both single.
In 1988, Burt Reynolds married WKRP in Cincinnati star, Loni Anderson. They met on the set of 1983’s comedy Stoker Ice which turned out to be a complete failure. Everybody saw them as Hollywood’s golden couple during the ’80, but their marriage ended in 1993. Today, Reynolds regrets marrying Loni and even calls it a “dumb move on his part” in the memoir.
In 1988, Burt Reynolds married WKRP in Cincinnati star, Loni Anderson. They met on the set of 1983’s comedy Stoker Ice which turned out to be a complete failure. Everybody saw them as Hollywood’s golden couple during the ’80, but their marriage ended in 1993. Today, Reynolds regrets marrying Loni and even calls it a “dumb move on his part” in the memoir.
As it turns out, Burt didn’t actually want to marry Loni. Though he thought she was beautiful, his heart wasn’t on the same page. In the autobiography, the actor remembered the day they got married: “On the way to the ceremony, my best man, the American football player Vic Prinzi, said: ‘Do you really want to do this?’…No, I don’t.” As it turns out, Burt didn’t actually want to marry Loni.
Though he thought she was beautiful, his heart wasn’t on the same page. In the autobiography, the actor remembered the day they got married: “On the way to the ceremony, my best man, the American football player Vic Prinzi, said: ‘Do you really want to do this?’…No, I don’t.”
Despite the hesitance when it came to their marriage, Loni and Burt adopted a baby boy Quinton Anderson. Quinton is today in his late 20s and, like his parents, works in the film industry. He chose a bit different path and stayed behind the camera and a camera operator and film crew assistant.
Despite the hesitance when it came to their marriage, Loni and Burt adopted a baby boy Quinton Anderson. Quinton is today in his late 20s and, like his parents, works in the film industry. He chose a bit different path and stayed behind the camera and a camera operator and film crew assistant.
The one thing that bothered Burt the most about Loni was her careless spending during their marriage. As he wrote in the memoirs, “She bought everything in triplicate, from every day dresses to jewelry to china and linens…I gave her a platinum American Express card with a $45,000 credit limit. She maxed it out in half an hour.” That partially explains the drama around their divorce in 1993. The actor has just finished paying the divorce settlement two years ago, when he was 79.
The one thing that bothered Burt the most about Loni was her careless spending during their marriage. As he wrote in the memoirs, “She bought everything in triplicate, from every day dresses to jewelry to china and linens…I gave her a platinum American Express card with a $45,000 credit limit. She maxed it out in half an hour.” That partially explains the drama around their divorce in 1993. The actor has just finished paying the divorce settlement two years ago, when he was 79.
As it is the case many times in divorce settlements, Reynolds spent a fortune in the process. He filed for bankruptcy in 2006. He then attempted to sell his Floridian home at $1.5 million. It was not easy to sell it and the price dropped down to $1 million after four years. It was a prestigious house that included a movie theater and two room guest house.
As it is the case many times in divorce settlements, Reynolds spent a fortune in the process. He filed for bankruptcy in 2006. He then attempted to sell his Floridian home at $1.5 million. It was not easy to sell it and the price dropped down to $1 million after four years. It was a prestigious house that included a movie theater and two room guest house.
Burt has already been married once before his marriage to Loni. His first wife was Judy Carne to whom he was married from 1963 to 1965. The actress sadly passed away in 2015 aged 76. Besides Reynolds, she had dated another Hollywood heartbreaker, Warren Beatty.
Burt has already been married once before his marriage to Loni. His first wife was Judy Carne to whom he was married from 1963 to 1965. The actress sadly passed away in 2015 aged 76. Besides Reynolds, she had dated another Hollywood heartbreaker, Warren Beatty.
Burt lived a single life for over 20 years between his first marriage to Carne and his second marriage to Loni. In the meantime, he had great time dating some of Hollywood’s most gorgeous actresses. Among them was the late Farrah Fawcett, who starred in 1981’s The Cannonball Run.
Burt lived a single life for over 20 years between his first marriage to Carne and his second marriage to Loni. In the meantime, he had great time dating some of Hollywood’s most gorgeous actresses. Among them was the late Farrah Fawcett, who starred in 1981’s The Cannonball Run.
Reynolds then dated and lived with beautiful Miko Mayama. They starred together in the 1969’s Impasse. Burt fell in love with Dihan Shore next, immediately after meeting her. He returned home to tell Miko he was in love with someone else. Burt offered Miko the beach house, Cadillac, and $500 per week, which she accepted and immediately moved out.
Reynolds then dated and lived with beautiful Miko Mayama. They starred together in the 1969’s Impasse. Burt fell in love with Dihan Shore next, immediately after meeting her. He returned home to tell Miko he was in love with someone else. Burt offered Miko the beach house, Cadillac, and $500 per week, which she accepted and immediately moved out.