Burt Reynolds

Lore & Background

Reynolds was born to Burton Milo Reynolds Sr. (1906–2002) and Harriet Fernette "Fern" Reynolds (née Miller, 1902–1992). During his career, Reynolds often said he was born in Waycross, Georgia, although in 2015, he stated that he was actually born in Lansing, Michigan. In his autobiography, he stated that Lansing is where his family lived when his father was drafted into the United States Army. Reynolds, his mother, and his sister joined his father at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where they subsequently lived for two years. When his father was sent to Europe, the family relocated to Lake City, Michigan, where his mother had been raised. In 1946, the family relocated to Riviera Beach, Florida. At Palm Beach High School, Reynolds lettered in football and track and was named a first-team All-State fullback in 1953. He initially was offered a college football scholarship by University of Miami head coach Andy Gustafson, but ultimately chose to play for head coach Tom Nugent at Florida State University. While at Florida State, Reynolds roomed with future college football coach, broadcaster, and analyst Lee Corso, and also became a brother in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He 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. Despite suffering a separated shoulder in the middle of the season, Reynolds finished his freshman season with 16 carries for 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns. In 1955, Reynolds was slated to start in the backfield for the Seminoles, but suffered a torn cartilage in his right knee during preseason workouts. After testing the injured knee in a "B" game versus Georgia Tech, Reynolds realized he could not make cuts like he once did and left school. A week later, Reynolds underwent knee surgery at St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach. His surgeon predicted he could resume his playing career the following year. However, two months later, Reynolds, then 19, was critically injured in an automobile accident on Florida State Road A1A, suffering internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen, after colliding with a stalled truck. Reynolds did not return to the Florida State campus for almost two years. To keep up with his studies, he enrolled at Palm Beach Junior College (PBJC) in neighboring Lake Park in early 1956. When Reynolds returned to Florida

Reader's Guide

Reynolds played leading roles in films such as White Lightning (1973), The Longest Yard (1974), Smokey and the Bandit (1977) (which started a seven-year box-office reign), Semi-Tough (1977), The End (1978), Hooper (1978), Starting Over (1979), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), The Cannonball Run (1981), Sharky's Machine (1981), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Smokey and the Bandit III (1983), and Cannonball Run II (1984), several of which he directed. He was nominated twice for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Reynolds was voted the world's number-one most bankable movie star from 1978 to 1982 in the annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll, a five-year record he shared with Bing Crosby, Clint Eastwood, and Tom Hanks, until Tom Cruise surpassed them all in 2001. After a number of box-office failures, Reynolds returned to television. He starred in the situation comedy Evening Shade (1990–1994), for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. His performance as high-minded pornographer Jack Horner in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights (1997) brought him renewed critical acclaim, earning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, as well as nominations for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Did You Know?

• Reynolds was born to Burton Milo Reynolds Sr. and Harriet Fernette Reynolds.
• He was critically injured in an automobile accident at age 19, suffering a ruptured spleen.
• Reynolds roomed with future college football coach Lee Corso at Florida State University.
• He won a best actor award at the 1956 PBJC Drama Awards for a school play called Outward Bound.
• Reynolds was voted the world's number-one most bankable movie star from 1978 to 1982.