Burt Reynolds

When Burt first saw Boogie Nights, he hated it so much he fired his agent. However, after it received rave reviews from the critics, he was persuaded to go on a radio promotion tour by director Paul Thomas Anderson. Strangely, Anderson hogged the mic so much that about a week into the tour, Burt punched him in the face and quit the tour.

Frank Sinatra, a fairly engaging personality himself, was a big Burt Reynolds fan : "He is the one the ladies like to dance with and their husbands like to drink with. He is the larger-than-life actor of our times. He is gifted, talented, naughty and nice."

Burt's automotive "costar" in Smokey and the Bandit was a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Limited Edition. Strangely enough, following the film's spectacular success, sales of a competing muscle-car, the Chevrolet Camaro, increased by 500%. This windfall prompted a grateful Chevrolet to promise Burt a new Camaro every year in perpetuity, a promise that lasted for five years.

According to the Quigley Publications annual poll of movie exhibitors, Burt placed among the top ten money-making movie stars 12 times - including five consecutive years at #1 from 1978 to 1982.

Burt lost the 1997 Razzie award for Worst Supporting Actor to Marlon Brando by a single vote. Reynolds was nominated for his performance in Striptease and Brando for his effort in The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Burt is mentioned in Bruce Springsteen's song "Cadillac Ranch". "James Dean in that Mercury '49 Junior Johnson runnin' thru the woods of Caroline Even Burt Reynolds in that black Trans-Am All gonna meet down at the Cadillac Ranch"

Burt dated Sally Field on and off over several years, proposing marriage many times, each time being rejected.

In the mid-1990's, while married to Loni Anderson, Burt fought a battle against pain pill addiction. He was taking over 60 Percocet per day.

In 1996, Burt declared bankruptcy after a string of failed movies and a bitter public divorce from Loni Anderson damaged his marketability.

Burt posed nearly nude in the 1972 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine's centerfold.

Burt was honored by Chabad's Children of Chernobyl in 2000. As of 2010, the organization has rescued over 2,500 children from the terrible conditions created by radioactive fall-out from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor failure.

Burt created a program to give college students scholastic credits as well as wages for their work while obtaining their education at the Burt Reynolds Institute for Theater (BRITT) in Tequesta, Florida.

Burt's autobiography My Life went straight to the best seller's list and was an international success.

Burt made his big screen debut in 1961, in the movie Angel Baby, but his breakout performance didn't come until 1972, when he starred in the controversial Deliverance.

Burt was drafted by the Baltimore Colts National Football League, but declined their offer.

Burt's favorite movies are: Starting Over, The End, Smokey & The Bandit, and Deliverance.

Burt and Richard Dreyfuss appeared together as over-the-hill mobsters trying to pull one last job in Disney's hit comedy The Crew(2000).

Burt founded the Jupiter Theater, in Jupiter, Florida. He directed eight productions, and starred in two movie roles in that theater.

Burt made his Broadway debut when he appeared in director Jose Quintero's Look, We've Come Through.

Burt's professional stage debut was with the legendary Charlton Heston in a 1956 New York revival of Mr. Roberts.

Burt was named 'The Most Popular Star', 'The Star Of The Year', and '#1 Box Office Star' for five years in a row from the National Association of Theater Owners.

Burt has receieved the 'People's Choice Award' for 'Favorite All Around Motion Picture Actor' for a record six consecutive years.

Burt returned to Florida State University in Palm Beach after making a full recovery from his knee injury. He changed his major from athletics to drama, and soon won the 1956 'Florida State Drama Award'.

Burt suffered a knee injury in 1955 and then was seriously injured in a car accident, after which he came home from Palm Beach to Riviera Beach to recover. While his injuries were healing, he took classes at Palm Beach Junior College. It was there that he met Watson Duncan III, the English professor who inspired him to try acting.

Burt graduated from Palm Beach high school and went on to Florida State University on a college football scholarship, becoming an all-star Southern Conference halfback.

Burt adopted a son, Quinton, in 1988.

Reynolds stars in a commercial for Miller Lite as a Member of the Square Table creating Man-Laws. (2006)