Legendary actor Burt Reynolds has died aged 82.
Known for ‘70s classic Smokey and the Bandit, actor Burt Reynolds has sadly passed away today at the age of 82.
According to US Weekly, the charismatic Hollywood star died Thursday morning at the Jupiter Medical Centre in Florida following a heart attack. He had previously undergone bypass surgery in 2010.
Burt Reynolds shot to fame in 1972 after starring in the horror classic, Deliverance. But his appearance in Smokey and the Bandit in 1977 soon made him a household name. It was this frivolous popcorn fayre that Reynolds built his early career around.
But while he was known for lighter movies, he soon turned his attention to more serious acting.
“I didn’t open myself to new writers or risky parts because I wasn’t interested in challenging myself as an actor. I was interested in having a good time,” he recalled in his memoir, But Enough About Me. “As a result, I missed a lot of opportunities to show I could play serious roles. By the time I finally woke up and tried to get it right, nobody would give me a chance.”
But Reynolds came close to Oscar victory with the 1997 hit, Boogie Nights.
Starring alongside Mark Wahlberg, Reynolds played porn filmmaker Jack Horner in the critically-acclaimed American drama. Nominated for Best Supporting Actor, he missed out to Robin Williams who deservedly snagged the gong for Good Will Hunting.
But despite this, Reynolds already had a stellar career.
In fact, in 1978 he headlined 4 movies all on release at the same.
“Burt Reynolds was one of my heroes,” said Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Tweet. “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 Reynolds starred in Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit, Semi-Tough, Hooper, Smokey and the Bandit II, The Cannonball Run, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Burt Reynolds died 9th September aged 82.
