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Burt Reynolds Dead at 82: Friends Say Goodbye to a Legend

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Millions of fans are saying goodbye to a classic, beloved movie star. Burt Reynolds suffered a fatal heart attack on the morning of September 6, 2018, at the age of 82. Reynolds was a unique talent who was once the highest paid leading man in all of Hollywood.

Country music legend Dolly Parton starred with Reynolds in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). Yesterday Parton issued a statement on her friend’s passing. “Oh, how sad I am today along with Burt’s millions of fans around the world as we mourn one of our favorite leading men. I know we will always remember his funny laugh, that mischievous sparkle in his eyes, and his quirky sense of humor. You will always be my favorite sheriff, rest in peace, my little buddy. I will always love you, Dolly.” Parton’s character in the 1982 film had an affair with the Texas sheriff played by Reynolds. She once joked that she’d told producers she wanted to see more romance in the script because she didn’t want to miss her chance to kiss Burt Reynolds. Off-screen, it was rumored that the stars were more than friends. Whether their romance was real or not, Reynolds and Parton were perfectly cast in the cult classic.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Burt Reynolds was born in 1936 in Lansing, Michigan, despite the fact he maintained for years that he’d been born in Waycross, Georgia. His early acting roles included a stint on TV’s Gunsmoke. According to a tweet by Patton Oswald, “Burt Reynolds & Clint Eastwood were fired from GUNSMOKE & RAWHIDE at the same time. Burt was told he couldn’t act and Clint his neck was too skinny. In the parking lot, Burt said to Clint, “I dunno what you’re gonna do, but I’m gonna take acting lessons.”

Reynolds went on to star in blockbusters like Smokey & the Bandit. In 1997, Reynolds received a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role in Boogie Nights. He was married twice, to Judy Carne from 1963 to 1965, and to Loni Anderson from 1988 to 1993. He is survived by the son he adopted with Anderson.