Burt Reynolds - Biography

Last Editor: sandrine_some				Burt Reynolds Biography -   Name : Burt Reynolds Birth Name : Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. Date of Birth : February 11, 1936 Place of Birth : Waycross, Georgia, USA Height : 6'0 Education : Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL Nationality : American Profession : actor, director, producer, casting director

Burt Reynolds Trivia -

His former fiancée Pam Seals has filed an assault and palimony suit against him, one day after he filed a suit of his own accusing her of blackmail. (November 11, 2004) Filed a lawsuit against his longtime girlfriend, claiming she is trying to blackmail him. (November 9, 2004) Filming of a $3 million movie starring Burt Reynolds, FISH IN A BARREL, is expected to begin in two weeks in southern Indiana. (December 3, 2003) Along with Mary Tyler Moore, Reynold stars in a made-for-TV movie tentatively titled, MISS LETTIE AND ME (September, 2002) The Number 1 actor at the box office for five years in a row (1978 through 1982), Reynolds gave up his cinema crown to Clint Eastwood in 1983. THE CANNONBALL RUN (1981), his zany comedy, was one of the earlier films to tack amusing outtake footage onto the end of the movie. Among its outtake gems, debonair Roger Moore was shown uncharacteristically spewing a few bleeped” expletives when he muffed a line. In 1968, Reynolds tested for a role in the horror film ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), but Roman Polanski ended up casting John Cassavetes for the part. Despised BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997) so much, he fired his agent immediately after viewing a screening of the film. This was before the critical raves after the New York Film Festival occured. He was then convinced by Paul Thomas Anderson to promote the film on a radio tour, and was further enraged at Anderson's behavior -- constantly not letting Reynolds speak. Reynolds pointedly refused to participate in Anderson's next project, MAGNOLIA (1999). He refused the role that earned Jack Nicholson an Oscar in TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983). To this day, Reynolds comments that this was one of his most terrible mistakes. He has also refused the part of James Bond, during the seventies, and he also refused the role Kevin Kline played in SOAPDISH (1991), with Sally Field, because his then wife, Loni Anderson, told him that the whole Hollywood would laugh at her (Reynolds and Field once had a very publicized love affair). He was the first actor ever asked to guest-host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Prior to Reynolds, only comedians had been invited. His first guest? Ex-wife Judy Carne, whom he hadn't spoken to in over six years after a very bitter divorce. He bared almost all for a Cosmopolitan centerfold in 1972. He was seriously involved with actress Inger Stevens shortly before her suicide in 1970. He has to this day respectfully refused to discuss the relationship. There is a rumor that he was originally cast as Michael Corleone in THE GODFATHER (1972) but, Marlon Brando wouldn't act with him, considering him more a TV star. The set in WIN, LOSE OR DRAW (1987) was modeled after his living room. Was considered the lead role of John Brent in BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1970).

Burt Reynolds Detailed Biography -

Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Burt Reynolds continues to be one of the world's best recognized, most beloved superstars who also enjoys a professional reputation as a subtle, polished actor and director. Orson Welles once said of him, "Success is Burt Reynolds' only handicap. Some of our finest actors have survived the stigma of being Number One at the box-office!" His successes have been recognized by receiving The People’s Choice Award as "Favorite All Around Motion Picture Actor" for a record six consecutive years, as well as being named "The Most Popular Star" for five years running, and receiving "The Star of the Year" and #1 Box Office Star for five years in a row from The National Association of Theatre Owners, still an unmatched record. Burt co-stars with Richard Dreyfuss in Disney’s comedy, "The Crew", playing over-the-hill mobsters who return to work in Miami, for release in August 2000. He has just finished filming an independent feature "The Hollywood Sign", co-starring with Rod Steiger and Tom Berrenger and has also completed directing and starring in "The Last Producer", with Ann-Margret, Benjamin Bratt and Lauren Holly, in which he plays a film producer pursuing his last big chance in Hollywood, for release later this year. He also co-starred in Disney’s "Mystery, Alaska" with Russell Crowe and last year directed and starred in Turner Network's most ambitious project yet, "Hard Time", a 6 hour movie thriller trilogy. These original films, co-starring Oscar nominees Robert Duvall, Charles Durning and Billy Dee Williams, received excellent reviews and ratings. Burt starred in the critically acclaimed "Boogie Nights", with Mark Wahlberg and Julianne Moore, which won him the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. The New York Film Critics, The Los Angeles Film Critics, The Chicago Film Critics and The National Society of Film Critics all named him Best Supporting Actor in their 1998 Awards List. He was also nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actor category for "Boogie Nights". He returned to the medium where he first began his incredible career -- television - with "Evening Shade ", the warm-hearted comedy series. Starring Burt and a superb cast of headliner-star supporting players, the show was produced by Burt Reynolds Productions in conjunction with CBS and Mozark Productions - with Reynolds as the executive producer and, more often than not, director. "Evening Shade" in 1990 marked the year of the first "Triple Crown", a ninth People's Choice Award for Burt, this time as "Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series", the 1991 Emmy Award for "Best Performance in a Comedy" and the Golden Globe Award for "Best Performance in a Comedy". Reynolds performed on live television in the 1950's and has made more than 200 TV appearances, including such series as "Riverboat", "Gunsmoke", "Hawk", "Dan August" and "B.L. Stryker", which Burt produced in his native Florida. He additionally hosted his very own highly-rated specials titled "Burt Reynolds' Conversations with...". He is equally at home on the legitimate stage, having performed in New York as well as in numerous productions throughout the country. His professional stage debut was with Charlton Heston in the 1956 New York revival of "Mr. Roberts", directed by John Forsythe.He made his Broadway debut in "Look, We've Come Through" for director Jose Quintero. Reynolds has directed eight productions, and starred in two, at the Jupiter Theatre which he founded in Jupiter, Florida. He also toured the United States with his one man show entitled "An Evening with Burt Reynolds" and continues to perform the piece occasionally when time permits. He has a remarkable roster of over 50 feature films and has a wide range of dramatic skills throughout his comprehensive body of cinematic achievement. Among his personal favorite films are the highly-praised, Oscar nominated "Deliverance" (in which Burt's memorable portrayal of "Lewis" was hailed as exceptional by the critics, including Time Magazine), "Starting Over", "The Longest Yard", "Sharkey's Machine", "Smokey And The Bandit" and "The End". Reynolds' movie credits also include "White Lightning", "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing", "Hustle", "Semi-Tough", "Hooper", "Stroker Ace", "Best Little Whorehouse In Texas", "Cop and a Half", "Striptease" among others. He has also been equally at home behind the cameras, directing "Gator", "Sharkey's Machine" and "The End". He is considered as one of the industry's strongest directors of stunt sequences, high-intensity action movies and comedy. He starred, directed, and produced the CBS Television Movie "The Man From Left Field". His Autobiography "My Life" immediately hit the best selling lists and was an international success. Burt's commitment to his profession and devotion to education can perhaps be best exemplified by the program he created to give college students scholastic credit and wages for their work while obtaining an education at the Burt Reynolds Institute for Theatre (B.R.I.T.T.) located in Tequesta, Florida. Reynolds created a chair at Florida State University by donating a hefty contribution as well as to the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. Burt received the prestigious "Children At Heart Award" in June 2000, for his humanitarian efforts benefiting and aiding the children of Chernobyl. The Children of Chernobyl Organization has rescued over 1600 children from the horrific conditions that the Chernobyl fall-out has created.