Farewell Burt Reynolds – By West Wales Columnist Adam Roberts

Farewell Burt Reynolds.
Written by West Wales Chronicle’s columnist Adam Roberts.

Born February 11, 1936, Burton Leon Reynolds Jr was the son of Burton Milo Reynolds and Harriet Fernette Fern. He was a mix of Dutch, English, Scottish-Irish and Scottish ancestry. He was brought up in Lansing, Michigan where he and his family lived until his father was drafted in the into the United States Army. Burt with his mother and sister moved to wherever he was based ranging from Leonard Wood, Missouri, to Europe, to Lake City Michigan where his mother was raised. They later relocated to Riviera Beach, Florida where his father eventually became Chief of Police.

Later on in life after graduating from Palm Beach High School, the star attended Florida State University where he earned an American Football Scholarship in playing position of half-back, hoping to one day have a professional career in the sport. But unfortunately due to a knee injury resulting from a car accident in his sophomore year he also lost his spleen. His team suffered a 7-0 loss to North Carolina State in October 12, 1957, he then decided to give up playing football.

With the end of his college football career Burt strongly considered becoming a police officer like his father. Disagreeing, he suggested that Burt finish college and become a parole officer. To make sure his studies were kept up to scratch, he attended Palm Beach Junior College (PBJC) and was enrolled in English taught by Watson B. Duncan III. Duncan encouraged Burt to try-out for a play that he was producing named Outward Bound. After reading from a part in Shakespeare, Burt was cast for the lead role in Watsons play, leading him on to winning the 1956 Florida State Drama Award for the performance, and later on referring to Watson in his autobiography as the most influential person in his life.

The award also included a scholarship to the Hyde Park Playhouse in New York. While studying there Reynolds met Joanne Woodward and in doing so she helped him find an agent. Hereafter being cast in a play called Tea and Sympathy at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, then later receiving promising reviews for his signature performance in a Broadway debut in Look, We’ve Come Through while on tour with the cast.

In Reynolds early TV career, he would guest star in shows like Flight, The Lawless Years and Pony Express. The first big break happened with the landing of the lead role of TV series Riverboat which was alongside Darren McGavin (1959-1961), playing the role of Ben Frazer. He eventually quit after only 20 episodes and started guest staring in basically every TV show in town.

Later on it was inevitable that Burt would go on to star in movies such as Deliverance, this was to become his first big break in the industry. This lead to other films such as Gunsmoke, Boogie Nights, White Lightning with it’s sequel Gator, which was his first directing debut.

He said:

“I waited 20 years to do it and I enjoyed it more than anything I’ve ever done in the business”

“And I happen to think it’s what I do best”

But of course we cannot forget films such as Cannonball Run with its all-star cast and especially my favourite… Smokey and the Bandit.

Reynolds made some guest starring movie roles too. Such as The Dukes of Hazzard and The Longest Yard, but by favourite my guest star appearance has to be his part in Without a Paddle. I could seriously watch that over and over again and still come out laughing every single time.

Now I could tell you about his personal life, but I really don’t want to bore you with too much reading. But if you want to find out more about the great man then please go onto Wikipedia.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this article.
Goodbye Burt, thank you for the memories………we’ll miss you!