Burt Reynolds – Biography, Net Worth, Cause of Death, Wife and Children

Quick Facts

The late actor and filmmaker Burt Reynolds may be gone, but his legacies in the world of show business certainly lived on. With his amazing talents and charming persona, he endeared himself to TV audiences and moviegoers across generations. As a young actor, he found fame in the 1960s and 70s on television series like Gunsmoke, Hawk and Dan August. He later attained Hollywood A-list status following his breakout performance in the highly-acclaimed 1972 thriller film Deliverance.

With subsequent performances in highly successful films of the 70s and 80s, Reynolds proved to be a serial box-office star. The talented actor returned to the small screen in the early 90s when he headlined the sitcom Evening Shade winning a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award in the process. The Hollywood star received the highest plaudits of his career, including an Oscar nomination, for his role as Jack Horner in the 1997 film Boogie Nights.

Burt Reynolds’ Biography

This iconic Hollywood actor was born Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. on the 11th day of February 1936 in Lansing, Michigan but his family moved around several times owing to the nature of his father’s job. They later settled in Riviera Beach, Florida and there, he attended Palm Beach High School.

Reynolds was a star football player in high school and upon graduation, he earned a football scholarship to Florida State University where he played halfback. However, his hopes of making a career of it were thwarted after he incurred a series of injuries during his sophomore season. He began taking classes at Palm Beach Junior College (PBJC) while recuperating from his injuries and there, he was inspired to audition for the play Outward Bound. He gave an impeccable performance in the play and this marked the beginning of his career as a stage actor.

Burt Reynolds ultimately delved into the world of film and television in the late 1950s and early 60s. His first major TV role was in the western series Riverboat (1959-60) and he later starred in another western series Gunsmoke (1962-65). He played the titular role of Detective Lt. John Hawk in the short-lived crime series Hawk (1966) and he was also the lead star of two other crime series Dan August (1970-71) and B.L. Stryker (1989-90).

Reynolds was on the main cast of the sitcoms Out of This World (1987-91) and Evening Shade (1990-94). His work on the Evening Shade earned him one Golden Globe Award out of 3 nominations and one Primetime Emmy Award out of 2 nominations. He also had a countless number of guest roles and he featured in several made-for-TV films.

Burt Reynolds had his breakthrough film role in the hit movie Deliverance (1972) which also featured . He cemented his leading man status by starring in several other commercially-successful movies including The Longest Yard (1974), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Semi-Tough (1977), Hooper (1978), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), The Cannonball Run (1981), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and Cop and a Half (1993).

Reynolds reached a major career milestone for his performance in the highly-acclaimed drama film Boogie Nights (1997). His portrayal of the supporting character Jack Horner earned him much critical acclaim including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a SAG Award, and a BAFTA Award. The iconic actor continued in his winning ways as he recorded several other notable film credits all through the 90s and at the turn of the century. His last acting role was on the comedy film Defining Moments which is set for release in 2019.

Net Worth

By all standards, Burt Reynolds is believed to have had a highly successful career as an actor. The talented Hollywood star had more than his fair share of blockbuster movie roles and he earned as much as $10 million per annum during his prime. However, the actor fell into harsh financial times following his costly divorce from his second wife and he eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1996. Thanks to his ever-relevant talents, Reynolds was able to turn his life around through sheer hard work and consistency. By the time he passed on in 2018, he had an enviable net worth of $5 million.

Wife and Children

Burt Reynolds was married twice during his lifetime. His first marriage was to English actress Judy Carne and the union lasted from June 1963 to July 1965. He later had a more enduring marital union with American-born actress Loni Anderson. They tied the knot on April 29, 1988, and remained together until 1994 when the marriage ended in divorce. While married, Reynolds and Anderson adopted a child together, a son named Quinton Anderson Reynolds.

Cause of Death

On September 6, 2018, Burt Reynolds died of a heart attack at the Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida. He was 82 years of age at the time he passed on. Consequently, a private memorial service was held in his honor at a funeral parlor located in North Palm Beach, Florida. His remains were eventually cremated at the Gold Coast Crematory in Florida.

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