Burt Reynolds: the ‘love of his life’, his recent proclamations and his health issues: Know it here!

Burt Reynolds: the ‘love of his life’, his recent proclamations and his health issues: Know it here!

“Talent is sexy” –Burt Reynolds on Sally Field

American actor, director, producer, and former football halfback Burt Reynolds revealed to Closer Weekly recently that his 1977 hit movie ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ would have been different without his leading lady. He gives credit for the success of the movie to his co-star Sally Field.

The 81-year-old veteran actor disclosed that when he decided to cast Sally Field opposite him in ‘Smoley and the Bandit’, his studio was not keen on having Sally Field on board.

Remembering those days, Burt said:

“I was told she was not sexy — she was the Flying Nun. Trust me, talent is sexy. She is talented and sexy.”

Sally Field was at that time doing television serials at that time. These included Gidget (1965-1966), The Flying Nun (1967-1970), and The Girl with something extra (1973-1974). ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ was her debut film.

Burt Reynolds on Fox News
Burt Reynolds on Fox News(Source: Fox News)

The movie was a great hit and managed to top the box-office pushing behind even ‘Star Wars’. It remains a fan-favorite film to this day.

Talking of the film, Burt Reynolds said:

“It stands the test of time — it’s a funny picture,” 

He again credits the high grossing of the film to his beloved co-star, Sally Field

The star continued:

“I fell in ‘like’ with Sally,”

Sally Field had done 4 movies with Burt Reynolds. These were: ‘Smokey and the Bandit’, ‘Smokey and the Bandit II’, ‘The End’ and ‘Hooper’

Also read Burt Reynolds has left out his adopted son Quinton from his Will and instead made a Trust for him

Burt’s and Sally’s relationship

Burt Reynolds and Sally Field had dated each other in the late 1970s for 5 years before they split in 1982. During this time, they did 4 films together.

Sally Field had also acted in other movies during that time and had won several prestigious awards. Her acting skills and talent were highly appreciated.

Sally Field had separated from her first husband Steven Craig in 1975. She had 2 children, son Peter (born 1969) and son Eli (born 1972).

After ending her relationship with Burt Reynolds, Sally Field had tied the knot with Alan Greisman in 1984. Their son Sam was born in 1987 and Alan and Sally divorced in 1993.

Burt Reynolds and Sally Field
Burt Reynolds and Sally Field(Source: Vanity Fair)

When Burt and Sally first met, Burt too was a divorcee. He had separated from his first wife British actress Judy Carne with whom he was from 1963-1965. Burt Reynolds has time and again said that Sally Field was the real love of his life. He had proposed to her on several occasions but she had turned them down.

More on their relationship

He had gone on to marry American actress Loni Anderson in 1988. They adopted a son, Quinton but by 1993 they had divorced.

But Burt Reynolds has been unable to forget Sally Field. In October 2015, Burt Reynolds had opened his heart about his love for Sally.

He told Closer Weekly:

“I still love [Sally] very much, I wish I could stay in touch with [her], but I live in Florida.”

In a previous interview given to ‘People’, Sally Field had decided to not comment on this matter.

In March 2016, Sally Field gave a new interview to ‘People’ magazine. She said:

“We don’t really talk to each other, no,”

Sally Field prefers to not talk much on this issue and on Burt Reynolds’ repeated proclamations. When probed further and asked what she had to say to Burt Reynolds about recent declarations that Sally is “the one that got away”, Sally Field just answered in 2 words.

She said:

“Well, yeah”

It appears that Burt Reynolds has not forgotten his intense love for his muse Sally Field, while Sally Field is not much interested in him anymore.

Burt Reynolds’s health issues

Besides his great love for Sally Field which he often professes, Burt Reynolds is also the owner of a NightClub Restaurant in Omni International Hotel, Hotel District of DownTown, Atlanta.

It is called Burt’s Place. He is also co-owner of ‘Tampa Bay Bandits’, a professional football team in the USFL. He also co-owns a car racing team.

Burt Reynolds’s reputation in the films increased once he started playing villainous but likable characters. On the sets of ‘City Heat’ while shooting for a scene, Burt Reynolds was accidentally struck in the face by a metal chair.

He suffered temporomandibular joint dysfunction which led to severe pain while chewing. Due to his inability to consume food due to the injury, Burt Reynolds had lost 30 pounds it.

Burt Reynolds-health issues
Burt Reynolds-health issues(Source: Entertainment Tonight)

He was put on painkillers for severe joint pain. He got addicted to the painkillers and needed many years to come out of the addiction. In May 2009, he had spinal surgery performed on him.

He also has undergone a quintuple heart bypass surgery in February 2010. Burt Reynolds is a fine and talented actor. His bold action scenes had made him the heartthrob of many females.

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Short Bio on Burt Reynolds

Reynolds is an American actor, director, producer, and former football halfback. He has starred in many films, such as Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit and Boogie Nights, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. More Bio…

Short bio on Sally Field

Sally Field is an actress. She is also a director. She is popular in the world for portraying her role in the movies like Forrest Gump, Lincoln, and so on. See more…

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