Burt Reynolds didn’t just arrive in Hollywood – he crash-landed, mustache first, somewhere between a daredevil and a Southern charmer you couldn’t help but root for. In the early 1970s, Reynolds made the leap from TV actor to A-list movie star, almost as if he’d snuck past the velvet ropes while nobody was looking. With that signature cocky grin, mischievous eyes, and the kind of laugh that could win over a tough crowd in seconds, he quickly became the biggest box office draw of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. “Deliverance” showed audiences there was surprising depth beneath the bravado, while “Smokey and the Bandit” let him settle into the driver’s seat as America’s ultimate lovable rogue.
Part of what set Reynolds apart wasn’t just his matinee-idol looks – or the roguish twinkle that made him a staple on late-night talk shows. It was his willingness to let you in on the joke. While most stars polished their images to a perfect sheen, Burt seemed happiest when he was poking fun at himself, whether cracking up Johnny Carson or limping off set because he’d yet again insisted on doing his own stunts.
Offscreen, his generosity was just as legendary. In Florida, he opened the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre, a quirky passion project that mixed Broadway with all-you-can-eat buffets and real opportunity for struggling actors. Charles Nelson Reilly once called Reynolds the “godfather of out-of-work thespians,” and Carol Burnett credited him with giving her a second wind during a tough patch.
The Romantic Rollercoaster
If Burt’s movies gave the tabloids plenty to write about, his love life was the full-page headline. His romance with Sally Field was the stuff of Hollywood legend: electric on screen, passionate and messy off. Years later, Burt would still call Field “the love of my life,” a confession delivered with that familiar blend of wistfulness and bravado. If there was one role he never quite shook, it was hers.
Then came his famously stormy marriage to Loni Anderson. Their wedding in 1988 was covered like the royal event of the season, but the fairy tale soured fast. By the time their divorce was finalized five years later, Reynolds not only lost millions – he also opened the door to the public unraveling of his finances. Later, he’d shrug and joke to Oprah that his alimony payments could “wipe out the national debt of a small country.” That was classic Burt: turn heartbreak into a punchline.
There were other chapters, some brighter, some best left to rumor. His enduring relationship with Dinah Shore, who was two decades his senior, brought him genuine stability – at least for a while. His first marriage to Judy Carne fizzled after just two years. In the 1990s, things got ugly with Pam Seals: mutual lawsuits and restraining orders replaced love notes and flowers. Among the gossip, whispered flings with Farrah Fawcett, Tammy Wynette, and tennis champ Chris Evert added to the legend.
As the years rolled on, though, the whirlwind slowed. After the drama with Anderson, Reynolds retreated from the spotlight – at least when it came to romance. His last long-term companion was Rhonda Stearns, a Florida businesswoman with no taste for red carpets. The two were rarely photographed together, letting love exist far from the cameras.
When Reynolds passed away in September 2018 at 82, his legacy was as layered as the man himself – soaring highs, bruising lows, and a surprising, late-career comeback with “Boogie Nights.” He was never afraid to own his mistakes. In one of his final interviews, asked if he regretted any relationships, he thought for a moment. “Only the ones where I hurt someone who didn’t deserve it,” he admitted.
Past Relationships
Kate Edelman
Pam Seals
Goldie Hawn
Tawny Little
Lauren Hutton
Loni Anderson
Farrah Fawcett
Gig Rauch
Tammy Wynette
Chris Evert
Sally Field
Catherine Deneuve
Colleen Brennan
Lucie Arnaz
Lorna Luft
Sarah Miles
Mamie Van Doren
Dinah Shore
Inger Stevens
Chris Noel
For all his swagger, Burt Reynolds’ real gift was honesty – messy, charming, and, in the end, deeply human. Hollywood may never see another maverick quite like him.