Burt Reynolds 1936-2018

Burt Reynolds, the actor who became an international sex symbol in the 1970s with his dashing and muscular performances in action films and comedies such as "Deliverance" and "Smokey and the Bandit," and who later earned an Oscar nomination as an adult film director in the 1997 drama "Boogie Nights," has died. He was 82. 

By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan

Burt Reynolds

Born February 11, 1936 in Lansing, Michigan, Burton Leon Reynolds Jr., attended Florida State University on a football scholarship, but injuries led him to drop the sport. He took up acting instead, and after stints on stage in New York he wound up in front of TV cameras in Hollywood - sometimes performing stunts, sometimes speaking lines, and sometimes both. 

"Riverboat"

In the late 1950s and early '60s Reynolds appeared in such shows as "M Squad," "Playhouse 90," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Route 66," "Perry Mason," and "Naked City." He starred in "Riverboat" with Darren McGavin (pictured), and for three seasons was in the cast of "Gunsmoke."

"Angel Baby"

Reynolds made his first film appearance in the 1961 melodrama "Angel Baby" opposite Salome Jens, as the titular object of backwoods fervor. 

"The Twilight Zone"

Burt Reynolds, as a Method actor, confers with William Shakespeare (John Williams) in the 1963 "Twilight Zone" episode "The Bard."

"Navajo Joe"

Burt Reynolds and Tanya Lopert in the spaghetti western "Navajo Joe" (1966). Reputed to be partly Cherokee, Reynolds was often cast as Native American or mixed-blood characters, He also played an Iroquois detective, John Hawk, in the 1966 TV series "Hawk."

"100 Rifles"

Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch and Michael Forest in the 1969 western "100 Rifles." 

"Sam Whiskey"

Burt Reynolds and Angie Dickinson starred in the western comedy "Sam Whiskey" (1969).

"Fuzz"

After headlining the crime series "Dan August," Burt Reynolds starred (with Jack Weston) as an undercover cop in the comedy "Fuzz" (1972).

"Deliverance"

Burt Reynolds in "Deliverance" (1972), John Boorman's brutal tale of four friends on a canoeing trip in the wilds of Georgia who are reduced to savagery when attacked by locals. The film was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture, and made Reynolds a bona fide superstar.

In Reynolds' 2015 memoir "But Enough About Me," he wrote of the film, "It proved I could act."

London

Burt Reynolds is pictured in London Sept. 27, 1972.

"Shamus"

Dyan Cannon gives private detective Burt Reynolds a good (tongue) lashing in the suspense drama "Shamus" (1973).

"The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing"

Burt Reynolds in the western "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing" (1973).

"White Lightning"

In "White Lightning" (1973), Burt Reynolds goes undercover among a crew of moonshiners. Hint: Moonshiners don't like undercover agents!  Reynolds returned to the character in the sequel, "Gator," which also marked his first feature film directing credit.

"The Longest Yard"

Burt Reynolds played a former NFLer behind prison walls who fields a team of inmates against a team of prison guards in the comedy "The Longest Yard" (1974). 

Reynolds would appear in the 2005 Adam Sandler remake, as a coach of the inmates' team.

"At Long Last Love"

Burt Reynolds and Cybill Shepard in Peter Bogdanovich's musical-comedy, "At Long Last Love." Though excoriated by critics, it has since garnered a more positive reappraisal. 

Reynolds would later appear as himself in Shepard's 1990s sitcom, "Cybill."

"Hustle"

Poster for the crime drama "Hustle" starring Catherine Deneuve and Burt Reynolds.

"Semi-Tough"

Kris Kristofferson, Jill Clayburgh and Burt Reynolds in Michael Ritchie's comedy "Semi-Tough" (1977).

"Smokey and the Bandit"

Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and a Pontiac Trans Am starred in the action comedy "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977). It would be Reynolds' most popular role, and marked the beginning of an on- and off-screen collaboration with Field. 

Roast

Burt Reynolds, right, pinches the cheeks of comedian Dom DeLuise in Atlanta, Dec. 2, 1977, during a "roast" of Reynolds by various celebrities. The two appeared together in the films "The End," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Smokey and the Bandit II," "The Cannonball Run" and "Cannonball Run II."

"The End"

Burt Reynolds decides to end it all in the black comedy "The End," co-starring Dom DeLuise and Sally Field, and directed by Reynolds. 

"Hooper"

Burt Reynolds played a stuntman in director Hal Needham's action comedy "Hooper."

Sans Moustache

Burt Reynolds, who shaved off his moustache on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," gets a laugh when four guides at the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park showed up with fake ones, Oct. 7, 1978.

"Starting Over"

In the 1978 comedy "Starting Over," Burt Reynolds and Candice Bergen are a married couple who split, leading to romantic entanglements for Reynolds involving Jill Clayburgh and Mary Kay Place.

"Saturday Night Live"

Guest host Burt Reynolds checks the cue cards during rehearsals with "Saturday Night Live" cast members Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman, April 11, 1980.

At Home

Burt Reynolds reflects Nov. 12, 1980 as he sits in his villa in Jupiter, Fla. Two years earlier he had established the Burt Reynolds Foundation for Theater Training at his dinner theater in Jupiter, providing one-year courses for aspiring actors. He also endowed a charity at Florida State University's School of Theater.

"Sharky's Machine"

Rachel Ward and Burt Reynolds in the crime thriller "Sharky's Machine" (1981), directed by Reynolds.

"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"

Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton starred in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982), about a sheriff and a brothel keeper trying to keep the doors of her business open. 

"Best Friends"

Burt Reynolds, Goldie Hawn and pals in "Best Friends" (1982), about two Hollywood screenwriting partners who decide to tie the knot.

"The Man Who Loved Women"

Burt Reynolds, Kim Basinger and Jennifer Edwards starred in Blake Edwards' remake of the Francois Truffaut comedy "The Man Who Loved Women."

"City Heat"

Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood as a private eye and a police lieutenant running afoul of the mob in the action-comedy "City Heat" (1984).

Burt and Loni

Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson at a luncheon in Los Angeles, March 27, 1987. Reynolds, who was married to comedienne Judy Carne from 1963 to 1965, married Anderson in 1988; the couple divorced five years later. 

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents"

Burt Reynolds directs an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" starring Martin Sheen, Sept. 27, 1985.

"Breaking In"

Burt Reynolds played a safecracker who takes novice thief Casey Siemaszko under his wing in the crime comedy "Breaking In" (1989), directed by Bill Forsyth ("Local Hero").

"Evening Shade"

Reynolds won a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for the CBS sitcom "Evening Shade" (1990-94), co-starring Marilu Henner. Reynolds played a retired football player who moves back to his hometown to coach a high school team. 

"Boogie Nights"

In Paul Thomas Anderson's "Boogie Night" (1997), Burt Reynolds played adult film director Jack Horner, who makes aspiring actor Mark Wahlberg a star of the porn world. 

"Boogie Nights"

Mark Wahlberg, star of "Boogie Nights," gestures to his pregnant co-star Julianne Moore as fellow cast member Burt Reynolds looks on, at the premiere of the film at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1997. 

Golden Globes

Burt Reynolds holds his award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for "Boogie Nights," at the 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998. Reynolds would also be nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.

"Deal"

Burt Reynolds played a poker player who winds up competing against a young protege in the World Poker Tour championship in the 2008 film "Deal."

"The Last Movie Star"

In "The Last Movie Star" (2017), Burt Reynolds played an aging actor looking back on his life in movies. 

"The Man Who Loved Women"

Burt Reynolds in "The Man Who Loved Women."

"My career is not like a regular chart – mine looks like a heart attack," Reynolds told The Associated Press in 2001. "I've done over 100 films, and I'm the only actor who has been canned by all three networks. I epitomize longevity."

Reynolds died Thursday September 6, 2018.  He was 82.