Burt Reynolds Talks His Filmography, Old Hollywood In Interview
Actor Burt Reynolds had some choice words for Charlie Sheen, saying he got what he deserved when he announced he was HIV positive.
However, Reynolds’ personal memoir, But Enough About Me, is not as critical or harsh towards fellow actors. The Smokey and the Bandit star gives plenty of juicy stories from early on in his career, including his time working alongside legendary personalities such as John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Carson. In a new interview with Deadline, Burt Reynolds goes into more detail about his career and working with icons, as well as offering a bit of a glimpse into his personal life.
Among all of the actors Burt Reynolds was surrounded by, such as James Caan and Paul Newman, he always felt that Clint Eastwood was the most authentic. And the two became very close friends.
“I was in there with Clint and he and I became very, very good friends, since we were fired on the same day from Universal Studios for different specific reasons. As we were walking down the street to his truck that day, I said, you know you’re in a hell of a lot of trouble here. When he asked why, and I said, ‘Well, how are you going to get rid of that f***ing Adam’s apple? I can always learn to act.'”
Burt had the strongest friendship with Clint and didn’t really view any of his other peers in the same light. He says he felt that James Caan was “posing” as a tough guy.
The Longest Yard actor goes on to say that Eastwood is the best director of his generation and feels that he’ll continue directing until the day he dies.
Paul Newman was also someone Burt Reynolds admired tremendously, along with actor Steve McQueen. But one actor he did not have such a great rapport with was Marlon Brando. Reynolds seems to suggest that Brando saw Reynolds capitalizing on their physical resemblance and wasn’t happy about it.
“I think he hated that people kept telling him, there’s this young actor who… but you know, I never tried to act like him. I do a pretty good imitation of him, but I never did it in a movie, or at a party, or anything like that. Rita Moreno was a real good friend of mine, and when they were together, she used to say he was so curious about me. He would constantly ask her questions about me, how I was to be around.”
Reynolds was not sure why Brando felt the way he did, as they had never sat down with one another and had a conversation or a real chance to get to know one another. But when The Godfather was released, his striking physical resemblance to Brando could have allowed him to be cast as the actor’s son in future movies. Reynolds suggests that Brando would never have allowed it.
Burt Reynolds currently spends a large majority of his time teaching the craft of acting in Florida. It’s something that he is never going to hang up and put away.
“Paul Newman once told me, whatever you do, don’t let the ba***rds make you hang it up,” he said. “Just keep doing what you’re doing, and somebody’s going to hand you a script, one day, and you’re going to kick the s**t out of it. I loved him for that, and he’s right. Someday they will, and I will.”
In his memoir, But Enough About Me, Reynolds wanted to set the record straight regarding his personal relationships with his ex-wife Loni Anderson, Sally Field, and the things that aren’t well known.
[Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images]
