Actor. He was best known for his roles in the popular motion pictures "Deliverance" (1972), "The Longest Yard" (1974), and "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977) and his work on the television series "Gunsmoke," "Dan August," and "Evening Shade." Born Burton Leon Reynolds Jr., he played football at both Palm Beach, Florida High School and Florida State University before an injury cut short his football career. He later enrolled at Palm Beach Junior College where he got his start in acting in theatrical plays. This led him to both a scholarship and a stint at Hyde Park Playhouse in New York. He would also study acting at the Actors Studio in New York. After a few appearances on both Broadway theatre and television, he went to Hollywood, California and signed with Universal Motion Picture Studios. His first major acting role came on the television series "Riverboat" from 1959 to 1960. Besides "Gunsmoke," "Dan August," and "Evening Shade," he went on to appear in many television series during his career such as "Hawk," "B.L. Stryker," "Out of This World," "My Name Is Earl," and "Hitting the Breaks." He earned a Best Comedy Series Actor Emmy Award for his performance on "Evening Shade" in 1991. His first motion picture appearance came in the 1961 film "Angel Baby." Besides "Deliverance," "The Longest Yard," and "Smokey and the Bandit," he also appeared in such films as "Shamus" (1973), "Semi-Tough" (1977), "Smokey and the Bandit II" (1980), "The Cannonball Run" (1981), "Sharky's Machine" (1981), "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982), "All Dogs Go To Heaven" (1989) as the voice of Charlie, "Striptease" (1996), and "Boogie Nights" (1997). In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was Hollywood's top-grossing star. In 1972, he posed nude for a “Cosmopolitan” magazine centerfold and it helped his growing "sex symbol" image. He was married to actresses Judy Carne and Loni Anderson during his life, but both ended in divorce. Later in his career, he had business ventures in the food, sports, and television industries.
Actor. He was best known for his roles in the popular motion pictures "Deliverance" (1972), "The Longest Yard" (1974), and "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977) and his work on the television series "Gunsmoke," "Dan August," and "Evening Shade." Born Burton Leon Reynolds Jr., he played football at both Palm Beach, Florida High School and Florida State University before an injury cut short his football career. He later enrolled at Palm Beach Junior College where he got his start in acting in theatrical plays. This led him to both a scholarship and a stint at Hyde Park Playhouse in New York. He would also study acting at the Actors Studio in New York. After a few appearances on both Broadway theatre and television, he went to Hollywood, California and signed with Universal Motion Picture Studios. His first major acting role came on the television series "Riverboat" from 1959 to 1960. Besides "Gunsmoke," "Dan August," and "Evening Shade," he went on to appear in many television series during his career such as "Hawk," "B.L. Stryker," "Out of This World," "My Name Is Earl," and "Hitting the Breaks." He earned a Best Comedy Series Actor Emmy Award for his performance on "Evening Shade" in 1991. His first motion picture appearance came in the 1961 film "Angel Baby." Besides "Deliverance," "The Longest Yard," and "Smokey and the Bandit," he also appeared in such films as "Shamus" (1973), "Semi-Tough" (1977), "Smokey and the Bandit II" (1980), "The Cannonball Run" (1981), "Sharky's Machine" (1981), "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982), "All Dogs Go To Heaven" (1989) as the voice of Charlie, "Striptease" (1996), and "Boogie Nights" (1997). In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was Hollywood's top-grossing star. In 1972, he posed nude for a “Cosmopolitan” magazine centerfold and it helped his growing "sex symbol" image. He was married to actresses Judy Carne and Loni Anderson during his life, but both ended in divorce. Later in his career, he had business ventures in the food, sports, and television industries.
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Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye