Few Hollywood stars burned as bright or as long as Burt Reynolds. His career spanned five decades, but his final years were marked by health struggles, financial setbacks, and a lingering regret over the woman he called the love of his life.
Born: February 11, 1936 ·
Died: September 6, 2018 (age 82) ·
Cause of Death: Cardiac arrest ·
Height: 5’11” (1.80 m) ·
Net Worth: $15 million (approx) ·
Famous For: Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit
Quick snapshot
- Died of cardiac arrest at age 82 (The Guardian (major news outlet))
- Relationship with Sally Field ended in the early 1980s (Fox News (major news network))
- Met Dinah Shore in 1970 on her talk show (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source))
- Exact details of his final hours remain private
- Whether he reconciled with Sally Field before his death is unknown
- Specific diagnosis for his anxiety and chronic pain
- 1972: Deliverance released, breakthrough performance (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source))
- 1977: Smokey and the Bandit becomes a box-office giant (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source))
- 1997: Academy Award nomination for Boogie Nights (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source))
- 2018: Dies at age 82 in Jupiter, Florida (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source))
- Legacy continues through his films and public fascination
- Unresolved questions about his final years persist
- Ongoing interest in his relationships with Field and Shore
Seven key facts about Burt Reynolds, one pattern: a life of extraordinary highs and painful lows compressed into a single table.
| Full Name | Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
| Spouses | Judy Carne (1963–1965), Loni Anderson (1988–1993) |
| Children | One son, Quinton Reynolds (adopted) |
| Height | 5’11” (1.80 m) |
| Net Worth at Death | $15 million (estimated) |
| Signature Role | Lewis Medlock in Deliverance |
What was Burt Reynolds doing when he died?
Reynolds died on September 6, 2018, at his home in Jupiter, Florida, surrounded by family. The cause of death was cardiac arrest, according to The Guardian (major news outlet).
Where did Burt Reynolds die?
- His home in Jupiter, Florida
- He was with his family at the time
What was his cause of death?
Multiple obituaries reported the cause as a heart attack or cardiac arrest, confirmed by The Guardian.
What illness did Burt Reynolds suffer from?
Reynolds had a history of heart disease, which contributed to his death. But his health struggles went deeper. Yahoo Entertainment (media outlet) reported that Sally Field claimed Reynolds used Percodan, Valium, and barbiturates during Smokey and the Bandit.
Did Burt Reynolds have heart problems?
- Yes, he had a history of heart disease
- He underwent hip replacement surgery in 2015
What other health issues did he face?
- He suffered from anxiety and chronic pain
- A severe injury during filming of City Heat in 1984 led to long-term issues
- According to Yahoo Entertainment (media outlet), Sally Field claimed Reynolds used Percodan, Valium, and barbiturates during Smokey and the Bandit
Reynolds’s on-screen toughness masked a body battered by injuries and painkiller dependency. The same physicality that made him a star also accelerated his decline.
The implication: Reynolds’s health was a cascade—each injury, each addiction, each setback compounding the next. The heart attack was the final blow, not the first.
What did Sally Field say when Burt Reynolds died?
Field spoke publicly after Reynolds’s death, calling him a “wonderful human being.” Variety (entertainment trade publication) reported that she said he would remain in her heart for as long as she lived.
How did Sally Field react to his death?
- She expressed regret they had not spoken in years
- In her memoir, she described him as “wonderful” but also “frightening” (Fox News (major news network))
What was her relationship with Burt Reynolds?
Reynolds and Field had a relationship from 1976 to 1980, with some reports suggesting it continued on and off until 1982, according to Metro (UK news outlet). Reynolds later admitted he “screwed” the relationship up, as reported by Metro.
“There are times in your life that are so indelible, they can never be washed away… He was a wonderful human being.” — Sally Field, via Variety (entertainment trade publication)
Why did Sally Field leave Burt Reynolds?
Field’s memoir and interviews paint a picture of a controlling partner. Fox News (major news network) reported that Field said Reynolds tried to control her career. Yahoo Entertainment (media outlet) added that she described him as controlling during their time together.
- Field said Reynolds’s behavior took a toll on her sense of self (Country Living (lifestyle magazine))
- Reynolds himself later admitted regret: “I regret ever leaving Sally Field. She was the love of my life.” — from a 2010 interview
“I regret ever leaving Sally Field. She was the love of my life.” — Burt Reynolds, 2010 interview, cited in Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)
The pattern: Reynolds’s public regret never translated into a private reunion. The split was born from control issues, and the silence lasted decades.
Did Sally Field go to Burt Reynolds’ funeral?
Yes, Sally Field attended the private funeral held at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Miami. Only close family and friends were present, according to Fox News (major news network).
Who else attended the funeral?
- His son Quinton Reynolds
- Close friends and family only
What was the funeral like?
Described as a private, intimate ceremony. Field’s presence was significant given the long silence between them. Country Living (lifestyle magazine) noted that Reynolds’s final years included public regret over how he behaved toward Field.
Field’s decision to attend the funeral—after 30 years of no contact—signals that the emotional weight of their history never fully faded. But it was a goodbye, not a reconciliation.
Burt Reynolds and Dinah Shore: A High-Profile Romance
Reynolds met Dinah Shore in 1970 when he appeared on her talk show. She was 54; he was 34. Their relationship became a media sensation.
- Shore described Reynolds as “a great talent and a wonderful friend”
- They dated for several years, and Reynolds later credited Shore with helping his career
“He was a great talent and a wonderful friend.” — Dinah Shore, quoted in Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)
The catch: While the Shore relationship was high-profile, it was never as emotionally charged as the one with Field. Reynolds’s deepest romantic regrets were always about Sally.
Timeline of Burt Reynolds’s Life and Career
- February 11, 1936 — Born in Lansing, Michigan
- 1962–1965 — Regular role on Gunsmoke
- 1972 — Deliverance released, breakthrough performance
- 1977 — Smokey and the Bandit becomes one of the highest-grossing films
- 1997 — Academy Award nomination for Boogie Nights
- September 6, 2018 — Died of cardiac arrest at age 82
Clarity Check: What We Know and What We Don’t
Confirmed facts
- Cause of death was cardiac arrest (The Guardian (major news outlet))
- Relationship with Sally Field ended in the early 1980s
- Reynolds and Dinah Shore met in 1970 on her talk show
- He had heart disease
What’s unclear
- Exact details of his final hours are private
- Whether he reconciled with Sally Field before his death is unknown
- Specific diagnosis for his anxiety and chronic pain
Voices from the Life of Burt Reynolds
“There are times in your life that are so indelible, they can never be washed away… He was a wonderful human being.” — Sally Field, via Variety (entertainment trade publication)
“I regret ever leaving Sally Field. She was the love of my life.” — Burt Reynolds, 2010 interview, cited in Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)
“He was a great talent and a wonderful friend.” — Dinah Shore, quoted in Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)
Burt Reynolds lived a life that the movies couldn’t script—a rise to the top, a fall into health and financial troubles, and a love story that never found its third act. For the fans who still watch Smokey and the Bandit and wonder what might have been, the lesson is clear: the man who played a charming outlaw was, in the end, haunted by his own choices. The trade-off between fame and happiness was real, and Reynolds paid the price with his heart—both literally and figuratively. For more on Hollywood legends, see our articles on Dennis Quaid and Chuck Norris.
variety.com, radaronline.com, youtube.com, simple.wikipedia.org
For a deeper look into his health struggles and final arrangements, see Burt Reynolds illness and will.
Frequently asked questions
What was Burt Reynolds’ first movie?
His first credited film role was in Angel Baby (1961).
How tall was Burt Reynolds?
He was 5’11” (1.80 m).
What is Burt Reynolds’ net worth?
At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated at $15 million.
Did Burt Reynolds win an Oscar?
He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Boogie Nights (1997) but did not win.
Who was Burt Reynolds’ wife?
He was married to Judy Carne (1963–1965) and Loni Anderson (1988–1993).
How many children did Burt Reynolds have?
He had one adopted son, Quinton Reynolds.
What was Burt Reynolds’ last movie?
His final completed film role was in Shadow Fighter (2017), according to Metro (UK news outlet).
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Report, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.