Burt Reynolds, an undeniable Hollywood star who appeared in films such as Deliverance, The Longest Yard and Smokey and the Bandit has died at the age of 82.
Via the Hollywood Reporter:
Reynolds, who received an Oscar nomination when he portrayed porn director Jack Horner in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights (1997) and was the No. 1 box-office attraction for a five-year stretch starting in the late 1970s, died Thursday morning at Jupiter Medical Center in Florida, his manager, Erik Kritzer, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The cause of death was reported to of been cardiopulmonary arrest and despite his age family members referred to his passing as ‘unexpected’.
Born in Michigan, Reynolds actually had a football scholarship at Florida State where he ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries his freshman season. However multiple knee injuries his sophomore year and a car accident that cost him his spleen ended his football career early and forced him to turn to acting which ended up being a blessing in disguise.