Burt Reynolds
The mustachioed king of 1970s Hollywood, whose laid-back charm and daredevil persona defined an era of machismo and mischief.
1936–2018 (age 82)·American actor·Birthday: February 11·The Silent Generation
Biography
Burt Reynolds didn't just act in movies; he embodied a specific, sun-baked idea of American cool. A college football star derailed by injury, he turned to acting and spent years grinding through television westerns before 'Deliverance' revealed a dramatic depth beneath his grin. The 1970s belonged to him: he became the top box-office draw for five consecutive years, a feat driven by car-chase romps like 'Smokey and the Bandit' and bawdy comedies like 'The Longest Yard.' Reynolds projected a knowing, self-deprecating masculinity, often playing characters who were more clever than they let on. His later career saw a remarkable resurgence with an Oscar-nominated performance in 'Boogie Nights,' proving his talent was always more substantial than the good-ol'-boy persona he so famously marketed.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Burt was born in 1936, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Burt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1936
#1 Movie
San Francisco
Best Picture
The Great Ziegfeld
Burt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1936Born
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1941Started school
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1949Became a teenager
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Could drive
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1954Could vote
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Turned 21
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1966Turned 30
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 40
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 50
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 60
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 70
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 80
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Died at 82
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- Starred in 'Deliverance,' a critically revered film that established his serious acting credentials.
- Was the number one box office star in the U.S. for five consecutive years in the late 1970s.
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Boogie Nights.'
- Hosted 'The Tonight Show' multiple times and was a frequent guest on late-night television, showcasing his comedic timing.
Did You Know?
He turned down the role of James Bond in 'Live and Let Die,' a decision he later said he regretted.
He performed many of his own stunts, including a famous scene in 'Hooper' where he jumped a rocket-powered car over a river.
He was offered the role of John McClane in 'Die Hard' but declined it.
He owned a professional football team, the Tampa Bay Bandits, in the United States Football League (USFL).
“I always wanted to experience everything and go down swinging. Well, so far, so good. I know I'm an acquired taste.”
