Burt Reynolds
Birthday:
11 February 1936, Lansing, Michigan, USA
Birth Name:
Burton Leon Reynolds Jr.
Height:
180 cm
Enduring, strong-featured, and genial star of US cinema, Burt Reynolds started off in TV westerns in the 1960s and then carved his name into 1970/1980s popular culture as a male sex symbol (posing nearly naked for "Cosmopolitan" magazine) and on-screen as both a rugged action figure and then as a wisecracking, Southern-type "good ol�...
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Enduring, strong-featured, and genial star of US cinema, Burt Reynolds started off in TV westerns in the 1960s and then carved his name into 1970/1980s popular culture as a male sex symbol (posing nearly naked for "Cosmopolitan" magazine) and on-screen as both a rugged action figure and then as a wisecracking, Southern-type "good olé' boy."Burton Leon Reynolds was born in Lansing, Michigan. He is the son of Fern H. (Miller) and Burton Milo Reynolds, who was in the army and later served as chief of police. His family moved to Florida, where he excelled as an athlete and played with Florida State University. He became an All Star Southern Conference halfback (and was earmarked by the Baltimore Colts) before a knee injury and a car accident ended his football career. Midway through college he dropped out and headed to New York with aspirations of becoming an actor. There he worked in restaurants and clubs while pulling the odd TV spot or theatre role.He was spotted in a New York City production of "Mister Roberts," signed to a TV contract, and eventually had recurring roles in such shows as Gunsmoke (1955), Riverboat (1959) and his own series, Hawk (1966).Reynolds continued to appear in undemanding western roles, often playing an Indian halfbreed, in films such as Navajo Joe (1966), 100 Rifles (1969) and Sam Whiskey (1969). However, it was his tough-guy performance as macho Lewis Medlock in the John Boorman backwoods nightmare Deliverance (1972) that really stamped him as a bona-fide star. Reynolds' popularity continued to soar with his appearance as a no-nonsense private investigator in Shamus (1973) and in the Woody Allen comedy Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972). Building further on his image as a Southern boy who outsmarts the local lawmen, Reynolds packed fans into theaters to see him in White Lightning (1973), The Longest Yard (1974), W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975) and Gator (1976).At this time, ex-stuntman and longtime Reynolds buddy Hal Needham came to him with a "road film" script. It turned out to be the incredibly popular Smokey and the Bandit (1977) with Sally Field and Jerry Reed, which took in over $100 million at the box office. That film's success was followed by Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). Reynolds also appeared alongside Kris Kristofferson in the hit football film Semi-Tough (1977), with friend Dom DeLuise in the black comedy The End (1978) (which Reynolds directed), in the stunt-laden buddy film Hooper (1978) and then in the self-indulgent, star-packed road race flick The Cannonball Run (1981).The early 1980s started off well with a strong performance in the violent cop film Sharky's Machine (1981), which he also directed, and he starred with Dolly Parton in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and with fellow macho superstar Clint Eastwood in the coolly received City Heat (1984). However, other projects such as Stroker Ace (1983), Stick (1985) and Paternity (1981) failed to catch fire with fans and Reynolds quickly found himself falling out of popularity with movie audiences. In the late 1980s he appeared in only a handful of films, mostly below average, before his old friend television came to the rescue and he shone again in two very popular TV shows, B.L. Stryker (1989) and Evening Shade (1990), for which he won an Emmy.He was back on screen, but still the roles weren't grabbing the public's attention, until his terrific performance as a drunken politician in the otherwise woeful Striptease (1996) and then another tremendous showing as a manipulative porn director in Boogie Nights (1997), which scored him a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Like the phoenix from the ashes, Reynolds had resurrected his popularity and, in the process, had gathered a new generation of young fans, many of whom had been unfamiliar with his 1970s film roles. He put in entertaining work in Pups (1999), Mystery, Alaska (1999), Driven (2001) and Time of the Wolf (2002). Definitely one of Hollywood's most resilient stars, Reynolds has continually surprised all with his ability to weather both personal and career hurdles and his 40-plus years in front of the cameras is testament to his staying ability, his acting talent and his appeal to film audiences. Show less «
[on Paul Thomas Anderson]: "Most filmmakers today have no sense of the history of our business, but he knows every shot John Ford made. And ...Show more »
[on Paul Thomas Anderson]: "Most filmmakers today have no sense of the history of our business, but he knows every shot John Ford made. And he doesn't lack for confidence. He really knew which shots he wanted to make. I remember the first shot in Boogie Nights (1997), which is one of the longest shots in history. And I, being the irascible old type I am sometimes, said, 'Have you timed this? Is this longer than Citizen Kane (1941) ?' And he said, 'Oh, yes. It's three seconds longer.'" Show less «
[on young filmmakers]: Having done 300 television shows and almost 60 movies, I'm tired of having guys who are younger than some sandwiches ...Show more »
[on young filmmakers]: Having done 300 television shows and almost 60 movies, I'm tired of having guys who are younger than some sandwiches I've had, telling me to turn left at the couch. There's no appreciation of actors and no sense of history. Show less «
[on Sally Field]: I haven't seen her in 10 years and I'd like to very much. Because I'd like to tell her in person what I didn't know then. ...Show more »
[on Sally Field]: I haven't seen her in 10 years and I'd like to very much. Because I'd like to tell her in person what I didn't know then. That is, how incredibly unselfish she was in terms of the time she spent with me. You know, inside that little body of hers is one of the strongest people I've ever met. What I didn't ever appreciate enough, until I had Quinton, was what it means to have a child and say to somebody else, "I'll be with you", away from my child. And now I know what an incredible gift that was. Show less «
[on Bill McKinney, with whom he worked in Deliverance (1972)] I thought the other guy, Bill McKinney, was a little bent. I used to get up at...Show more »
[on Bill McKinney, with whom he worked in Deliverance (1972)] I thought the other guy, Bill McKinney, was a little bent. I used to get up at five in the morning and see him running nude through the golf course while the sprinklers watered the grass. A strange dude, he moved to L.A. after "Deliverance" and worked in a lot of pictures of Clint Eastwood. He always played sickos, but he played them well. With my dark sense of humor, I was kind of amused by him. But as we got closer to the rape scene, I caught him staring at Ned Beatty in an odd, unnerving way. Ned would see it, and look away. Show less «
[on the rape scene in Deliverance (1972)] The day before we shot the scene I noticed [Bill McKinney] hovering beside Ned [Ned Beatty] and sa...Show more »
[on the rape scene in Deliverance (1972)] The day before we shot the scene I noticed [Bill McKinney] hovering beside Ned [Ned Beatty] and sat down between them. I wanted him to see I was Ned's friend. No different than in the script. Then I asked him how he planned to handle the rape scene. McKinney turned out to be a pretty good guy who just took "The Method" way too far. Staring straight at Ned, he whispered, "I've always wanted to try that. Always have." Ned shouted, "John! Oh, John!". In his brilliance, Boorman [John Boorman] reassured Ned but also brought in several additional cameras, knowing Ned wasn't going to give him a second, third or fourth take. Ned was only going to do the brutal scene once. When it came down to shooting it, ['Herbert Cowboy Coward'] and McKinney were hands-down brilliant. Scared the shit out of everybody who saw the movie. People crawled out of the theatre. None of that creepy "squeal, piggy, piggy" stuff was in the script. But McKinney, I swear to God, really wanted to hump Ned. And I think he was going to. He had it up and he was going to bang him. It's the first and only time I have ever seen camera operators turn their heads away. Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. I ran into the scene, dove on McKinney, and pulled him off. Boorman, hot on my tracks, helped hold him down. Ned, who was crying from both rage and fear, found a big stick and started beating him on the head. Half a dozen guys grabbed Ned and pulled him away. We separated the two of them and let things cool off. Show less «
[on his Oscar nomination]: I'm stunned that I'm in this category, which I think is the toughest category, but then why shouldn't I? It's my ...Show more »
[on his Oscar nomination]: I'm stunned that I'm in this category, which I think is the toughest category, but then why shouldn't I? It's my category. But there are guys there that, it's not bad enough that there's brilliant actors, but one's that been knighted, you know? It's unbelievable to me. And George C. Scott is right, unless we all played the same role, it really isn't quite fair. I may streak again. I have no idea what my reaction will be, all I know is I'll go in with no expectations. Show less «
[on his character in Waterproof (2000)] He's a 73-year-old Jewish grocery store owner on a street that's entirely African-American. He's the...Show more »
[on his character in Waterproof (2000)] He's a 73-year-old Jewish grocery store owner on a street that's entirely African-American. He's the only holdout. He's not moving. Tough old guy. I'm finding out to my own surprise, that I can do things I didn't think I could. Show less «
[on Boogie Nights (1997)]: It's obvious why someone, I think, would be afraid of this project and I thought I had some baggage in terms of a...Show more »
[on Boogie Nights (1997)]: It's obvious why someone, I think, would be afraid of this project and I thought I had some baggage in terms of a lot of people who grew up with movies like I did would wonder why I would even be near a film like that. I also felt like this thing will either crash and burn, be the biggest disaster of all time or the most talked about film of the year. Quite honestly I needed a jump start and so it was a brave choice. I kept turning it down and then getting reassurances that we had humanity. And the humanity was I was a surrogate father for damaged goods and the first day we read, I was astounded at the talent, these young actors who I hadn't worked with, some of 'em I didn't know. Incredible. And about 10-15 minutes into the reading Mark Wahlberg came over and sat down beside me and he said, "How ya doin' Dad?" It stayed like that, the relationship stayed like that through the whole film. Show less «
[when asked about happiness]: I am happy. I was just talking to a very savvy casting director, who's been around for a long time, who said, ...Show more »
[when asked about happiness]: I am happy. I was just talking to a very savvy casting director, who's been around for a long time, who said, "I'm so happy for you!" and I knew he was. I said, I wish this would never end. I wish there was never an award, a rush party, I don't want to join the fraternity. I just wanna go on with the rush part. Show less «
[After his nomination for Boogie Nights (1997)]: My being nominated this year is no comeback story because I simply refused to go away.
[After his nomination for Boogie Nights (1997)]: My being nominated this year is no comeback story because I simply refused to go away.
[on Dinah Shore] One of the greatest ladies I ever knew was Dinah Shore and she taught me right away if you can't laugh at yourself, you hav...Show more »
[on Dinah Shore] One of the greatest ladies I ever knew was Dinah Shore and she taught me right away if you can't laugh at yourself, you have no business in this business. If I have any class -- and that's probably debatable -- it's due to Dinah. Show less «
[on the stunt scenes he did for his thriller Crazy Six (1997)]: I told them, "Look, I can do this. I can still fall; I just can't get up!" B...Show more »
[on the stunt scenes he did for his thriller Crazy Six (1997)]: I told them, "Look, I can do this. I can still fall; I just can't get up!" But the character is dead, anyway! Show less «
[on the 1970s] It was an astounding kind of time and I've often said to people, "If I met you between '73 and '78, I'm sorry, I don't rememb...Show more »
[on the 1970s] It was an astounding kind of time and I've often said to people, "If I met you between '73 and '78, I'm sorry, I don't remember three or four of those years". You're on such a fast track and you're up in such heady air you can't breathe, how the hell are you gonna smell the flowers if you can't breathe anyway? That's why it's wonderful to happen now, when you don't expect it and if you live through it and come out the other side, you are so much more appreciative. I think, not to sound too serious as you get older, I think you're a better person for it. Show less «
Friends come in herds and they leave in herds. Hollywood loves an adventure, but you have to hit bottom. Then they love to save you and be a...Show more »
Friends come in herds and they leave in herds. Hollywood loves an adventure, but you have to hit bottom. Then they love to save you and be a part of it. Or think they're a part of it. Show less «
[on his longtime fans]: First of all, it's usually a sea of blue hair and I'm grateful and thankful that they're still alive and around. I h...Show more »
[on his longtime fans]: First of all, it's usually a sea of blue hair and I'm grateful and thankful that they're still alive and around. I hope they understand that they are responsible for true joy. But the people in the seats were saying, put him in there, and those are the ones that, if I ever win anything, they are more responsible than any producer in Hollywood, because, they never, never walked away. Show less «
[on playing an aging Jewish shopkeeper in Waterproof (2000)] It's a real challenge. I just hope Billy Crystal doesn't get P.O.'d.
[on playing an aging Jewish shopkeeper in Waterproof (2000)] It's a real challenge. I just hope Billy Crystal doesn't get P.O.'d.
[Interview in McCall's magazine] You get to a certain age, where you know you can't go over the wall, but I'll never get to the age where I ...Show more »
[Interview in McCall's magazine] You get to a certain age, where you know you can't go over the wall, but I'll never get to the age where I can't go through it. Show less «
I am beginning to think there's a lot of nice people around in this business.
I am beginning to think there's a lot of nice people around in this business.
[on his career's phases and the Oscar]: I've gone through every single career phase of getting to this point. If they give the award for bei...Show more »
[on his career's phases and the Oscar]: I've gone through every single career phase of getting to this point. If they give the award for being old, not giving up and for loving acting almost as much as loving life, then it's definitely mine. Show less «
[on his strengths and weaknesses]: "I regret that I do not have the dignity of Ricardo Montalban, the class of Dean Martin, or the humour of...Show more »
[on his strengths and weaknesses]: "I regret that I do not have the dignity of Ricardo Montalban, the class of Dean Martin, or the humour of Bill Cosby. I DO have the heart of a lion. Show less «
[on his success in Hollywood]: The only way you can hurt anyone in this business is by succeeding and hurting their pocket book maybe or jus...Show more »
[on his success in Hollywood]: The only way you can hurt anyone in this business is by succeeding and hurting their pocket book maybe or just smiling and not giving up. Show less «
[on his career mistakes]: All of the younger actors keep coming up to me and asking me where all of the land mines are because they know I'v...Show more »
[on his career mistakes]: All of the younger actors keep coming up to me and asking me where all of the land mines are because they know I've stepped on them all. Show less «
[on his few bad movies]: My films were the kind they only show in prisons and in airplanes, because nobody can leave.
[on his few bad movies]: My films were the kind they only show in prisons and in airplanes, because nobody can leave.
[on his comeback]: If you hold on to things long enough, they get back into style. Like me.
[on his comeback]: If you hold on to things long enough, they get back into style. Like me.
[In 1981]: My acting is a bit like basketball. Most females in my films come off very well. I give great assist. And if I'm lucky, I even sc...Show more »
[In 1981]: My acting is a bit like basketball. Most females in my films come off very well. I give great assist. And if I'm lucky, I even score. Show less «
[on marriage]: I'm terrified of marriage. I'm terrified of not doing something so important and at the same time I think you shouldn't rush ...Show more »
[on marriage]: I'm terrified of marriage. I'm terrified of not doing something so important and at the same time I think you shouldn't rush into these things. Show less «
[on the Oscar nomination] I'd shot all night and was staying at the Banff Springs Resort Hotel in Canada, which is absolutely gorgeous. It l...Show more »
[on the Oscar nomination] I'd shot all night and was staying at the Banff Springs Resort Hotel in Canada, which is absolutely gorgeous. It looks like a castle, but it was built in the 1800s and at 4 o'clock in the morning you think you're in The Shining (1980), you expect Jack Nicholson to jump out. The hallway is a mile long. I came back and there was a crew there. They said, "Would you mind?" and I thought, "You mean, you want me to sit there and if I'm not nominated, you guys go home?" And I actually have to give you the chair back and everything. And everybody said, "No, no, you gotta do it". I'm sittin' in this chair thinking, "Well, I'm very calm . . . " I got this little thing in my ear and I'm hearing them announcing the nominations. Well, of course they announced them alphabetically and, unless you're Maud Adams, you know you're gonna be late. It just seemed like forever and then, when I heard it, I (was) dumbstruck for lack of a better word. Show less «
[on his friends who called him after the Oscar nomination] It was, well, the people that didn't leave when I was dying of AIDS and then had ...Show more »
[on his friends who called him after the Oscar nomination] It was, well, the people that didn't leave when I was dying of AIDS and then had a miraculous recovery. It was the people that have been around forever as friends. It was Angie Dickinson, it was Ann-Margret, Jon Voight, Charles Durning, a whole lot of people that aren't in the industry who are very good friends and 500 stunt men, I work with their grandsons now. Then you realize how long you've been doing this. Show less «
[on Larry King Live (1985), talking about the great parts he turned down]: There are no awards in Hollywood for being an idiot.
[on Larry King Live (1985), talking about the great parts he turned down]: There are no awards in Hollywood for being an idiot.
[after he heard that Smokey and the Bandit (1977) was the favorite film of director Alfred Hitchcock] I have had people who were very intell...Show more »
[after he heard that Smokey and the Bandit (1977) was the favorite film of director Alfred Hitchcock] I have had people who were very intellectual and my heroes, that have quietly said to me, "I loved 'Smokey and the Bandit'!" And I said, "It's alright because so did 150 million other people!" I'm thrilled that Mr. Hitchcock felt that way and I convey to his daughter that, needless to say, he was the best. Show less «
[on his character on The Crew (2000)]: I knew which character I wanted to play because I understand this guy very well. He goes from being p...Show more »
[on his character on The Crew (2000)]: I knew which character I wanted to play because I understand this guy very well. He goes from being perfectly sane to, within a quarter of a second, choking you to death and banging your head against the floor. I've played wise-guys before, but I've never played a wise-guy who is as demented. There's a reason why they call him 'Bats'. Show less «
[on the upcoming roles he is picking]: I'm finally choosing a role for the right reason. It's not about the location ("Jamaica? I'll take it...Show more »
[on the upcoming roles he is picking]: I'm finally choosing a role for the right reason. It's not about the location ("Jamaica? I'll take it!") or the leading lady. It's about the words. I know I'll never be No. 1 again, but I'll be a working actor. And this time, I'll be a grownup. It's time. We have a saying in the South: "No man's a man until his father tells him he is!" Well, mine never told me and that was a problem. But my son did. Show less «
[on his financial setbacks] I trusted my manager with my money during my illness. Now I was broke. Money woes stayed with me. I grabbed what...Show more »
[on his financial setbacks] I trusted my manager with my money during my illness. Now I was broke. Money woes stayed with me. I grabbed whatever pictures were offered. Admittedly films like Malone (1987), Rent-a-Cop (1987) and Switching Channels (1988), all made between the end of 1986 and the middle of 1987, helped my bank account. But they were making me part of an endangered species, an old actor. However, there are times when you can be artistic, and times when you have to be realistic. Show less «
[on Sharky's Machine (1981)] Author Sidney Sheldon first mentioned William Diehl's novel "Sharky's Machine" to me at a party. Soon afterward...Show more »
[on Sharky's Machine (1981)] Author Sidney Sheldon first mentioned William Diehl's novel "Sharky's Machine" to me at a party. Soon afterward Clint Eastwood sent me a copy of the same best-selling book with a note saying, "This is Dirty Harry (1971) in Atlanta!" Discovering it combined elements of two of my favorite movies, Laura (1944) and Rear Window (1954), I persuaded newly formed partners Orion Pictures and Warner Brothers to acquire the screen rights for me. The kind of film Robert Aldrich would've been great at, I knew from the get-go I had to direct. Granted complete creative control, for me only the third time this had happened, I assembled my cast. The film had one of the best crews I've ever worked with. Let me just say this about Charles Durning. He may be America's finest working actor today. Right down to the soundtrack, a jazz fiend, I called my own list of all-stars. The picture opened at the end of the year to critical reviews that were beyond my expectations. But when even the New York Time's Vincent Canby also got it, I was bowled over. The reviews made me a hot director. Show less «
Women are my drugs and alcohol. When I'm involved with one woman, I'm involved with one woman. Period. But between romances, I am carnivorou...Show more »
Women are my drugs and alcohol. When I'm involved with one woman, I'm involved with one woman. Period. But between romances, I am carnivorous. Show less «
There are three stages of an actor's career. Young, old, and "You look good'"
There are three stages of an actor's career. Young, old, and "You look good'"
I'm going to retire hopefully like Cary Grant did. I'll be on stage telling a story, everyone's going to applaud and laugh and then I'll dro...Show more »
I'm going to retire hopefully like Cary Grant did. I'll be on stage telling a story, everyone's going to applaud and laugh and then I'll drop like a rock. Show less «
Sean Connery had said he wanted more money and left and Cubby Broccoli [Albert R. Broccoli] came to visit me and said, "We want you to play ...Show more »
Sean Connery had said he wanted more money and left and Cubby Broccoli [Albert R. Broccoli] came to visit me and said, "We want you to play James Bond". And I said, in my infinite wisdom, "An American can't play James Bond. It just can't be done". Now, in the middle of the night, you hear me wake up in this cold sweat going, "Bond, James Bond! Show less «
[on Deliverance (1972) author/co-star James Dickey]: "He's the kind of man that, after he has had 4 martinis, makes you want to drop a grena...Show more »
[on Deliverance (1972) author/co-star James Dickey]: "He's the kind of man that, after he has had 4 martinis, makes you want to drop a grenade down his throat." Show less «
[on longtime girlfriend Sally Field]: You know, I never told Sally that I loved her. I should have done that.
[on longtime girlfriend Sally Field]: You know, I never told Sally that I loved her. I should have done that.
[on his divorce from Loni Anderson] I'm paying the third highest alimony and child support in the world. And the only two ahead of me are sh...Show more »
[on his divorce from Loni Anderson] I'm paying the third highest alimony and child support in the world. And the only two ahead of me are sheiks. Show less «
[on Goldie Hawn] Goldie is one of the sharpest ladies I've ever worked with. She doesn't miss a thing. She's my greatest audience. She laugh...Show more »
[on Goldie Hawn] Goldie is one of the sharpest ladies I've ever worked with. She doesn't miss a thing. She's my greatest audience. She laughs at all my stories and in the right places, too. Show less «
[on Frank Capra] He was my favorite director. Woody Allen and I once sat in a restaurant and picked five pictures we'd take to an island. An...Show more »
[on Frank Capra] He was my favorite director. Woody Allen and I once sat in a restaurant and picked five pictures we'd take to an island. And much to my shock, he didn't take a Capra picture and I took two. He took three Ingmar Bergman movies. Show less «
[on Marlon Brando] As an actor, he is a genius and even when he's dull he's still much better than most actors at the top of their form. But...Show more »
[on Marlon Brando] As an actor, he is a genius and even when he's dull he's still much better than most actors at the top of their form. But he has preserved the mentality of an adolescent. It's a pity. When he doesn't try and someone's speaking to him, it's like a blank wall: in fact, it's even less interesting because behind a blank wall you can always suppose that there's something interesting there. Show less «
[on Peter Bogdanovich] You're talking about a man who did something quite extraordinary. He was a film critic. He then went and made The Las...Show more »
[on Peter Bogdanovich] You're talking about a man who did something quite extraordinary. He was a film critic. He then went and made The Last Picture Show (1971), which won a few nominations for the Academy Award. He was very resented for that. Not openly, but deep down inside, the critics said ... kill. Show less «
[on Sally Field] She's tough, she's gritty, she's got a great sense of humor and she gets prettier every day.
[on Sally Field] She's tough, she's gritty, she's got a great sense of humor and she gets prettier every day.
I've had a tremendous amount of fun making fun of myself! As to my legacy, it's the kids that I have taught. I love this business so very mu...Show more »
I've had a tremendous amount of fun making fun of myself! As to my legacy, it's the kids that I have taught. I love this business so very much that I want to share my knowledge about it. The young actors that I have taught, I hope they think of me as a good teacher like 'Charles Nelson Reilly'. Being a good teacher. I'll take that over being a good actor any day! Show less «
If you've as many films as I have, and missed as many opportunities as I have to do good work and been pissed off about it, you say, "Well, ...Show more »
If you've as many films as I have, and missed as many opportunities as I have to do good work and been pissed off about it, you say, "Well, now you've got to start getting it right". If you get a chance, you really want to cook. And the tragedy is, when you finally feel that way about yourself, about your work, nobody wants you to give you a chance. And that happens to a lot of actors. But I'm feeling very wanted these days, so there must be something in the air. Show less «
[About Sally Jo Wagner, who worked for most of her life at the Burt Reynolds Theatre] She was my hero. I've never met anyone that was braver...Show more »
[About Sally Jo Wagner, who worked for most of her life at the Burt Reynolds Theatre] She was my hero. I've never met anyone that was braver than this little lady. During all of the years I knew her, I never once heard her complain about her condition or the pain she most obviously suffered. She never asked for anything and, if you offered, she would turn it around and do something twice as profound for you. She was the best of friends with some of my best friends like Ossie Davis and Charles Nelson Reilly. Everyone loved her but none more than me. Show less «
[about Ossie Davis] I want so badly someday to have his dignity. A little of it anyway.
[about Ossie Davis] I want so badly someday to have his dignity. A little of it anyway.
[after the death of his friend Dom DeLuise]: As you get older, and start to lose people you love, you think about it more, and I was dreadin...Show more »
[after the death of his friend Dom DeLuise]: As you get older, and start to lose people you love, you think about it more, and I was dreading this moment. Dom always made you feel better when he was around and there will never be another like him. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. I will miss him very much. Show less «
[talking about losing his friend Dom DeLuise] Will I miss him? Yes, every time I laugh...every time I smile and every time I think of the ki...Show more »
[talking about losing his friend Dom DeLuise] Will I miss him? Yes, every time I laugh...every time I smile and every time I think of the kindness from one actor to another. A great big piece of my heart is gone. It seems to be a cliché these days to say someone is irreplaceable, but for me, Dom is. Show less «
[about friends who stood by him through his life] With people like Johnny Carson and Clint Eastwood, if you are honest and candid with them,...Show more »
[about friends who stood by him through his life] With people like Johnny Carson and Clint Eastwood, if you are honest and candid with them, they know you just want to be their friend. Johnny has a sensitive, vulnerable spot in him, and he showed that to me and I never analyzed it. I was just grateful for it. And with Clint, well, he only says about four or five words a year, and when he does, he's funny and wonderfully warm and everyone now realizes how intelligent he is. Elizabeth Taylor is a phenomenal friend. Again, she's been worked over pretty good, so when she is with someone who has also been in quicksand, there isn't anything held back. And I liked Dolly Parton from the beginning because I was raised in the South and always have had a great passion for it. I told her after an interview I did with several of the Grand Old Opry stars that she was going to be a major star. I just didn't know which medium it would be in. She looked at me, and Dolly being Dolly, said "When?" Show less «
[commenting on the number of Indians he's played in his career] The only Indian I haven't played is Pocahontas.
[commenting on the number of Indians he's played in his career] The only Indian I haven't played is Pocahontas.
[about his "spaghetti western" Navajo Joe (1966)] They hacked up an old wig and glued it on my head. I looked like Natalie Wood.
[about his "spaghetti western" Navajo Joe (1966)] They hacked up an old wig and glued it on my head. I looked like Natalie Wood.
When I worked with Willie Nelson - who is just about the nicest man I've ever worked with in my life - I thought, 'If I'd have been gay, it ...Show more »
When I worked with Willie Nelson - who is just about the nicest man I've ever worked with in my life - I thought, 'If I'd have been gay, it would've saved me millions, just because we'd still be happily married.' Show less «
If I want to be up for an Academy Award, I'm either going to have to play a tour de force of some kind or have a tracheotomy just before the...Show more »
If I want to be up for an Academy Award, I'm either going to have to play a tour de force of some kind or have a tracheotomy just before the nominations. Show less «
The audience will always forgive you for being wrong and exciting, but never for being right and dull.
The audience will always forgive you for being wrong and exciting, but never for being right and dull.
[on the death of James Best] I was fortunate enough to call him my friend since the day he walked on the set of Gunsmoke (1955) back in the ...Show more »
[on the death of James Best] I was fortunate enough to call him my friend since the day he walked on the set of Gunsmoke (1955) back in the early '60s. Onset or off, behind the scenes, in front of a class or just as a friend, his name was so fitting because he was truly the 'best' at whatever he did. My heart is heavy, and I miss him deeply. Show less «
I just heard the terrible news. Rowdy stayed at my house whenever he was in Florida. Whether driving down US 1 at 110 miles an hour in the B...Show more »
I just heard the terrible news. Rowdy stayed at my house whenever he was in Florida. Whether driving down US 1 at 110 miles an hour in the Bandit, or just sitting across the table over a cup of coffee, he lived life to the fullest. He once told my acting class that wrestling was exploding, but acting was imploding - and he knew because he had done it all, and done it all so well. I miss my friend. Show less «
I will sometimes be very shut off from everybody. I can be very pettish and sometimes not available when you need me. At those times, I'm ve...Show more »
I will sometimes be very shut off from everybody. I can be very pettish and sometimes not available when you need me. At those times, I'm very selfish and worrying about my own problems ... I'm just being a prick. I don't like that guy. I really hate that guy. And that's me. But we all have the Devil inside us. Show less «
[on Sally Field] I miss her terribly. Even now, it's hard on me. I don't know why I was so stupid. Men are like that, you know. You find the...Show more »
[on Sally Field] I miss her terribly. Even now, it's hard on me. I don't know why I was so stupid. Men are like that, you know. You find the perfect person, and then you do everything you can to screw it up. There isn't anything, no matter how good it is, or how good it tastes, or how much fun it is, where too much is good for you. It can destroy you. And you have to learn. It's a hard lesson. But you have to learn to back off and do as good as you can in your chosen profession. And don't screw it up. And the best way to screw it up is having too much of a good thing. Show less «
[2015 interview] I've done more than 100 movies. I'm proud of maybe five of them.
[2015 interview] I've done more than 100 movies. I'm proud of maybe five of them.
Directing is what I'd love to do. I'd rather direct than anything. I think that's what I'll probably end up doing; hopefully I'll get a scri...Show more »
Directing is what I'd love to do. I'd rather direct than anything. I think that's what I'll probably end up doing; hopefully I'll get a script that's wonderful...I think it will help me get away from a lot of painful stuff. I think I can do something that will surprise people. [Dec. 2015] Show less «
[why he will never work with director Paul Thomas Anderson again] Personality-wise, we didn't fit. (...) I think mostly because he was young...Show more »
[why he will never work with director Paul Thomas Anderson again] Personality-wise, we didn't fit. (...) I think mostly because he was young and full of himself. (...) Every shot we did, it was like the first time [that shot had ever been done]. I remember the first shot we did in Boogie Nights (1997), where I drive the car to Grauman's Theater. After [that] he said, 'Isn't that amazing?' And I named five pictures that had the same kind of shot. It wasn't original. But if you have to steal, steal from the best. (...) I'd done my picture with Paul Thomas Anderson, that was enough for me. [2015] Show less «
[on Charlie Sheen's HIV status] I don't feel bad for him. He's getting what he deserves. If you're going to misbehave like that, they're goi...Show more »
[on Charlie Sheen's HIV status] I don't feel bad for him. He's getting what he deserves. If you're going to misbehave like that, they're going to get you... He misbehaved badly. Very badly. Show less «
(On The Cannonball Run (1981)) "I did that film for all the wrong reasons. I never liked it. I did it to help out a friend of mine, Hal Need...Show more »
(On The Cannonball Run (1981)) "I did that film for all the wrong reasons. I never liked it. I did it to help out a friend of mine, Hal Needham. And I also felt it was immoral to turn down that kind of money. I suppose I sold out so I couldn't really object to what people wrote about me." Show less «
(On At Long Last Love (1975)) Not as bad as it was reviewed. What was reviewed was Cybill and Peter's relationship. You see, Peter Bogdanovi...Show more »
(On At Long Last Love (1975)) Not as bad as it was reviewed. What was reviewed was Cybill and Peter's relationship. You see, Peter Bogdanovich has done something that all critics will never forgive him for doing. That is, stop being a critic, go make a film and have that film be enormously successful. What he did then was to go on talk shows, and be rather arrogant and talk about how bad critics are. That was the final straw. So they were waiting with their knives and whatever. And along came Peter who finally gave them something they could kill him with. Unfortunately there I was, between Cybill's broad shoulders and Peter's ego. And I got killed along with the rest of them. Show less «
[on Boogie Nights (1997)] I hated the experience. I thought I'd sold out, in a way. I wasn't sure whether that was why they were offering th...Show more »
[on Boogie Nights (1997)] I hated the experience. I thought I'd sold out, in a way. I wasn't sure whether that was why they were offering the film to me, but apparently I did it very well. It won some awards and I was proud of that. But I've done 60 films or something, and it was just the worst experience I ever had. [2016] Show less «
I'm going to keep working until they shoot me and take me off and bury me. And I hope they film it.
I'm going to keep working until they shoot me and take me off and bury me. And I hope they film it.
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