Burt Reynolds: Hollywood star dies, 82

Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds has died. He was 82.

Reynolds was best known for his roles in “Deliverance” and “Boogie Nights”.

The actor, who was a huge box office attraction in the 1970s, died at a hospital in Florida, his manager Erik Kritzer told the Hollywood Reporter.
The actor, who has nearly 200 film and TV credits, also starred in multiple successful films including 1974’s The Longest Yard, 1977’s Smokey And The Bandit, 1996’s Striptease and 1997’s Boogie Nights, the latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination.

Reynolds spent nearly five years as the No 1 box office attraction in America in the 1970s.
While he was known for many big roles he is almost as well-known for the role he turned down, including Harrison Ford’s Star Wars role of Hans Solo, Richard Gere’s role in Pretty Woman, James Bond in the 007 movies, Bruce Willis’ role in Die Hard, and Jack Nicholson’s roles in both Terms of Endearment and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.

Reynolds had been battling health issues in recent years. In 2013, Reynolds’ manager said he was in intensive care in a Florida hospital for treatment of flu symptoms, including dehydration.

In 2010, he reportedly had a “planned” heart bypass operation, with his rep denying reports he’d been rushed to the hospital.
Reynolds was a former university football player who took up acting after an injury cut short his playing career, reports the New York Post.

Reynolds spent a decade taking on bit roles in Hollywood before breaking through with roles in some of the biggest films of the decade, including Deliverance, The Longest Yard and — the movie he’s best known for — Smokey And The Bandit