LOS ANGELES, CA—On September 6, 2025, the legacy of Burt Reynolds, who died in 2018, continues to inspire. The Burt-Reynolds-football-Hollywood story traces his remarkable pivot from a promising athlete to a box office king.
Born to Cherokee and Italian roots in Florida, Reynolds shone in high school football and track, earning a Florida State University scholarship. Coached by Lee Corso, he nabbed accolades as a freshman. But a 1955 knee injury, followed by a car accident, derailed his sports dreams, pushing him toward acting.
A drama award at junior college landed Reynolds a scholarship to New York’s Hyde Park Playhouse. Initially a side gig, acting hooked him after stage roles and a Broadway debut. By the late 1950s, he debuted on TV in The Lawless Years and Pony Express. His role in Riverboat drew Marlon Brando comparisons, launching him to fame. For more celebrity stories, visit Variety.
Reynolds’ 1961 film debut in Angel Baby kicked off a string of hits like Deliverance and The Longest Yard. Topping box office charts from 1978 to 1982, he defied controversies to cement a Hollywood legacy. Analyst Tara Kline noted, “Reynolds proved athletes can conquer Tinseltown.” Check updates at The Hollywood Reporter. At press time, X fans celebrated his enduring impact.