A Tribute to The Bandit!

Written By: Jason Lockard

On September 6th 2018 we lost another icon of entertainment, Burt Reynolds. I grew up watching Smokey and the Bandit on TBS. Each time it would come on and I would see it I would have to stop and watch it. Between the slick 1977 Trans AM, the hilarious Jackie Gleason and the ultra-cool Burt Reynolds No wonder this was one of my favorites growing up. 

To look at some of the amazing films Burt Reynolds starred in it's hard to believe that he was once fired from Gunsmoke being told that he couldn't act. Despite this word of discouragement, Burt would continue on taking the title role in the 1966's spaghetti western Navajo Joe. He would also star in the police drama Dan August, before taking his break out role on 1972's Deliverance.

Five years later he would take the big screen in Smokey and the Bandit. People so loved the film that there was no doubt a sequel would be made. Even though he made many iconic films over his years, The longest yard (1974),  Hooper (1978), The Cannonball Run (1981), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Stroker Ace (1983) and Boogie Nights (1997), to me he will always be The Bandit.

In 2000 Reynolds starred in a Cloud Ten Pictures Christian film "Water Proof". In the film he played Eli Zeal a bitter Jewish shopkeeper who is shot during a hold-up attempt by the 11-year-old son of a single mother in Washington D.C. Distraught and with nowhere else to turn, the boy's mother Tyree Battle, kidnaps the wounded Zeal and along with her son, flees to her small hometown of Waterproof, Louisiana. This was amazing to see Reynolds in a different type of role.

Burt Reynolds continued to work right up to the time of his death. He received critical acclaimed performance for The Last Movie Star (2017) and In May 2018, he joined Quentin Tarantino's film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as George Spahn.

Through all the ups and downs of his career Burt Reynolds left a legacy of amazing entertainment. I will forever remember that laugh of The Bandit.

R.I.P. Burt Reynolds
February 11, 1936 - September 6, 2018

'Eastbound and Down!'

What was your favorite Burt Reynolds film? Let me know in the comments!