By HOWARD McQUITTER II
oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com
howardmcquitter68@gmail.com
Burt Reynolds
Feb. 11, 1936 – Sept. 6, 2018
The man with the rakish mustache, keen eyes and good looks started with acting on television such as playing in 50 episodes of “Gunsmoke” (1962-1965) and various roles in “The Twilight Zone”, “Perry Mason”, and many other shows in the 1960s. Then Reynolds got his big break on silver screen in John Boorman”'s drama-adventure- thriller “Deliverance” (1972) joining the cast with Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox and Bill McKinney. Reynolds takes a role in Woody Allen”'s “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)” (1972) . He played in “The Longest Yard”(1974) and at one time played high school college football before quitting because of an injury. Also known for acting in other comedies “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977) and the sequel in 1980.
He plays the sheriff in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982).
All together he starred in 186 movies and television shows. One of his most memorable roles is playing a producer of “soft” pornography in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Thomas Anderson”'s “Boogie Nights”(1997).
Here is one of the 186 movie and TV shows of Burt Reynolds”' Career.
The End (1978 film)
The End a 1978 black comedy directed by and starring Burt Reynolds, written by Jerry Belson, and with music composed by Paul Williams. Also stars Dom DeLuise along with Sally Field, Strother Martin, David Steinberg, Joanne Woodward, Norman Fell, Myrna Loy, Kristy McNichol, Pat O”'Brien, Robby Benson and Carl Reiner.
Reynolds later said he “loved” the film. “Nobody wanted to do it. They allowed me to do The End if I did Hooper, which made a fortune for Warner Brothers. The End eventually made $40-million.”
Wendell “Sonny” Lawson (Reynolds), an unscrupulous real-estate promoter, learns that he has a fatal blood disease and decides to commit suicide rather than endure a slow, painful death. He then takes the time to meet with several friends and family members for one last time, while hiding the fact that he plans to end his own life.
After a failed suicide attempt, Sonny ends up in a mental institution, where he quickly befriends fellow patient, Marlon Borunki (DeLuise), a deranged schizophrenic murderer and enlists Borunki”'s help with his suicide.
