RIP Burt Reynolds And Thank You For The BANDIT

We hate having to report on the passing of anyone, celebrity or not, but today's news has a bit of a sting in it. That's because we're fans of 1970s and 1980s icon, Burt Reynolds.

Known predominantly for two automotive-related roles in Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run, there's no question that gearheads from all walks of life appreciated his impact on the big screen.

Hell, I remember being a little kid watching Cannonball Run for the first time and being completely intrigued by the concept of a cross-country rally. If it weren't for this flick — plus several other factors — and seeing Burt Reynolds do his thing, who knows if I would have went down the automotive rabbit hole.

That said, we wanted to pay our respects the best way we know how: Show some of our favorite clips of Reynolds as well as one added bonus — the famous Saturday Night Live skit featuring Norm Macdonald poking fun at Reynolds and his alpha approach to life.

Our thoughts are with Reynolds' family and friends.


Burt Reynolds, the charismatic star of such films as Deliverance, The Longest Yard and Smokey and the Bandit who set out to have as much fun as possible on and off the screen — and wildly succeeded — has died. He was 82.

Reynolds, who received an Oscar nomination when he portrayed porn director Jack Horner in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights (1997) and was the No. 1 box-office attraction for a five-year stretch starting in the late 1970s, died Thursday morning at Jupiter Medical Center in Florida, his manager, Erik Kritzer, told The Hollywood Reporter. 

The cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest...
 

runninglogan1 - 9/7/2018 2:16:12 AM

+2 Boost

Loved the Trans Am growing up - all because of Burt. RIP.

EVisNow - 9/7/2018 2:39:47 AM

+2 Boost

I got my Gen 3 Z28 indirectly influenced by Reynolds. An older friend who loved the movie and got himself a TransAm who introduced me to muscle cars. I actually started out with Mustangs, first the Mach 1, LX then GT 5.0, eventually switched over to Camaro since the Mustangs were routinely trounced by the Camaros. That was all a long time ago.

Can't believe Burt is gone. RIP.

jeffgall - 9/7/2018 7:12:36 AM

0 Boost

As a kid crazed about cars, Cannonball Run was a big one for me.

jeffgall - 9/7/2018 7:13:30 AM

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And for the How I Met Your Mother fans, the Naked Man Burt Reynolds

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m9vXJ4HB2fU

stampfer - 9/7/2018 7:52:52 AM

+3 Boost

RIP Burt, loved the movies.. Got one more to add. Hooper. Automotive related clip here https://binged.it/2CsT370. "say goodbye to the nice officer"

xjug1987a - 9/7/2018 10:04:16 AM

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While his career was really launched by Deliverance and he had other good, serious roles, the mainline films of his career were really kind of goofy. That said the black Trans Am was every boys dream car back in the day and clearly these movies helped to cement our car lust. I'm sure I don't speak for just myself in saying most of us aging boomers would still love to have one. I know I would, exactly like the one in the movies.