“I may not be the best actor in the world,” he said, “but I’m the best Burt Reynolds in the world” https://t.co/Q3Mz19V77Z

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 7, 2018

When I was about 10, I actually had a list of my favorite actors. Burt Reynolds was near the top along with Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Jan Michael Vincent, and Roy Scheider. This was a time when I liked a lot of movies that featured car chases and 18 wheelers (using CB radios). That’s probably why Reynolds was high on the list. Having said that, his role as Paul “Wrecking” Crew from the film The Longest Yard might be my favorite. That role may have been on of the best expressions of his cocky, tough-guy persona. In cinematic history, he might be one of the best at this (along with Harrison Ford, maybe Clark Cable. Who am I missing?).

By the way, at this time, I really wanted to see a film with all of these actors in it or at least one with Reynolds and Eastman. Later on I was excited upon hearing about City Heat, but the reviews were so bad I never saw it.

A favorite actor of my childhood dies. RIP Mr. Reynolds.