The legendary co-star Burt Reynolds made cry on his first day: “His behaviour was shocking”
At the peak of his career, Burt Reynolds was the ultimate face of versatility. And that’s not just because his face was seen, by most, as one of his most prized possessions, but because he could seemingly fit into any role that came his way. Whether an action figure, a romantic lead, or a charming musical performer, Reynolds could do it with the utmost sophistication, rendering him one of the most coveted actors in the industry.
Beyond gaining his breakthrough with 1972’s Deliverance, Reynolds earned respect based on his ability to appear effortlessly forward-thinking, not just in his roles but overall appearance and demeanour. While many actors of his time worked hard to establish their own typical stream of similar roles, working alongside revered actors and even more sought-after directors, Reynolds became the ultimate source of “there’s something for everybody”.
However, beneath this lurch into futuristic mindsets was also someone who was unflinchingly traditional. Even throughout the 1970s, as Hollywood veered towards more diverse leading actors with faces and figures who didn’t always necessarily look the part, at least not in the conventional Hollywood way, Reynolds was, for all intents and purposes, someone who existed as a lasting reminder of the appeal of good old film industry masculinity.
A little rough around the edges with an inexplicable undertone of something untouchable, perhaps intelligence, the actor truly had it all. At least, that’s what it seemed. After all, several decisions throughout his career raised eyebrows, like his alleged intent on turning down a handful of some of history’s biggest cinematic hits, leading to an ambiguity some couldn’t pinpoint, while others branded it as a lack of talent or lasting flavour.
On top of this, his demeanour on some sets seems somewhat off-kilter and not in the endearing way. For instance, while working alongside Kathleen Turner on 1988’s Switching Channels, he didn’t seem to resemble anything like the supporting, protective figure of sensibility his outward reputation seemed to articulate. Instead, he pushed his co-star to tears after making an aggressively inappropriate remark stemming from what can only be assumed as a bruised ego.
“Working with Burt Reynolds was terrible,” Turner told Vanity Fair. Continuing: “The first day Burt came in he made me cry. He said something about not taking second place to a woman. His behaviour was shocking. It never occurred to me that I wasn’t someone’s equal.” While Turner had every right to assume as such, it seems Reynolds struggled with adapting, allowing his innate entitlement to come through in one of the ugliest ways.
While there seems to be some unsettling ambiguity veiled over Reynolds’ potential for controversy, such an instance is enough to warrant immediate displeasure, especially considering how working alongside other established or rising female actors likely triggered the insidious Hollywood-borne misogyny many actors around the same time held, unknowingly or not. Regardless, there’s no excusing such behaviour, even if you once sported an era-defining moustache.
