Burt Reynolds there's a split between the executives in town who are under 40 and those who are over 40. The younger executives are more open to Burt because they grew up loving "Deliverance". But the older executives remember how crazy he was, and they are less receptive." Reynolds appeared as an adult film director in the hit film "Boogie Nights" (1997), which was considered a comeback role for him; he received 12 acting awards and 3 nominations for the role, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Nevertheless, Reynolds refused to appear in "Boogie Nights" writer/director Paul
Burt Reynolds by Merrick, who fired and then rehired director Don Siegel during filming. Reynolds had two huge hits with car films directed by Needham, "Smokey and the Bandit II" (1980) and "The Cannonball Run" (1981). He starred in David Steinberg's film "Paternity" (1981) and directed himself in a tough action film, "Sharky's Machine" (1981). Reynolds wanted to try a musical again and so agreed to do "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982). It was a hit, as was "Best Friends" (1982) with Goldie Hawn. In 1982, Reynolds was voted the most popular star in the US for the fifth year