When Burt Reynolds was cast in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, it seemed like the perfect farewell for the aging Hollywood icon. The 82-year-old actor hadn’t been acting much in recent years, and his supporting role as the owner of a former stunt ranch in Quentin Tarantino’s ninth movie was sure to be his last. Unfortunately, we’ll never see Reynolds on the big screen again, as the actor passed away earlier today — before he ever had a chance to film his final part.
Burt Reynolds, the iconic mustachioed star of classics ranging from Smokey and the Bandit to Boogie Nights, has passed away at the age of 82. The actor died early Thursday at Jupiter Medical Center in Florida, as confirmed by his manager. No cause of death has been given at this time.
With a story set in and around Los Angeles during the Manson Family era and a cast that already includes Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film is shaping up to be the movie event of next summer — and the latest additions to the ensemble double-down on that point.
We’ve heard many stories about the making of Boogie Nights and the tough time Burt Reynolds had (or that everyone else had with Burt Reynolds) on the set of Paul Thomas Anderson’s classic film. And while many believe the actor gave his career-best performance in the porn industry drama, Reynolds doesn’t really have anything positive to say about his time with Anderson or the film — which he’s never watched all the way through.