10 Burt Reynolds films

While starring in different TV series in the 1960s, Burt Reynolds landed leading roles in low-budget films, including the title character in the spaghetti western Navajo Joe, by Sergio Corbucci (Bud Spencer and Terrence Hill movies). Around that time, Reynolds was reportedly asked to play James Bond, but he turned the role down, saying "An American can't play James Bond. It just can't be done."

Reynolds got his film breakthrough role in 1972 in John Boorman's critically acclaimed thriller, Deliverance. Four city slickers (Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox) set out for a canoe adventure that turns into a nightmare — including a run-in with sadistic mountain men that leads to a notorious male rape scene. Reynolds later called it "the best film I've ever been in."

Bootleg beer, fast cars, police chases and a romantic time with a runaway bride: The first feature film directed by stuntman Hal Needham put together various elements that would make up Reynolds' trademark. If the Trans Am had its period of glory in the US, you can blame it on this cult movie that inspired several more racing films as well as two sequels.

This other racing flick featured an all-star cast, including Dean Martin, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett — and Burt Reynolds as racer J.J. McClure. In the story, based on an actual cross-country outlaw road race in the US, Reynolds races in a heavily modified Dodge Tradesman van that previously served as an ambulance. The comedy was one of the most popular films of 1981 and led to two sequels.

"He wants YOU to have his baby" was the tagline of this romantic comedy, in which Reynolds played an ad-man who wants to have a son without getting into an actual relationship — a character that was basically a reflection of the womanizing persona he had developed through many films, without the tough guy part.

This comedy with an apt Reynolds title was a remake of a French film. He depicted a womanizing artist confronted with a mid-life crisis related to his insatiable libido. Julie Andrews and Kim Basinger co-starred as some of the women the sculptor loves. Unlike the original movie, the remake was a box office flop.

This action comedy picking up the classic codes of the film noir genre paired Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. He played the role of a former cop turned private detective. Despite the star power of the movie, it wasn't a box office hit. Reynolds was even nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for worst actor.

Paul Thomas Anderson's film chronicled the Golden Age of Porn of the 1970s. Starring alongside Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman, Reynolds made a brilliant comeback in the role of a porn filmmaker. Reynolds received over 10 accolades for his work that was praised as "his best and most suavely funny performance in years" by a New York Times critic.

In the 2005 remake of the cult TV series from the 1980s, The Dukes of Hazzard, Reynolds took on the role of the corrupt Hazzard County Commissioner Jefferson Davis Hogg, aka "Boss Hogg." While it did relatively well at the box office, critics and fans were disappointed by the movie. Reynolds got another one of his multiple Golden Raspberry Award nominations, for worst supporting actor.

In Adam Rifkin's The Last Movie Star, Reynolds depicted an aging movie star who's invited to receive a lifetime achievement award — only to find out that the ceremony is held in the back of a bar. Based on the actual actor's own career, the film was practically tailored to become Reynold's final work. He was set to star in a Quentin Tarentino film in 2018, but died before shooting the scenes.