Sally Field spoke of Burt Reynolds, her former love and co-star, in a heartfelt statement following his death Sept. 6.
“There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away,” Field said in a statement, Variety reported. “They stay alive, even 40 years later.”
“My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy.”
Burt Reynolds, the star of films like “Smokey and the Bandit” and “The Longest Yard,” died at the age of 82 on Sept. 6.
Reynolds met Field while starring in “Smokey and the Bandit” together in 1977. The couple dated for almost five years before breaking up in 1982. They starred together in another three films during that time; “Hooper” and “The End” in 1978 and “Smokey and the Bandit II” in 1980.
Decades later, Reynolds said Field was still the “love of my life” in a 2015 interview with Vanity Fair.
He called his breakup his “biggest disappointment” in 2016 in an interview with the Daily Mail.
“I screwed the relationship up. That sense of loss never goes away. I have no idea what Sally thinks about it. She could pick up the phone and speak to me but she never does.”
“I spoke to her son recently. He said that his mum talks about me all the time. Maybe she’ll phone me one day. I’d love to have that conversation,” he said at the time, the Daily Mail reported.
Reynolds told People in 2015 that he had “really adored” Field, and that her mother had warned him about the relationship.
“I know you’re going to break her heart, but please be gentle,” her mother said to Reynolds, People reported.
“I said, ‘I don’t know how you could break somebody heart and be gentle, but I don’t intend to break her heart. You never intend to,’” Reynolds said.
Reynolds told Vanity Fair: “I don’t know why I was so stupid. Men are like that, you know. You find the perfect person, and then you do everything you can to screw it up.”
Condolences Pour In
“Burt Reynolds was one of my heroes. He was a trailblazer. He showed the way to transition from being an athlete to being the highest paid actor, and he always inspired me. He also had a great sense of humor – check out his ‘Tonight Show’ clips. My thoughts are with his family,” wrote actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Twitter.“Very sad to hearing about the passing of Burt Reynolds. He was a great actor, a philanthropist, and a pioneer of the cool mustache. Thank you, Burt. You will be missed,” wrote comedian Steve Harvey on Twitter.
“Sad to hear of the passing of legend, Burt Reynolds,” wrote Elijah Wood.
Singer Reba McEntire said: “My good friend has started a new journey. Rest in my peace my friend. I’ll never forget the wonderful times we spent together. #BurtReynolds.”
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