Burt Reynolds: A man before his time
Burt Reynolds, who has died aged 82, was, arguably, a great film star of the 1970s. He showed dexterity and wit, perception and self-deprecation in a way that few of his successors can. He could play every role from a hard-nut backwoods man to a foppish city charmer, with equal conviction.
At his peak, he radiated warmth, charisma, and that kind of comforting presence only a well-rounded character can. In old age, and he aged prematurely, he was wracked with pain and struggled with limited mobility. He also had to face rumours that he was broke.
John Boorman’s 1972 Deliverance, which cast Reynolds as outdoorsman Lewis Medlock, is widely credited with launching his career. Reynolds called it “by far” his best film.
“I thought maybe this film is more important in a lot of ways than we’ve given it credit for,” he said years later. The movie’s infamous rape scene may have helped the public — especially men — better understand the horrors of sexual attacks, Reynolds argued. It is a perspective which seems to define Reynolds as a man before his time.
