Burt Reynolds Career Retrospective | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

Burt shares stories from his performances in Deliverance and Rainmaker in this interview on his acting career. He recounts stories about his childhood, his time acting as a movie star, and his relationships with Rip Torn, Charlton Heston, and Johnny Carson. This Q&A moderated by Paul Ryan is part of the SAG-AFTRA Conversations series, an essential resource for actors, filmmakers and students of discussions with performers, exploring the process and profession of acting.

The views expressed in the presentation materials and films, and by the guests and moderators are solely those of the organization and/or individual providing them and do not reflect the opinions of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, its staff or Board of Directors.

Watch Past Q&A's:
   / sagaftrafoundation  

Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media:
Instagram:   / sagaftrafound  
Facebook:   / sagaftrafoundation  
Twitter:   / sagaftrafound  `

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

During the pandemic, the Foundation has given over $7 million in disaster relief to more than 7,500 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate.

All donations are tax-deductible.

0:00 - Introduction
2:12 - Dom Deluise
7:28 - Charles Nelson Reilly
9:42 - Childhood Race and An Important Lesson
17:19 - Palm Beach
22:09 - Early Actor Communities and Parties
22:39 - Rip Torn and James Cagney
27:55 - Early Parties with Actors
31:33 - Betty Davis and Joan Crawford’s Death
34:36 - Impersonations
37:55 - Car Accident
42:12 - Childhood and his Father
54:54 - Transition to Acting and the Arts
1:02:08 - Joanne Woodward
1:04:44 - Mr Roberts / Charlton Heston
1:07:33 - Owning a Theater / John Houseman Award
1:10:20 - SAG should have lawyers
1:14:09 - The Movie Star Experience
1:18:02 - Deliverance (1972)
1:27:22 - Cosmopolitan / The Oscars
1;33:31 - The Industry and Learning to Act
1:38:38 - Johnny Carson and AIDS
1:41:21 - Directing and Acting
1:42:32 - Cliff Young and Hal Needham
1:49:12 - Gifts for Burt