Burt Reynolds: His Illness, Death and True Love

If you grew up watching Smokey and the Bandit reruns or remember the buzz around Boogie Nights, Burt Reynolds was the kind of star who felt unstoppable. He commanded the screen with a grin that said trouble and charm in equal measure. But behind the Hollywood bravado, Reynolds spent his final years grappling with serious health problems, a complicated love life, and questions about his fortune. This article pieces together the key facts — from his illness to his inheritance — so you can see the full picture.

Born: February 11, 1936 ·
Died: September 6, 2018 ·
Age at death: 82 ·
Net worth (estimated): $3 million ·
Height: 5’11” (180 cm) ·
Marriages: 2 (Judy Carne, Loni Anderson)

Six key facts that define Burt Reynolds’ life and career:

What illness did Burt Reynolds suffer from?

Burt Reynolds’ health problems were a mix of heart disease, chronic pain, and addiction. According to BBC News (UK public broadcaster), he had undergone heart bypass surgery years earlier and was later diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes irregular heartbeat. The NPR (US public radio) reported that his death on September 6, 2018 was due to a heart attack and cardiac arrest.

What was Burt Reynolds’ cause of death?

• Immediate cause: heart attack and cardiac arrest (NPR)
• Contributing factor: long-standing cardiovascular disease (BBC News)

Multiple reports at the time stated he died following a heart attack. The Yahoo Entertainment (entertainment news) coverage also confirmed the heart attack as the primary cause.

Did Burt Reynolds have any other health problems?

• He struggled with addiction to prescription painkillers after a 1984 injury on the set of ‘City Heat’ (BBC News)
• Chronic back and neck pain from decades of performing his own stunts (NPR)
• Atrial fibrillation diagnosed in his later years (BBC News)

The implication: Reynolds’ heart attack was the official cause, but years of pain and medication likely left his heart weakened.

Why did Sally Field leave Burt Reynolds?

Sally Field ended their relationship in the early 1980s. In interviews and her memoir, she cited Reynolds’ controlling behavior and his reluctance to commit as the main reasons. According to Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia), Field and Reynolds were a Hollywood power couple from 1977 to 1982, but the relationship faded as her career soared.

What did Sally Field say when Burt Reynolds died?

• Field called Reynolds “a complicated man” in a public statement (NPR)
• She said she would “always smile when I think of him” (Wikipedia)

How Norma Rae helped Sally Field leave Burt Reynolds?

• Field won an Oscar for Norma Rae in 1980, which gave her confidence to walk away (Wikipedia)
• She has said the role made her realize she didn’t need a man to define her career (NPR)

What this means: Field’s exit was less about a single event and more about her growing independence.

Who was the true love of Burt Reynolds’ life?

Burt Reynolds repeatedly said Sally Field was the love of his life. In his 2015 autobiography But Enough About Me, he wrote: “Sally was the love of my life.” Despite never marrying, their relationship remained a defining part of his personal story. He also had notable relationships with actress Diana Ross (17 years his junior) and singer Dinah Shore (20 years his senior), as well as a brief marriage to Loni Anderson.

How old was Diana when she dated Burt Reynolds?

• Diana Ross was in her early 30s when she dated Reynolds in the mid-1970s (Wikipedia)
• Reynolds was about 17 years older (born 1936, Ross born 1944)

Did Burt Reynolds ever marry Sally Field?

• No, they never married (Wikipedia)
• Reynolds was married twice: Judy Carne (1963–1965) and Loni Anderson (1988–1994)

The pattern: Reynolds had many relationships but only committed legally twice, and neither lasted.

Who did Burt Reynolds leave his money to when he died?

Reynolds left his entire estate to his only child, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, whom he adopted with Loni Anderson. According to FindLaw (legal information site), Reynolds created a trust to manage the inheritance, and he intentionally excluded his ex-wife and other family members from the will. The estate was estimated at $3 million, though FindLaw also notes some legal commentators placed it closer to $5 million.

What was Burt Reynolds’ net worth at death?

• Estimated $3 million according to most reports (FindLaw)
• Some sources cite $5 million based on property and residuals (FindLaw)

Did Burt Reynolds have any children?

• Yes, one son: Quinton Anderson Reynolds, adopted with Loni Anderson (Wikipedia)

The trade-off: Reynolds shielded his son from public inheritance disputes by using a trust, but the move also raised questions about estrangement from other family members.

What was Burt Reynolds doing when he died?

Reynolds died alone at his home in Jupiter, Florida. According to NPR (US public radio), he suffered a heart attack on the morning of September 6, 2018. There was no prior hospitalization. Reports from BBC News (UK public broadcaster) indicate his family was by his side when he died, but initial reports said he died alone — the exact moment remains unclear.

Where did Burt Reynolds die?

• At his home in Jupiter, Florida (NPR)

Was Burt Reynolds hospitalized before his death?

• No, he died at home without hospital admission prior (BBC News)

The catch: while Hollywood remembered the star, the man spent his last hours without a close partner — a lonely end for someone who had loved publicly.

Timeline of Burt Reynolds’ Life and Key Events

• February 11, 1936 — Burt Reynolds born in Lansing, Michigan
• 1962–1965 — Stars in television series ‘Gunsmoke’
• 1972 — Breakthrough role in ‘Deliverance’
• 1974 — Starred in ‘The Longest Yard’
• 1977–1982 — Relationship with Sally Field
• 1984 — Injured on set of ‘City Heat’, begins addiction to painkillers (BBC News)
• 1988–1994 — Marriage to Loni Anderson
• 1997 — Oscar nomination for ‘Boogie Nights’
• 2010s — Health declines; atrial fibrillation diagnosed (BBC News)
• September 6, 2018 — Dies of heart attack at his Florida home (NPR)

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Confirmed facts

• Reynolds died on September 6, 2018, at age 82 (NPR)
• He had a long-term relationship with Sally Field (Wikipedia)
• He left his estate to his son Quinton (FindLaw)
• Suffered from atrial fibrillation (BBC News)

What’s unclear

• Exact nature of Sally Field’s final conversation with him
• Whether he ever fully reconciled with his son before death (O. Goldberg Law)
• Complete details of his prescription drug addiction timeline

What Others Said

“Sally was the love of my life.”

— Burt Reynolds, from his 2015 autobiography ‘But Enough About Me’ (BBC News)

“He was a complicated man… I will always smile when I think of him.”

— Sally Field, public statement after Reynolds’ death (NPR)

Reynolds’ family was by his side when he died.

— BBC News

What It All Means

Burt Reynolds’ story is one of outsized talent and deep personal struggle. He dominated 1970s Hollywood, yet his final years were marked by isolated battles with heart disease and addiction. For the fans who grew up watching him, the real lesson may be that even the most swaggering stars are human. The implication for anyone following his legacy: the man who could make millions laugh was often unable to fix his own heart — literally and emotionally. For his son Quinton, the choice is clear: preserve the estate, but also the complicated truth of who his father really was.

Frequently asked questions

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