Though his career spans seven decades and countless TV and film appearances, chances are there’s one image that pops into your head when you hear the name Burt Reynolds (^ that one).
The iconic shot appeared in a 1972 issue of Cosmopolitan, cementing Burt’s status as a sex symbol and securing his title of the first actor to pose naked for the magazine. Burt would later discover that the then-editor of Cosmo had originally pitched the idea to Paul Newman, who turned it down.
In a recent interview with AOL at SXSW promoting a new documentary that explores the personal and professional bromance between Burt and his stuntman, Hal Needham, Burt reveals he wishes he’d turned down the shoot, too.
Reflecting on the photo, he said:
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“I wish I hadn’t done that. I really do.
I mean, it was really stupid. I don’t know what I was thinking, but probably knowing me, I was like ‘You won’t do that, you chicken,’ and that’s all I had to hear, of course.”
So what ground rules did he lay, if any?
“As long as it was only a certain amount of pubic hair showing, then I was all for it.
The only rules I had was I wanted a lot of drinks before, because I was, well I have to be truthful — I was totally zonkered when we did the picture — that stupid smile is, that’s what it is.”
And while these footnotes are certainly noteworthy, they’re hardly the strangest comments from Reynolds’ interview.
Remembering his good friend and colleague Hal, Burt said:
“Knowing Hal, he was not only amazing in so many ways, he had a tremendous ego, which I quite loved. It was perfect, because you had these two guys that thought that the other one was great, and at the same time we were happy just to have a mirror there and to be interviewed.”
He added this final thought:
“His wife and he had an argument and she kicked him out, and he came and asked if he could stay at my house for a couple of nights, and I said ‘sure,’ and five years later he hadn’t left…If he’d have been a woman, I would have had such a great marriage. I thought about it — I didn’t want to tell him that because I was afraid he’d run, but I did think about it.”
Ryan Carver
I have no issue with the picture!
Josh447
That guy was god hot, truly a waking talking bon fire of unrelenting testosterone.
Kevin J Desmond
He’s one of the biggest assholes I’ve ever met.
Kangol
Burt Reynolds was a definitely a hottie for a hot minute.
Brian
Many men have moustaches even today because of Burt Reynolds.
o.codone
In today’s world where the best parts are all shaved, it’s really refreshing to see a little fur on a guy. Thank God for all those fine hairy asses, and, hairy everything else.
o.codone
@Kevin J Desmond: OMG, YOU actually met Burt Reynolds? OMG, you must be famous too, right? Have you washed your hand yet? You’re so special, and it shows. OMG. Burt Reynolds, seriously? Gush.
bottom250
He could have mounted me and I wouldn’t have objected
GayEGO
You can’t argue taste! ;>)
scotshot
@o.codone: Jealous much?
mujerado
@scotshot: It’s pretty obvious o.codone is ridiculing Kevin J. Desmond’s self-aggrandizing put-down of Burt Reynolds. Who cares if Kevin met him? Who cares if Kevin thought he was an asshole? That’s what o.codone was saying, not that s/he’s “jealous”.
scotshot
@mujerado:
It should be pretty obvious I know that and that’s why I replied as I did.
Next time I’ll make sure I identify a comment as snark so everyone gets it. /s
Stached1
Is he intact with a foreskin or cut?
Josh447
Bottom250,
When have you ever objected to letting any man mount you? (Wink)
Bob LaBlah
I still don’t see what Playgirl saw in Telly Savalas when he was featured right after Burt.
Sluggo2007
I have been told by people who have met him that he’s a star spangled asshole. I always liked his looks though.