Burt Reynolds was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the 1970s and 80s thanks to leading roles in movies such as Smokey and The Bandit and The Cannonball Run. His legendary career stretched beyond that peak, noteably with an Oscar-nominated turn in 1997’s Boogie Nights. He died yesterday at age 82 in Florida after suffering cardiac arrest.
Wrestling fans might remember that in the mid-90s, Reynolds had a WrestleMania moment as the ring announcer for WrestleMania X’s main event. At Madison Square Garden, Burt handled the introductions for Bret Hart’s WWE Championship victory over Yokozuna (after taking part in the backstage bit with Shawn Michaels and Rhonda Shear pictured above).
The company tweeted a farewell which links to this story on their website and reads:
“WWE is saddened to learn that Academy Award-nominated actor and Hollywood icon Burt Reynolds has passed away at the age of 82.”
Hart also shared a message on social media about Reynolds, who he ran into not long ago:
I had the pleasure to see Burt recently. Although visibly frail, he remembered me. I thanked him for his part of Wrestlemania X. He was a real fan, thoroughly enjoyed the event, the wrestlers & fans. He was a class act and I’m honoured to have been able to tell him that. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/4c0F0nEdFs
— Bret Hart (@BretHart) September 6, 2018
On behalf of the entire Cageside Seats community, we send our condolences to Reyolds’ friends and family.