There was, however, one "promotion" car that traveled hither and thither to plug the movie, which had an initial budget of $1,000,000 and ended up . It's Little Enos Burdette,'" he says in reference to his role in the Smokey and the Bandit trilogy (1977, 1980, and 1983). Mike Henry (1936-2021) Actor IMDbPro Starmeter Top 5,000 502 Play trailer 2:42 Smokey and the Bandit (1977) 2 Videos 11 Photos Michael Dennis Henry was born August 15th, 1936. ", Gleason went on to repeat his role as Justice in "Smokey and the Bandit II," and the disastrous third installment, where Reynolds did not return and Gleason had to carry most of the film himself. The Original Smokey And the Bandit Truck is a 1974 Kenworth. If there was one thing you could count on, it was Dom DeLuise popping up in a Burt Reynolds movie. While some didn't believe that the car broke the sound barrier when it tore down Rogers Dry Lake near Edwards Air Force Base in 1979, Yeager said in photos of the event there was clear evidence that the car had hit supersonic speed. The third film which had no involvement from either Hal Needham or Sally Field and contained only a short cameo appearance by Burt Reynolds revolved entirely around Jackie Gleason's character, was panned by critics, and was a box office bomb, earning only $7 million against a $9 million budget.[41][42][43]. (McCormick also became infamous for running across the "Tonight Show" set naked in 1974.). He gave Needham a preview of the song and, getting no reaction, offered to rewrite it. He also starred in a number of TV series, including "The Odd Couple," "The Muppet Show," "Silver Spoons," and more. McCormick suffered a stroke in 1998, and went to live in the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, a senior citizen community for Hollywood's elderly. 2 on the country charts, stayed on for 16 weeks, and became an anthem for truckers everywhere. The scene where Sheriff Justice's car has the door knocked off by a passing semi-truck was shot on Georgia State Route 75, 3 miles (4.8km) north of Helen. He gained a whole new generation of fans playing the title role in "The Big Lebowski" and appearing in the "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" Christmas special. The cars were 1976 models, the engines fitted to them were 455ci power plants, the last year these engines were offered for sale before withdrawal. Best known as a writer for "The Tonight Show," Pat McCormick's most memorable big-screen role was playing Big Enos Burdette in "Smokey and the Bandit." The Bandit takes the bet on the risky and unprecedented task, and recruits his partner Cledus "Snowman" Snow to drive the truck, while Bandit drives a black Pontiac Trans Am bought in advance from the Burdettes as a "blocker" to divert attention away from the truck and its illegal cargo. She has been out of the spotlight for decades.Sally Field played Carrie, or Frog, which is one of dozens of roles she has taken on throughout her career. It opened in other Northern states at the end of July. See The Release Time, Plot And Other Details. MORE: The Most Memorable Quotes From Smokey And The Bandit. Pat McCormick's career before Smokey and the Bandit was incredibly diverse, but the towering comic spent most of his time behind the scenes. Interestingly enough, Reed was originally cast as the Bandit before Reynolds became interested in the role. Today,. Returning to series television, Field won accolades for her recurring role on the hit drama ER, playing the bipolar mother of one of the doctors. No matter how big a star he was, he made you feel like a big star. "Smokey and the Bandit" is rooted deep in the rebellious spirit of the '70s. Among his biggest hits were "Guitar Man," which was covered by Elvis Presley, "A Thing Called Love," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," and the theme song from "Smokey and the Bandit," "East Bound and Down" (which, of course, later served as the title for Danny McBride's HBO series). The country music legend died in 2008 at the age of 71. The movie star's friends, according to Reynolds in his autobiography, "got down on their knees with tears in their eyes and begged me not to do it." 3. Do you think you know a lot about TV? One of the elephants at the Topeka Zoo is having health problems right now, and it turns out that she was a movie star! He starred in an unsold sitcom pilot for ABC called "Tay-Gar." Jerry Reed wasn't the only musician in the cast of Smokey and the Bandit, and beloved songwriter Paul Williams even had a small role. "Smokey and the Bandit" came out in the summer of 1977, and became the second highest-grossing film of the year, right behind "Star Wars." It is now sold in all states as Coors ships it in refrigerated train cars and bottled locally and sold in different parts of the country including the eastern US states. Smokey and the Bandit was one of the biggest surprise hits of the 1970s, and its cast was packed with superstars and future icons of the screen. However, the cars weren't in the best of shape by the time they were wrapping up. With the help of the Bandit (Burt Reynolds) and the Snowman (Jerry Reed), Big Enos hopes to flip the race by transporting a giant elephant to the Republican National Convention in Dallas. She won her third Emmy Award in 2007, for her portrayal of Nora Walker. The Michigan native, whose easy . His lanky figure made him a favorite of TV westerns like "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," and "The Rifleman," but he also made appearances on "M*A*S*H," "The Twilight Zone," and "Perry Mason," to name but a few. [4] Just two days before production was to begin, Universal sent a "hatchet man" to Atlanta to inform Needham that the budget was being trimmed by $1 million. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Born November 17, 1943 Add to list Photos Known for The Cannonball Run 6.2 Batman 1981 Smokey and the Bandit Williams was fresh off of his turn as the villainous Swan in 1974's The Phantom of the Paradise, and he would continue to act periodically while still penning hit songs for other artists. With movies like "Smokey and the Bandit," "Cannonball Run," and "The Longest Yard," Reynolds made piles of money for the studios, and himself, but never got much critical acclaim to go with his . Burt Reynolds was an award-winning actor who appeared regularly on television for some time before his 1972 appearance in the film Deliverance, which became a breakthrough role. It was a heavy-duty Class 8 truck. In fact, Williams has over 90 acting credits, beginning with the 1965 comedy "The Loved One.". Smokey and the Bandit was the second-highest-grossing domestic film of 1977 in the United States. Before appearing in the cast of the Reynolds Smokey and the Bandit films, Field had spent the bulk of the 1970s becoming a television icon. Hal Needham saw an advertisement for the soon-to-be-released 1977 Pontiac Trans Am and knew right away that it would be the Bandit's car, or, as Needham referred to it, a character in the movie. Actress Sally Field's big break came when she began playing the lead role in the TV sitcom Gidget in 1965. It was a hit with both audiences and critics. Reynolds also loved working with Gleason, recalling, "Every day was wonderful. McCalman made further appearances in "The Falcon and the Snowman," "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Falling Down," and "Rosewood," his final film. Henry died at age 84 in Burbank, Calif. on January 8 from chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Parkinson's disease, according to social media posts. Reed also provided the film's infectious soundtrack, including the movie's theme song, "Eastbound and Down,"which went to No. [35], The "diablo sandwich" ordered by Sheriff Justice in the Arkansas barbecue restaurant scene has entered popular culture as a minor reference to the film. However, the scene where they drive through the Shell gas station was filmed in Ojai, California, on the corner of Ojai Avenue and El Paseo Road. [10], Principal photography of the film began on August 30, 1976. Although the second film was a modest hit, the third one which had no involvement from Field, Needham, and only a brief cameo from Reynolds was a critical and financial failure. The Flying Nun premiered in September 1967 and soon became a huge hit. She was played by Sally Field. Smokey And The Bandit Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. While made to take advantage of the ongoing 1970s CB radio fad, the film added to the craze. [14] The Trans Ams were actually 1976-model cars with 1977 front ends (from 1970 to 1976, both the Firebird/Trans Am and Chevrolet Camaro have two round headlights and in 1977, the Firebird/Trans Am was changed to four rectangular headlights, and the Camaro remained unchanged). He also recorded most of the soundtrack for Smokey and the Bandit. Field didn't want to take the part, but her stepfather insisted, telling her, "If you turn down this part, you may never work again.". Before long, Field was contemplating a return to series television. However, the scene and the obscured expletive were played for comedy value and written as such, with the passing truck being the gag of the scene more than a way to avoid the censors. During part of that time (1961-64) he was under Jerry Reed was known as an American country music singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actor. [23] It then opened in just the South of the United States over the Memorial Day weekend and grossed $2,689,851 in 386 theaters. It was instantaneous, and four days felt like four years." High estimates for the car were up to $80,000, but the actual sale price was $450,000. Born on February 11, 1936, Reynolds first garnered attention on the small screen, starring as blacksmith Quint Asper on "Gunsmoke" before taking the title roles in the short lived "Hawk" and "Dan August." Like many professional athletes, Mike Henry found a second life in Hollywood after retiring from sports. She co-starred as a party girl, a far cry from the innocent characters she played on the small screen. Thankfully, we have the work to remember them by. Two-time Academy Award-winning American actor,Sally Field played the role of Carrie in this 1977 film. The theatrical release has a few lines deleted, including an edit in which Sheriff Justice tells a state trooper to "fuck off" after the sheriff called his vehicle "a piece of crap". I do not remember a single time [he] did not make me laugh. You know you're an alcoholic when you misplace a decade. Just after re-entering Georgia, Snowman is rescued by Bandit after being stopped by a Georgia State Patrol motorcycle trooper, as state and local police intensely pursue Bandit with roadblocks and a helicopter to track his movement. Reynolds is referenced by name in several early episodes of the series. He had a small yet memorable part as truck driver Mr. B in "Smokey and the Bandit." This phrase achieved a level of popularity with children and the 2007 Hot Wheels release of the 1970s Firebird Trans Am has "scum bum" emblazoned on its tail. He found his greatest success on television, becoming a frequent talk show and variety series guest, most notably on "The Dean Martin Show." Jerry as Cledus plays the partner of Bandit in transportingCoors Beer illegallyto Atlanta. The three original films introduced two generations of the Pontiac Trans Am and the Dodge Stealth in the television movies. RELATED: 10 Best Performances By Athletes (In Movies That Aren't About Sports). We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Big Enos (Pat McCormick) tries to win his endorsement in his own bid for governor by delivering an elephant to the Republican National Convention in Dallas, with the help of the Bandit (Burt Reynolds) and the Snowman (Jerry Reed). He was an athletic professional football player at the time he entered the The theme music "East Bound and Down" was sung and co-written by Reed (credited under his birth name, Jerry Hubbard) and Dick Feller. He succumbed to the disease and from complications from CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) on January 8, 2021, at the age of 84. He reprised his role as crotchety sheriff Buford T. Justice in both sequels. During this time he earned three Emmy nominations for writing (for "The Tonight Show," "Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back," and "The Danny Kaye Show"). Most of the dialogue was improvised on set. All Rights Reserved. On "Smokey and the Bandit II," he plays Dr. Frederico "Doc" Carlucci, an Italian gynecologist helping Bo and Cledus transport a pregnant elephant from Texas to Florida. Reed was known for his unique style of guitar playing and the often humorous, good-natured sentiment of his songs. Field won Academy Awards for her performances in Norma Rae (1979) and Places in the Heart (1984), as well as Emmys for the 1976 TV movie Sybil and her later contributions to ER and Brothers & Sisters. She has also been outspoken about her battle with the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis, which she was diagnosed with just as she turned 60. Henry was first drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and played for the team from 1958 to 1961. "Buford T. Justice" was the name of a real Florida Highway Patrolman known to Reynolds' father, who was once Police Chief of Riviera Beach, Florida. This same restaurant was used for a scene in the 1983 Stephen King Movie Christine, which was ultimately cut in the final film (it can be viewed as a deleted scene on the DVD release of the film). Although his career experienced many ups and downs, Burt Reynolds remained a star for over 50 years, starring in many iconic films. [5] Reynolds revealed in his autobiography that Needham had written the first draft script on legal pads. The Bandit's faithful sidekick Snowman was effortlessly inhabited by the part-time actor, and he even provided the film's famous song "East Bound and Down". She struggled with the feeling that she would never be considered a serious actress, and the show only magnified that fear. On May 4, 2009, DeLuise died of kidney failure at the age of 75, following a long battle with cancer. Five years later, she was among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. Today "Bandit" is a beloved '70s comedy classic where the cast was clearly having a blast, and even Reynolds himself was surprised it held up so well. Born on June 30, 1927, McCormick was a prominent comedy writer before getting into acting. Gleason died of liver cancer on June 24, 1987, at the age of 71. Musicians such as Beegie Adair and George Tidwell[20] played on the soundtrack. He leant his distinctive vocals to Bluth's "The Secret of NIMH," "An American Tail," "All Dogs Go to Heaven," and "A Troll in Central Park." [5] Sally Field only accepted the part after her agent advised her that she needed a big movie role on her rsum. Much of the surrounding scene comes from that immediate vicinity. Reed also penned and performed the song for the opening credits, entitled "The Legend", which tells of some of the Bandit's escapades before the events of the film, and the ballad "The Bandit", which is in several versions in the movie and on the soundtrack. He claimed that the Bandit is never made aware of Frog's leaving Junior at the altar, which is why the Bandit continually asks why a Texas sheriff is chasing him. Strasberg became a powerful mentor, encouraging Field to move away from her goody-two-shoes television image. Portraying Sheriff Justice's witless son, Henry used his impressive size during the film's many physical comedy sequences. Earlier films like 1972's Deliverance had shown what he could do, and Smokey and the Bandit made him a full-fledged movie star. On May 27, 1977, "Smokey and the Bandit" premiered in theaters. Burt as Bandit essayed the role of a bootlegger, who attempts to transport 400 cases of Coors Beer illegally to Atlanta fromTexarkana. Reynolds remained active in front of the camera until his death from a heart attack at age 82. It was on the brand new medium of television that the comic found his greatest success, headlining "The Jackie Gleason Show" and the groundbreaking sitcom "The Honeymooners." It wasn't until "Smokey and the Bandit" rode into theaters that Gleason finally became a bankable movie star. The Trans Am used for said jump was equipped with a booster rocket, the same type that was used by Evel Knievel during his failed Snake River Canyon jump. From the main Gunsmoke cast still alive, Buck Taylor who played 'Newly' is still with us. This gives rise to various continuity errors with Justice's patrol car, which during some chase sequences is shown with a black rear fender, which then reverts to the car's bronze color again in later scenes. Big Enos and his son, Little Enos (Paul Williams), appeared in all three "Smokey and the Bandit" films. [32], After the debut of the film, the Pontiac Trans Am became wildly popular, with sales almost doubling within two years of the film's release. Three actors from the main cast of The Dukes of Hazzard appear in small uncredited roles in Smokey and the Bandit: Ben Jones, John Schneider, and Sonny Shroyer (who played a police officer in both). He is an actor, known for The Cannonball Run (1981), Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and Legends of the Superheroes (1979). Smokey and the Bandit II has aged slightly better than other movies from its time, although it too has some humor that doesn't work now. Whatever Happened To The Cast Of Smokey And The Bandit? Except for Gleason, the original actors mostly redubbed their lines for the television version. Because of the popularity of the film and the sales success of the Trans Am, the president of Pontiac Alex Mair promised to supply Reynolds with a Trans Am each year. Though Williams' career slowed down after the new millennium rolled around, he appeared in 2017's Baby Driver and frequently lent his voice to various animated projects all the way up to the year 2020. Released in 1977 to decent reviews, the film's real power came from its cultural impact and overwhelming popularity with audiences. His last film appearance was in the poignant comedy drama "Nothing in Common," where he and Tom Hanks play father and son. So it's little wonder DeLuise took on a supporting role in the sequel to Reynold's highly successful "Smokey and the Bandit. Although he was most commonly known as a singer, he also appeared in many films throughout his lifetime. McCormick retired from acting in 1998, when a stroke left him partially paralyzed. Late American singer-actor,Jerry Reed played the role of Cledus Snow, aka the Snowman, in thisHal Needham directorial. A native of Vinton, Virginia, Huddleston studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, (as per TCM) and launched his acting career soon after graduating, first on stage, then in films. They stay alive, even forty years later," Field, 71, said in a statement sent to HuffPost. Though her acting pace slowed down after the 1990s, Field continued to have success in films like 2012's Lincoln, and the popularity of 2023's 80 for Brady showed that she still had legitimate star power. He made his movie debut when he was 39 years old with a role in 1972's "Deliverance." So let's raise a can of Coors to those "Smokey and the Bandit" actors you may not know passed away. After Field's parents divorced, her mother married actor and stuntman Jock Mahoney. (Reynolds later regretted breaking up with Field and said, "She was the love of my life and I screwed the relationship up."). I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. In 2017, she signed on to join Emma Stone, Jonah Hill and Justin Theroux in the dark comedy series Maniac, adapted from the 2014 Norwegian series that shares the same name, and that year she also returned to Broadway as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie, for which she earned a Tony nomination. Gleason reprised his role as Sheriff Justice in the two theatrically released Smokey and the Bandit films, and he made a handful of major appearances throughout the 1980s. McCormick's size paid off as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Christmas Carol adaptation Scrooged in 1988. Field received raves for her performance and netted the Best Actress Oscar, beating out the likes of Jane Fonda, Marsha Mason, Jill Clayburgh and Bette Midler. He was discovered at a Rams game and was invited to audition for the role of Tarzan. If you still have fond memories of the Bandit, here's what happened to the cast of one of the biggest comedy hits of the '70s. Field went on to star in the quirky May-December romantic comedy Hello, My Name Is Doris, which premiered in 2015. Reed had made two previous appearances on screen with Burt Reynolds in Gator from 1976, and W.W. and the Dixie Dance Kings in 1975, and acted up until his final role in 1998's The Waterboy. Two sequels followed, 1980's "Smokey and the Bandit II" and 1983's "Smokey and the Bandit Part 3." Besides his typical action/exploitation roles that made him famous, Reynolds also began taking on more serious roles as he got older, and was even nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his turn in 1997's Boogie Nights. Yaeger also appeared in an episode of "Goodyear Playhouse," and in the TV movie "Flying Without Fear." Smokey and the Bandit was only Field's third feature film role, and she quickly pivoted her success on the big screen into Academy Award gold when she won an Oscar for Best Actress in 1979's Norma Rae.

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