From Overdrive’s May 1977 issue’s six-page coverage of “Smokey and the Bandit” and Overdrive’s involvement in lining up some of the pivotal truck scenes: “Although Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason) is chasing Tom Bandit (Burt Reynolds), he doesn’t at this point in the film know what Bandit looks like.”Megastar Burt Reynolds, who starred in the 1977 trucking classic “Smokey and the Bandit,” died Thursday at the age of 82, according to a report from The Associated Press.
Though Reynolds’ fame spread well beyond his role as Bandit in the trio of “Smokey” films, it was one of his most iconic roles, helping propel him to his status as one of the most famous actors of all time. In the original movie, Reynolds played Bandit, who drove a black 1977 Pontiac TransAm used to bait police into dramatic chase scenes to help his partner, Cledus, avoid being caught for speeding and hauling an illegal load of Coors. Cledus, played by Jerry Reed and handled “Snowman,” drove a 1972 Kenworth W900A.
Reynolds for a time even owned a replica of the legendary Kenworth, complete with a replica of the classic mural-painted trailer, made famous in the “Smokey” movies. The rig, a 1985 Kenworth W900B, was used in a NASCAR team he co-owned in the 1980s.
See Overdrive‘s coverage of Reynolds at the links below, including coverage of the 40th anniversary showing of “Smokey and the Bandit,” which took place last year.
For more on Reynolds’ death, see The Associated Press’ report at this link.
