Re-teaming with Bridges, Field starred in the 1982 romantic comedy Kiss Me Goodbye as a widow trying to rebuild her life. SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (1977) Cast Members Then And Now While sports fans know Terry Bradshaw best as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and for being a four-time Superbowl winner, he also has enjoyed a lengthy post-football career as a sportscaster, endorser, and actor (per Fox Sports). Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Today, he focuses on music and he is the president and chairman of the ASCAP.Laura Lizer Sommers played Little Beaver, which started her career of playing the desirable female role in a number of films. In movies, he co-starred in "Blazing Saddles," "Capricorn One," "Frantic," and "McQ.". Yaeger also appeared in an episode of "Goodyear Playhouse," and in the TV movie "Flying Without Fear." He obtained the attention of studios and aimed the film at a more mainstream release after his friend Reynolds read the script and agreed to portray the Bandit, with Reed now portraying the Bandit's friend the Snowman. Born on March 20, 1937, Reed was actually best known as a country music singer. 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 . Field went on to star in the quirky May-December romantic comedy Hello, My Name Is Doris, which premiered in 2015. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. RELATED: 10 Best Performances By Athletes (In Movies That Aren't About Sports). Mike Henry obituary: actor and NFL player dies at 84 - Legacy.com Musicians such as Beegie Adair and George Tidwell[20] played on the soundtrack. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). He penned jokes for Phyllis Diller, Red Skelton, and Johnny Carson, and wrote episodes of "Get Smart" and "The Andy Griffith Show." [4] Reynolds said in 2015 that he most enjoyed this film, and had the most fun making it, of his career. Many of the film's original sounds were replaced. 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. It was a dramatic role that brought Field her first Academy Award. When Sally Field was cast in "Smokey and the Bandit, her career was enjoying a dramatic upward trajectory. Its lead, Burt Reynolds, was already a household name for his work in other notable redneck-exploitation films, but his turn as the Bandit elevated him to the level of superstardom. Among his final roles were appearances on "Dallas," "MacGyver," and "Murder She Wrote." She played Aunt May to Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker, a role she later reprised for 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Needham originally planned the film as a low-budget B movie with a production cost of $1 million,[4] with Reed as the Bandit. 5. He gave Needham a preview of the song and, getting no reaction, offered to rewrite it. If there was one thing you could count on, it was Dom DeLuise popping up in a Burt Reynolds movie. The country music legend died in 2008 at the age of 71. He passed away in 2018 from a heart attack. Some of the original sound effects (such as Cletus's dog Fred barking) and music (such as the final chase to the Southern Classic) were removed and not replaced. Smokey and the Bandit was the second-highest-grossing domestic film of 1977 in the United States. (Not to mention a notorious disrobedphoto shoot in a 1972 issue of "Cosmopolitan," which helped turn him into a sex symbol.). Needham and assistant director David Hamburger spent 30 hours revising the shooting schedule.[4]. Try our quiz and enter to win $500!Click below to check the trivia questionSmokey and the Bandit was one of the highest-grossing films of the 70s, and with it, Burt Reynolds and the rest of the cast achieved worldwide fame. Reynolds remained active in front of the camera until his death from a heart attack at age 82. It outsold its Chevrolet Camaro counterpart for the first time. That success carried him through to the end of his life in 1987. As part of an all-star cast, she appeared in the 1989 Southern drama Steel Magnolias, which included Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. Field later produced the 1991 drama Dying Young, which starred Roberts. A movie star, a TV star, and a country music star rounded out the main cast of Smokey and the Bandit, and musician Jerry Reed gave a surprising performance in the film. Fans of the film will remember him on the CB radio communicating with the Bandit, letting him know he was "gearjammin' this rollin' refinery" for him. She next directed the 2000 film Beautiful, which starred Minnie Driver as a ruthless beauty queen. He was one of the most successful actors of the 70s, and is still considered a sex symbol by many. Do you think you know a lot about TV? Continuing to work behind the scenes, Field directed and wrote the 1996 holiday television movie The Christmas Tree, which starred Julie Harris. By the end of June, it had played in major Southern markets, including Charlotte, Atlanta, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, grossing $11.9 million. The film was a seismic hit that joined "Star Wars," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and "Saturday Night Fever" as one of the year's highest grossers. He had several hit songs throughout his lengthy career, winning three Grammy Awards out of nine nominations. His final onscreen role was on an episode of "Quantum Leap," which aired just eight months before his death. (Reynolds later regretted breaking up with Field and said, "She was the love of my life and I screwed the relationship up."). The Cars Could Hardly Run By The End. [21], Smokey and the Bandit was a sleeper hit. As Reynolds recalled, "The fact that Gleason's career was coming to an end as Mr. Television on one side and starting again in movies." 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. "Smokey and the Bandit" took Burt Reynolds' movie career up to superstar level, and with his effortless charisma and charm on full display, he also cemented his reputation as one of the major big-screen sex symbols of the decade. Born on February 26, 1916, Gleason worked his way up through comedy clubs before landing bit parts in movies. This list of Smokey and the Bandit actors includes any Smokey and the Bandit actresses and all other actors from the film. They return with one minute remaining on their time limit, but instead of taking the payoff, Carrie and Bandit accept a double-or-nothing offer from Little Enos: a challenge to run up to Boston and bring back clam chowder in 18 hours. DeLuise found a new generation of fans thanks to his voiceover work for animation, most notably with director Don Bluth. Often nicknamed "The Great One," Jackie Gleason is of course best known as Ralph Kramden from the all-time comedy classic "The Honeymooners." Reynolds being the country's biggest box office star at the time, Reed had little choice but to take the secondary role of Snowman, who drives the truckload of Coors beer while the Bandit speeds ahead in his black Pontiac Trans Am. The first film from stuntman-turned-director Hal Needham, it was a car chase comedy starring Burt Reynolds then Hollywood's number one box office draw as Bo "Bandit" Darville, a bootlegger transporting 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta. Field first made a splash as the lead role in the TV series The Flying Nun in the late '60s, and continued to have success on TV throughout the ensuing decade. But it was "Smokey and the Bandit" that cemented Reynolds' status as an A-list actor, and a sex symbol for women all over the world. The freewheeling comedy was released at a timewhen truckers, CBs, and Trans Ams were at their peak, and country/western music was crossing over to the top charts. 'Smokey and the Bandit' Turns 40: Paul Williams Looks Back on His Role It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. He contacted Pontiac and an agreement was made that four 1977 Trans Ams and two Pontiac LeMans four-door sedans would be provided for the movie. His critical standing plummeted as well, and he became a frequent contender at the Razzies. Smokey And The Bandit Cast: Where They Are Now - Screen Rant Petite and perky, she played a teenager on a quest to find fun with her best friend Larue (played by Lynette Winter). He disclosed toDaily News, "When my addiction to alcohol and cocaine outran my need to be in front of an audience, I hid out. [22] It premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, where it performed badly. Needham served as the driver for the stunt (in place of Reynolds), while Lada St. Edmund was in the same car (in place of Field). No matter how big a star he was, he made you feel like a big star. Is anyone from Smokey and the Bandit still alive? - Wise-Answer The soundtrack album was released in 1977 on vinyl, cassette, and 8-track through MCA Records. Henry would continue to appear sporadically in the '70s and '80s on shows like M*A*S*H before quietly retiring in the late-'80s. Born on October 20, 1922, Anderson got his start on Broadway with roles in such shows as "Paint Your Wagon" before moving into film and television. Before gaining fame to a new generation of fans in "The Big Lebowski," he even played the title role in "Santa Claus: The Movie.". A good man.". ZOO AND YOU: Topeka Zoo is home to famous Asian elephant - KSNT 27 News 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. contract with Warner Brothers and played a variety of bit parts (TV's. In 2018, Field wrote a candid memoir, "In Pieces," where she relived her career, her famous loves, and how she overcame childhood abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Dalton is a freelance writer and novelist from Orlando Florida. One of his most acclaimed performances was in the controversial hit "Deliverance," and he also proved he had a gift for comedy with "The Longest Yard" in 1974. The cast of Smokey and the Banditwas headlined byBurt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason alongside an ensemble cast. [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. 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. See The Release Time, Plot And Other Details. Starring: Burt Reynolds,Sally Field,Jackie Gleason Watch all you want. The film also had a great ensemble cast with Sally Field as his love interest (onscreen and off), comedy legend Jackie Gleason as Sheriff Buford T. Justice, and Jerry Reed as Cledus, the Bandit's good truckin' buddy. Today, Mike Henry might be best known now for his role asJunior, the dimwitted son of Buford T. Justice, but before his" Smokey and the Bandit" fame he was a legitimate football star. Smokey and the Bandit II - Wikipedia Also in 2012, Field portrayed one of American history's least popular first ladies in Lincoln, with Daniel Day-Lewis as the beloved president Abraham Lincoln and Field as Mary Todd Lincoln. Field was just as thrilled to be winning her second Academy Award as she was for her first, perhaps even more so. Its lack of additives and preservatives meant that Coors could spoil in one week without refrigeration, explaining the film's 28-hour deadline. During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American action comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams and Mike Henry . Do you think you know a lot about TV? ", "The Bandit Run Brought to you by Restore A Muscle Car", "Stewart plays off 'Smokey and the Bandit in Mobil 1 ad", "Smokey and the Bandit: 40th Anniversary Edition", "Smokey and the Bandit II, Box Office Information", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smokey_and_the_Bandit&oldid=1152609150, "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] , "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] Burt Reynolds, Voice ["Smokey"] , "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] Burt Reynolds, Voice ["Smokey"] Jackie Gleason), George Reynolds as Sheriff George Branford, This page was last edited on 1 May 2023, at 07:46. In 1991, it was arranged for orchestra by Crafton Beck and recorded by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for their album Down on the Farm. You know you're an alcoholic when you misplace a decade. This enthusiastic comment may have been the most memorable quote of the evening, and Field soon found herself the subject of numerous jokes and quips because of it. He received numerous awards in his lifetime, but sadly passed in 2013 after being diagnosed with cancer.Smokey and the Bandit came out in 1977, and the cast starred Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams and Mike Henry. 13 Fast Facts About Smokey and the Bandit - Mental Floss According to an interview with Susie McIver Ewing on The RetroZest Podcast, she was picked to play the role of Hot Pants Hilliard after the dailies footage (shot in the Atlanta area) of the original actress playing the role was inadvertently destroyed on its way from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Fields and Reynolds met on the "Bandit" shoot, and they soon began anintense but troubled relationship that lasted until 1982. Sadly, Reynolds passed away in 2018 due to a heart attack.Hal Needham started as a stuntman, but transitioned to directing, often working with Burt Reynolds after starting with Smokey and the Bandit. Smokey and the Bandit (1977): Where Are They Now? - YouTube Henry died on January 8, 2021, at the age of 84. He's perhaps best remembered for playing "California Charlie," the used car salesman who sells Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) a new vehicle in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." Bandit attracts more police attention across Dixie as Snowman barrels on toward Atlanta with the contraband beer, but they are helped en route by many colorful characters via CB radio. 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. It opened in other Northern states at the end of July. At the peak of his celebrity, Reynolds consistently ranked as the world's number one box office star in the annual Top Ten Movie Making Stars Poll, a title he held for five consecutive years (1978-1982). Gleason earned five Emmy nominations for his various shows between 1953-1956, but sadly no wins. Smokey and the Bandit was responsible for introducing two new generations of the Pontiac Trans Am to the public. "Usually that doesn't translate to the screen when you are having that much fun. Born on August 15, 1936, Henry first rose to fame as an NFL linebacker, playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958-61 and the Los Angeles Rams from 1962-64. Pat McCormick passed away at the age of 78 in 2005 after years away from show business. [28] In his review in the Chicago Tribune, Gene Siskel gave the film two stars and complained that the film failed to tell the audience when the clock started on the beer run, thus reducing suspense. [9] Though the film Moonrunners (1975) is the precursor to the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (19791985), from the same creator and with many identical settings and concepts, the popularity of Smokey and the Bandit and similar films helped get the Dukes series on the air. Smokey and the Bandit Bridge Jump. Though no authoritative source identifies the composition of the sandwich, there are several possibilities. Reed also provided the film's infectious soundtrack, including the movie's theme song, "Eastbound and Down,"which went to No. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 78% rating based on 32 reviews. Burt Reynolds, "Smokey and the Bandit" star, dead at 82 | CNN Smokey and the Bandit at 45: Not the Rebel We Thought He Was - Collider Alfie Wise was born on 17 November 1943 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA. Smokey and the Bandit II Movie Review | Common Sense Media Actor Henry Corden, who voiced Fred Flintstone after original performer Alan Reed died the same year the film was released, was used to replace a considerable amount of Sheriff Justice's dialogue. ", including the movie's theme song, "Eastbound and Down,", Henry was first drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smokey And The Bandit Actors You May Not Know Passed Away Bill Justis is the first name on the credits for the soundtrack, as he composed and arranged original music throughout the film. The original film had correct sounds that were usually recorded live as the action took place. He rebounded with a return to television, winning an Emmy for his leading role on the sitcom "Evening Shade." "I'd landed in the drama department, and it just kind of saved me," she later explained to Good Housekeeping magazine. SALLY FIELD DID IT BECAUSE SHE WAS SEEN AS . He also starred in a number of TV series, including "The Odd Couple," "The Muppet Show," "Silver Spoons," and more. After enjoying an illustrious career as an actorspanning six decades, Burt passed awayin 2018. Field enjoyed making the film, but remembers that virtually the entire project was improvised. In "Smokey and the Bandit II," he played John Conn, a slimy politician running against Big Enos (Pat McCormick) to become Governor of Texas. From the main Gunsmoke cast still alive, Buck Taylor who played 'Newly' is still with us. In 1983, Yeager was depicted onscreen in the acclaimed film "The Right Stuff," where he was played by Sam Shepard. Coors is still brewed just outside Denver, Colorado. He spent the next 7 years of his life in a care facility until passing in 2005.Paul Williams might have his only recognizable role as Little Enos Burdette, because he actually spent most of his career as a singer and songwriter. Also Read |What Time Does 'The Dig' Release On Netflix? This is obvious, because there is no fuel tank on the underside of the trailer to power the refrigeration unit, and the unit is never heard running. 2 on the country charts, stayed on for 16 weeks, and became an anthem for truckers everywhere. During early development, was considered for the lead role in the, (Parkinson's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy), November 17, 1984 - January 8, 2021 (his death). She won her third Emmy Award in 2007, for her portrayal of Nora Walker. The film was directed by Hal Needham, his first foray into directing. 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. He retired from acting after suffering a heart attack in 1997, and died in Memphis on November 29, 2005, after a series of strokes. It was instantaneous, and four days felt like four years." In the film, McCormick played "Big Enos" Burdette, and he was the straight man to co-star Paul Williams as they dispatched the Bandit on his impossible journey. A series of four made-for-TV spin-off films (Bandit Goes Country, Bandit Bandit, Beauty and the Bandit, and Bandit's Silver Angel) were produced in 1994 for Universal Television's Action Pack with actor Brian Bloom playing a younger version of the Bandit. 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. Watch on. 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. Actress, director and writer Sally Margaret Field was born on November 6, 1946, in Pasadena, California. Unfortunately, several actors who made those films so special are no longer with us. Mike Henry. (Still). She would win that award again for her turn in 1984's Places in the Heart, and by the mid-'80s Field had given some of her best performances. Burt Reynolds as Bo "The Bandit" Darville Sally Field as Carrie "Frg" Jerry Reed as Cledus "The Snowman" Snow Jackie Gleason as Sheriff Buford T. People Also Read: Who Are The Cast Members Of Breaker Morant? I do not remember a single time [he] did not make me laugh. [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. McCormick's size paid off as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Christmas Carol adaptation Scrooged in 1988. 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). He died on July 29, 2005, at the age of 78. As the New York Times reports, Jerry Reed was an established star by the time he appeared in "Smokey and the Bandit," with numerous Top 40 country hits and a handful of acting roles to his name. These new models were built off the same Camaro platform, came with the Pontiac arrowhead, flaming bird, and Bandit logos, and the instrument panels, center consoles, and hood scoops emulating their 1977 counterparts, and were signed by Reynolds. Yet Yeager apparently didn't try to launch a serious acting career, mainly content with fun cameos that added footnotes to his life. Other sources in East Texas (from whence Sheriff Justice hails) are familiar with the popular regional delicacy known as the Diablo Sandwich. Smokey and the Bandit (1977) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb The American road action-comedy, Smokey and the Banditreleased back in 1977 and went on to receive a cult status over the years. Cora played "Charlotte" in "Smokey and the Bandit II" in 1980. 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. [34] In 2015 a Florida-based automobile customization company built 77 Trans Ams modeled after the car that Reynolds drove in the film. Gleason made his final on-screen appearance in the 1986 film Nothing in Common opposite a young Tom Hanks. The film features the custom clothing and costuming of Niver Western Wear of Fort Worth, Texas. Everyone remembers the characters Smokey and the Bandit, but let's not forget the Bandit's loyal sidekick Cledus Snow, aka the Snowman. He had a small yet memorable part as truck driver Mr. B in "Smokey and the Bandit." Let us know in the comments, and subscribe to the channel for more videos!Do you think you know a lot about TV? My whole life is about family." Anderson remained a fixture on television until his death from a heart attack on August 7, 1992, at age 69. The film was originally entitled Smokey IS the Bandit, with Jackie Gleason playing both Sheriff Buford T. Justice and the Bandit. [31] Smokey and the Bandit was released in the United Kingdom on August 28 and was a success there, garnering positive reviews. Reconnecting to her craft, Field studied acting at the Actors Studio with famed teacher .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Lee Strasberg. After Field's parents divorced, her mother married actor and stuntman Jock Mahoney. The film's theme song, "East Bound and Down", was written virtually overnight by Reed. Old Dogs. Read about Smokey and the Bandit cast to knowaboutthe Smokey and the Bandit characters in detail. The film featured a strong supporting cast, including John Malkovich, Lindsay Crouse, Danny Glover and Ed Harris, and received strong reviews. The cast of Smokey and the Bandit may not have been large, but it had enough star power to cement its place in cinema history. Like the Bandit himself, singer/songwriter/guitarist Jerry Reed hails from Atlanta, Georgia. Many of his hit songs showcase this sense of humor, including "Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot. 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. In recent years, Field even joined the Marvel Universe, playing Aunt May in "The Amazing Spider-Man" movies. On the big screen, Anderson had roles in such films as "Ride the High Country," "The Satan Bug," and "Eight Men Out." He started acting more regularly in the 1970s, popping up in films like "The Shaggy D.A.," "Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson," and "A Wedding." List Of 20+ Who Sings Smokey And The Bandit The Snowman is the one who drives the truck full of beer fromTexarkana to Atlanta. The new Hot Pants scene had to quickly be refilmed as a part of a second unit in the San Fernando Valley and was shot at a drive-in restaurant near Hansen Dam named Baby Beef Burgers, which has since been demolished. A post shared by Gino Cafarelli (@ginocafarelli). 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. She was played by Sally Field. Jerry as Cledus plays the partner of Bandit in transportingCoors Beer illegallyto Atlanta. His most recent credits include the films "Dahmer vs. Gacy," and "Heels.". By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Field found solace from her difficult home life by focusing on her extracurricular activities at school. At 6 foot 7 inches and 250 pounds, Pat McCormick was certainly an imposing presence, and with a bushy mustache plastered across his face, a distinctive one as well. director of photography Film Editing by Walter Hannemann Angelo Ross Casting By Jennifer Shull Art Direction by Mark W. Mansbridge . His father was also the inspiration for the word "sumbitch" used in the film, a variation of the phrase "son-of-a-bitch" that, according to Reynolds, he uttered quite often. McCalman made further appearances in "The Falcon and the Snowman," "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Falling Down," and "Rosewood," his final film. Although his career in acting was all-too-brief, he did manage to make an impression in several films, including all three"Smokey and the Bandit" installments as Sheriff Buford T. Justice's (Jackie Gleason) half-witted son Junior. 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. Angeles Rams (1962-64). The decals were changed to 1977-style units, as evidenced by the engine size callouts on the hood scoop being in liters rather than cubic inches, as had been the case in 1976. Henry then transferred to the Rams, and once he was in L.A., he pursued an acting career. By the film's ending, the final surviving Trans Am and LeMans were both barely running and the other cars had become parts donors to keep them running.