Burt Reynolds, the star of “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Deliverance,” died from a heart attack on Thursday, September 6, 2018. He was 82 years old.

Reynolds had heart problems for a number of years and underwent major heart surgery in February 2010. The surgery was a success that left Reynolds with “a great motor with brand new pipes.” Unfortunately, that motor eventually ran out of gas. He was transported to a Florida hospital after going into cardiac arrest and died surrounded by his family in Jupiter, Florida.

Burt Reynolds got his first big break in “Deliverance” in 1972, and continued to build up his credentials as a rising start with “The Longest Yard” in 1974 and “Smokey and the Bandit” in 1977. His popularity soared, and he became well known for his mix of post-modern macho posture and wry self-awareness. Both of these traits were put to good effect repeatedly in both action films and comedies. Unfortunately, he also had a streak of bad films which led to the decline of his career. Reynolds also turned down several roles that could have ended up defining his career such as the ex-astronaut in “Terms of Endearment.” The role was eventually taken by Jack Nicholson.

Acting was not always Reynold’s first choice of career. He originally attended Florida State University on a scholarship as a running back. A car crash, however, cut his promising career short when his knee was injured. Unable to play football, Reynolds turned his attention to acting. He appeared in films, TV shows and on Broadway.

In the early 1990’s Reynold’s popularity was a shadow of what it once was. A messy, public divorce, custody battle and tell all autobiography titled “My Life” finally pushed away all but the most fanatical of fans. He did, however, get one brief comeback with his performance in “Boogie Nights.” The role earned him an Oscar nomination for supporting actor.

Fans of both his movies and his work on TV will miss Reynolds greatly. The star is survived by his adopted son, Quinton, from his second marriage.