For decades, Burt Reynolds was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. With his famous smile, undeniable charm, and effortless confidence, he became a symbol of the golden era of American cinema. From Smokey and the Bandit to Deliverance and Boogie Nights, Reynolds built a career that made him one of the most recognizable actors in the world.
But behind the fame, awards, and legendary status was a love story that remained unfinished.
Reynolds openly admitted that actress Sally Field was the woman who left the biggest mark on his heart. Years after their romance ended, he described her as “the love of his life.” Yet despite those powerful feelings, the two Hollywood icons spent nearly three decades without speaking.
Their relationship was passionate, complicated, and unforgettable — but it ended in heartbreak.
The Hollywood Romance That Started on Set
Burt Reynolds and Sally Field first met while filming Smokey and the Bandit in 1977. At the time, both actors were already making names for themselves, but their chemistry on screen quickly became impossible to ignore.
Reynolds immediately felt a connection with Field and even fought for her to get the role of Carrie, the woman who would become his character’s love interest in the film.
PHOTO 1: Burt Reynolds and Sally Field during the filming of Smokey and the Bandit
According to Reynolds, he strongly believed Field was the right choice despite resistance from others involved in the production. He later said he wanted her for the role and defended her when people questioned whether she was the right fit.
The decision proved successful. Audiences loved their chemistry, and many fans believed they were watching a real romance unfold in front of the cameras.
Reynolds later admitted that viewers were right — because the feelings between them were real.
The couple continued working together after Smokey and the Bandit, appearing in films including Hooper and The End. During their relationship, they became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples.
A Love Story With Two Different Sides
While Reynolds often spoke warmly about their romance, Field later revealed that her experience was more complicated.
She admitted that Reynolds made her feel beautiful and desired, but she also felt that she lost part of herself during their time together.
Their relationship lasted around five years, but eventually came to an end.
For Reynolds, however, the feelings never completely disappeared.
Years after their breakup, he continued expressing admiration for Field and said he had loved her for much of his life. He even claimed that his feelings began when he was young.
In interviews, Reynolds often reflected on their relationship with regret, admitting that losing Field was something he never fully got over.
Reynolds’ Biggest Regret
After their separation, Reynolds said that Field never contacted him again. Despite that, he continued hoping that some connection remained between them.
In a 2015 interview, Reynolds called Field the love of his life and blamed himself for mistakes that contributed to the end of their relationship.
However, Field had her own painful memories.
She later revealed that she felt humiliated when reports about Reynolds’ alleged infidelity became public. She recalled receiving calls from family members asking about the rumors and feeling embarrassed by what was happening.
When Reynolds died from a heart attack on September 6, 2018, at the age of 82, Field finally spoke publicly about their complicated history.
She admitted she was always flattered by the kind words Reynolds shared about her, but she also described him as a complicated person.
Field said Reynolds would always remain part of her story and that she would never forget the years they spent together.
Sally Field’s Honest Memories
In her memoir In Pieces, Field opened up about their relationship in a way she had never done before.
She described Reynolds as someone who could be loving and caring, but also confusing and hurtful.
Field explained that when she met him, Reynolds was already carrying the weight of enormous fame and success. She felt that his influence and personality sometimes became overwhelming.
Looking back, she described their relationship as two imperfect people coming together at the wrong time.
She wrote that she felt she had fallen into a familiar pattern of putting someone else’s needs ahead of her own.
Despite the pain, Field made it clear that she did not write about Reynolds out of anger. She said she was relieved he would never have to read the book or respond publicly because she did not want to cause him additional pain.
Thirty Years of Silence
Although fans hoped the two stars might reconnect later in life, that never happened.
Field confirmed that she and Reynolds remained estranged for about 30 years before his death.
The actress explained that while their relationship was an important chapter of her life, it was also a short and complicated one. She said Reynolds attempted to reach out through the media over the years, but she chose to maintain distance.
Still, she never denied the impact he had on her life.
Burt Reynolds and Sally Field’s romance remains one of Hollywood’s most fascinating love stories — not because it lasted forever, but because it left such a lasting impression on both of them.
He remembered her as the great love he lost. She remembered him as a complicated man who brought both happiness and pain into her life.
Their story ended without reconciliation, but decades later, both stars acknowledged the same truth: some people leave a mark that time can never erase.