Burt Reynolds’ death in 2018 was mourned worldwide. Despite his long career and many romances, he always said his greatest love was Sally Field. The two met while filming Smokey and the Bandit in 1977, and Burt even fought for her to get the role. They became a high-profile couple and worked on several films together.
Sally once said Burt made her feel “sexy,” but behind the scenes, their relationship was difficult. In her memoir, she revealed that Burt’s fame made him controlling and that she “stopped existing,” living entirely for him. He asked her to marry him several times, but she knew it wouldn’t work.
They split in 1980 after about five years together. Burt later admitted he regretted losing her, saying, “I miss her terribly… you find the perfect person and screw it up.” Sally, however, cut contact for decades and didn’t speak to him again.
Rumors of cheating and emotional turmoil surrounded their breakup. Still, after Burt died of a heart attack at 82, Sally shared a heartfelt tribute, saying he would remain in her heart forever.
Later, she said she was relieved Burt wasn’t alive to read her memoir, where she described him as “confusing, complicated, and hurtful,” believing he wouldn’t have taken it well.