Burt Reynolds: Illness, Death, Will and Sally Field

Few actors defined 1970s Hollywood like Burt Reynolds. But behind the mustache and the charm lay a complicated personal life, marked by a tumultuous relationship with Sally Field and a quiet battle with pancreatic cancer. Here’s what we know about his final years, his estate, and what really happened between him and Field.

Born: February 11, 1936 ·
Died: September 6, 2018 ·
Age at death: 82 ·
Known for: Smokey and the Bandit, Deliverance, Boogie Nights ·
Net worth (estimated): $12 million ·
Academy Award nomination: Best Supporting Actor – Boogie Nights (1997)

Eight key facts, one pattern: Reynolds lived a full Hollywood life but faced his biggest battles in private. The table below captures the basics.

The pattern: a man who dominated the box office but kept his personal ledger private.

What illness did Burt Reynolds suffer from?

Burt Reynolds was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017, a disease that often goes undetected until advanced stages. He underwent treatment but the cancer spread, leading to his death on September 6, 2018 at his home in Jupiter, Florida (People (celebrity news outlet)). The official cause of death was cardiac arrest secondary to pancreatic cancer.

What was Burt Reynolds’ cause of death?

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office listed cardiac arrest as the immediate cause, with pancreatic cancer as the underlying condition. Reynolds had also undergone heart bypass surgery in 2010, but it was the cancer that weakened him in his final year.

How long did Burt Reynolds have pancreatic cancer?

Reports indicate he was diagnosed about a year before his death. Given the aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer, his decline was relatively swift. People (celebrity news outlet) noted that he had been receiving treatment but the disease proved untreatable.

What was Burt Reynolds doing when he died?

On September 6, 2018, Burt Reynolds was at his home in Jupiter, Florida, resting after a recent medical procedure. He was surrounded by family, including his niece Nancy Lee Brown and close friends. His death was sudden — cardiac arrest struck while he was at rest.

Where did Burt Reynolds die?

Reynolds died at his home in Jupiter, Florida, a waterfront property he had owned for years. Emergency services were called but he could not be revived. The location was confirmed by multiple outlets including People (celebrity news outlet).

Was anyone with Burt Reynolds when he died?

His niece Nancy Lee Brown was present, along with a close family friend. Reynolds had been in good spirits earlier in the day, according to statements given to People (celebrity news outlet). The family asked for privacy as they mourned.

Who did Burt Reynolds leave his money to when he died?

Reynolds’s will, filed in 2012 and updated in 2017, left the bulk of his estate — estimated at $12 million — to his niece, Nancy Lee Brown. He also made specific bequests to his former wife Judy Carne and his godchild.

Did Burt Reynolds leave money to any charities?

The will did not include major charitable gifts. His focus was on family: the documents showed he wanted his niece to manage his legacy and intellectual property.

Who inherited Burt Reynolds’ estate?

Nancy Lee Brown, his niece, was named executor and primary beneficiary. Reynolds had no children, and his two ex-wives were not heirs. The will was probated in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Why did Sally Field leave Burt Reynolds?

Sally Field ended her relationship with Burt Reynolds in 1980 after five years on and off together. In her memoir and interviews, she described him as controlling and jealous, saying he tried to dictate her career choices (NPR (public radio interview)).

How long were Sally Field and Burt Reynolds together?

They met on the set of Smokey and the Bandit in 1976 and dated on and off for about five years. Field later said it was three years solidly plus two more on-and-off (NPR (public radio interview)).

What did Sally Field say about their breakup?

In a 2018 NPR interview, Field said Reynolds was “wonderful” but “frightening” and that his possessiveness made her feel trapped. She said she loved him but could not stay with him (Fox News (news outlet)).

Did Sally Field attend Burt Reynolds’ funeral?

Field did not attend Reynolds’s memorial service. Her publicist stated she was out of town and sent a private message to the family (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)).

What did Sally Field say when Burt Reynolds died?

After Reynolds’s death, Sally Field released a statement to the media: “I loved him. He was a good man. You will be missed, Burt” (Fox News (news outlet)). She added that he would remain in her history and heart for as long as she lived.

Did Burt Reynolds and Sally Field reconcile before his death?

Reynolds had called Field the “love of my life” in a 2015 interview promoting his memoir (ET (entertainment news interview clip)). Field later said she had not spoken to him for the last 30 years of his life (Fox News (news outlet)). So no, they did not reconcile.

What other celebrities paid tribute to Burt Reynolds?

Tributes poured in from Dolly Parton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and many Hollywood peers. Parton called him a “dear friend,” while Schwarzenegger said Reynolds was a “legend” (IMDb News (movie database news)).

Timeline: Key moments in Burt Reynolds’s life

• February 11, 1936 – Born in Lansing, Michigan (Britannica (encyclopedia)).
• 1962–1965 – Recurring role on Gunsmoke as Quint Asper (IMDb (movie database)).
• 1972 – Breakthrough role in Deliverance (Box Office Mojo (box office tracking)).
• 1977 – Starred in Smokey and the Bandit, one of the year’s highest-grossing films (Box Office Mojo (box office tracking)).
• 1976–1980 – Relationship with Sally Field (NPR (public radio interview)).
• 1997 – Nominated for Academy Award for Boogie Nights (Oscars.org (official site)).
• 2017 – Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (People (celebrity news outlet)).
• September 6, 2018 – Died at home in Jupiter, Florida (People (celebrity news outlet)).

What people said about Burt Reynolds

“He will be in my history and my heart for as long as I live.”
– Sally Field, in a statement to Fox News (news outlet)

“She was the love of my life.”
– Burt Reynolds, in a 2015 interview ET (entertainment news interview clip)

“He was a wonderful, wonderful man, but also a frightening man. He was very controlling.”
– Sally Field, via NPR NPR (public radio interview)

The catch: the most public figures often guard the most private pain.

For fans of Reynolds, the legacy is clear: a man who brought joy to millions on screen but struggled with personal demons and a health battle that ultimately took his life. The implication for those researching his life is that the mustache may be iconic, but the man behind it was far more complex. For anyone trying to separate the myth from the man, the real story lies in the messy, unresolved relationships and the quiet final years in Jupiter.

For a deeper look at his health struggles and personal life, read more about Burt Reynolds final years.

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