'He was a sweet guy': Director Stephen Wallis remembers Burt Reynolds as more than his tough guy reputation

With his big hat, big mustache and rugged arms, Burt Reynolds was the ideal Hollywood leading man of the '70s. It's the era he was tied to throughout his career, even well into the '90s when he made his comeback in Boogie Nights.

Reynolds died yesterday after a heart attack. He was 82 years old.

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The late actor's first real taste of stardom came in 1972, when the movie Deliverance made him a household name. After that, he took on dozens of film and television roles and posed for a famous nude centrefold in Cosmopolitan Magazine. 

Reynolds was still working on new films up until his death, including one called Defining Moments, which was led by a Canadian director named Stephen Wallis. q's Tom Power reached Wallis yesterday, in Ireland, right after the news of Reynold's death broke.

"He was a much sweeter guy than people realized, because I think the tough guy persona followed him [throughout] his whole career. But he was probably the gentlest guy I've ever met," said Wallis. 

Growing up, Wallis was a big fan of Reynolds' films and the experience of working with the late actor on Defining Moments did not disappoint. "Burt was my hero my whole life," Wallis told Power. 

"You know, there were all kinds of rumours over the years. His Boogie Nights director and him didn't get along and you get a little nervous going into it. And then you realize that he's just not that guy. He's just a sweet guy, he doesn't say anything negative at all. He talks about how much he loves his family, talks about how much he loves Florida, and how much he loves making films. ... It's good to be able to be around a guy like that."

Listen to the full conversation about Burt Reynolds above.

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