Burt Reynolds and Friends Museum – Jupiter, Florida
Tucked into the Jupiter, Florida community is the Burt Reynolds and Friends Museum. For those that have paid attention to what has influenced Hollywood and elsewhere in the business of acting it is a trip through memories that will be well worth the time. For those that aren’t familiar with everything that Burt Reynolds has been involved in it will give you a new appreciation of his talents.
He worked with stars such as Bette Davis and Jimmy Stewart in his early years. Then there was the beautiful Dinah Shore and the great Henry Winkler. The stars of today, such as Adam Sandler and Sally Fields also were part of the history of Burt Reynolds.
He was born February 11, 1936 and has been going strong ever since. He is known for his memorable role as Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Paul "Wrecking" Crewe in The Longest Yard, Coach Nate Scarborough in the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard, Bo ‘Bandit’ Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, J.J. McClure in The Cannonball Run, the voice of Charlie Barkin in All Dogs Go to Heaven and Jack Horner in Boogie Nights. He has more than 90 feature film and 300 television episode credits.
Burt’s father was a quarter Cherokee. They lived in Michigan and then moved to Florida where his father ended up being a sheriff of their community.
Reynolds first starred on television with Darren McGavin in the 1959-1961 NBC series, Riverboat. He also was the blacksmith on Gunsmoke from 1962-1965.
His first movie was in 1961 in Angel Baby. As he was building his reputation as a money maker he appeared on tow short-lived cop shows: Hawk and Dan August. Deliverance changed all that, he was a star! While being the daring person he was he also posed naked in the April issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine. (this is not shown at the museum, sorry.)
He built a dinner theater in Jupiter in 1978 but due to financial problems had to close it in the 1990’s.
Despite much success, Reynolds’ finances were bad, due in part to an extravagant lifestyle, a messy divorce from Loni Anderson, and failed investments in some Florida restaurant chains; consequently, in 1996, Reynolds filed for bankruptcy. He got back into the "groove" with Striptease in 1996 and Boogie Nights in 1997. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his roll in Boogie Nights and won a Golden Globe Award for the same movie.
He received the People Choice award and is on display at the Museum. There are many photos on display. Those with the Presidents are placed above the entrance. There are posters on display and the hat worn in Sam Whiskey as well as the hat worn in Cat Dancing.
You will see film and TV awards all through the Museum.
The Burt Reynolds Institute is also located here, hosting educational master acting classes, some taught by the master himself (Reynolds has also endowed the Burt Reynolds Eminent Scholar Chair in Regional and Professional Theatre at his alma mater, Florida State University.).
Burt Reynolds and Friends Museum
Address: 100 North US. Hwy 1, Jupiter, FL
Directions: Entrance is off Rt. 1 and Indiantown Road.
Admission: Donation: $5.
Museum Hours
Friday – Sunday,
10 am – 4 pm
Phone: 561-743-9955
Email: info@BRIFT.org
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