Burt Reynolds in Florida ICU after flu, rep says

CNN ^ | Fri January 25, 2013 | Carolyn Sung and Greg Botelho

[MinorityRepublican]

(CNN) -- Actor Burt Reynolds is in intensive care in a Florida hospital, where he went for treatment of flu symptoms, one of his representatives said Friday.

Reynolds was dehydrated when he went to the hospital, and was eventually transferred to its intensive care unit, his representative Erik Kritzer told CNN.

Kritzer declined to divulge what hospital the actor was in, saying, "He would like that (kept) private."

"He is doing better at this time," Kritzer said late Friday afternoon of the 76-year-old actor. "We expect, as soon as he gets more fluids, he will be back in a regular room."

Born in southern Georgia, Reynolds and his family moved to Michigan and eventually to southeastern Florida, according to his profile on the website of the Florida Artist Hall of Fame, in which he was inducted in 1993. At Palm Beach High School, he first made a name for himself as a football star and earned an athletic scholarship to Florida State University.

When injuries derailed his promising athletic career, Reynolds turned to acting. He scored small parts in the late 1950s, then broke through a few years later in the role of Quint on the TV series "Gunsmoke."

His career took another leap with the 1972 release of "Deliverance," in which he played an Atlanta businessman exploring the remote north Georgia wilderness with friends. "The Longest Yard" came out two years later, starring Reynolds as an ex-football player who lands in prison.

[MinorityRepublican]

Reynolds in 1991

[ozzymandus]

Wow! Now THIS is news!

[Tax-chick]

My father is the same age. I wish Burt the best, and I hope he doesn’t pick up a disastrous bug in the hospital.

[FlJoePa]

As a Jupiter resident, get better Burt. Last real man left in Hollyweird? Used to love hanging at his bar (the Backstage) next to the theater. Great times.

[Mastador1]

Was still one heck of good looking guy then, too bad he fell victim to same pathetic plastic surgeons that butchered so many actors that were afraid to age gracefully. Now all these guys like Reynolds, Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Kenny Rogers to name a few look like clowns! Still loved him in just about anything he did and wish him a speedy recovery

[HangnJudge]

[CaptainK]

I think people forget (or don't know if you are a 20 something) how HUGE Burt was in his hay day.

[exDemMom]

Oh, dear. Flu is especially hard on the elderly, and it weakens the immune system, making people get secondary infections.

I wish the best for him.

[eyedigress]

He killed a man in Arizona, that is news.

[Veggie Todd]

I think people forget (or don't know if you are a 20 something) how HUGE Burt was in his hay day.

Captain, please put the Cosmo down, ok? :)

[boop]

Some trivia about Deliverance: The "retarded boy" isn't really retarded. He IS strange looking, but still makes appearances as the character. He doesn't really play the banjo in the movie, they had a stunt right hand pulling the cords.

He did eventually learn to play, but not as good as his character.

And this is one of Burt's best movies.

Shame that he deteriorated so.

[Mastador1]

Yeah his career grew from TV bit parts to his own series and then into slew of hit movies. And he did pretty well with the ladies too! And so far no surprises like Rock Hudson.

[Joe 6-pack]

I've long been a huge fan of the X-Files, and while I felt the show lost some of its appeal in the later seasons, Reynolds appeared in the episode Improbable during the last year of the show. He was terrific in it, and by all accounts, had a great time with the cast and crew during the filming.

[erlayman]

Men should definitely not get facelifts, Wrinkles on a man are sexy. It is the nature of the surgery not the quality of the job that makes them look too feminine and doll-like — especially Burt Reynolds who has had wrinkles ever since he was the biggest thing in Hollywood in the ‘80’s...Strong-featured was what gave him that fantastic aura of musky masculinity with a subtle, polished finish, sort of like a lawyer cowboy.

[yarddog]

My Brother-in-Law attended Florida State at the same time as Reynolds and Faye Dunnaway. He had a class with Faye.

I know Burt and Jerry Reed were friends. I actually thought Reed was better than Reynolds, in fact way better.

[EDINVA]

Note that the bio somehow avoided his career’s really BIG leap with the Cosmo centerfold.

[Mastador1]

Though I have no personal knowledge, Reynolds always seemed to be a good guy. And there was such good chemistry and fun when he and Dom De Luise where together, sometimes the outtakes where better than the money shots.

[P-Marlowe]

A hospital is probably the worst place to go if you are suffering from a respiratory illness. All the antibiotic resistant bacteria and pneumonia strains just lurking about looking for old patients to kill.

Hopefully he’ll come out of there alive.

[MinorityRepublican]

A hospital is probably the worst place to go if you are suffering from a respiratory illness. All the antibiotic resistant bacteria and pneumonia strains just lurking about looking for old patients to kill. Hopefully he’ll come out of there alive.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Lizavetta]

Men should definitely not get facelifts, Wrinkles on a man are sexy. It is the nature of the surgery not the quality of the job that makes them look too feminine and doll-like — especially Burt Reynolds who has had wrinkles ever since he was the biggest thing in Hollywood in the ‘80’s...Strong-featured was what gave him that fantastic aura of musky masculinity with a subtle, polished finish, sort of like a lawyer cowboy.

AMEN !!! Same with gray hair. Doesn't make them any less handsome.