My Mentor
Once Reynolds ended his football career, he then became a police officer. However it was his father who suggested that Reynolds finish university and only then, become a parole officer. While taking classes at Palm Beach Junior College, Reynolds was in the English class that was taught by Watson B. Duncan III. Duncan was the one to push Reynolds to try out for a play he was producing, titled ‘Outward Bound’. Which he did and Duncan wound up casting Reynolds as the lead, not long after and Reynolds actually won the 1956 Florida State Drama Award for his performance! Later on, Reynolds cites in his autobiography that Duncan is “his mentor and the most influential person in his life”.
My Mentor
TV Beginnings
1957 marks the year that Burt Reynolds landed his big break! After Reynolds appeared in the New York City Center revival of Mister Roberts, he subsequently signed a TV contract. From there he appeared as regular on shows like Riverboat, Gunsmoke, Hawk and Dan August. As many TV audiences thought of Reynolds as handsome and charming, his popularity only grew. Therefore he made many appearances on talk shows such as Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.
TV Beginnings