Sally Field's First Date With Burt Reynolds Set The Tone For Their Tumultuous Relationship
Sally Field and Burt Reynolds were one of the most talked-about couples in Hollywood from the late '70s to the early '80s after sharing the screen in the "Smokey and the Bandit" films, "Hooper," and "The End." They were together on and off for roughly five years before officially calling it quits in 1982. However, it's no secret Field and Reynolds had a complicated relationship, one that can be traced back to the early days of their courtship. After auditioning for the role of Carrie in "Smokey and the Bandit," Field said Reynolds offered to take her out on a date even though they'd only really just met.
"He called me up. I was in a hotel, a different hotel than he. ... And, he said, 'Well, I'll take you out to dinner.' And of course, I was so nervous, I thought I would pass out," Field recalled on HBO Max's "Talking Pictures" podcast in June 2026. She said that at the time, she didn't have much experience going on romantic dates despite having been married before, which was why Reynolds' invitation left her feeling a bit queasy. "I started when I was 18 in television, and the whole world of that ilk was swept away from me," she noted.
Field remembered Reynolds refusing to come inside the hotel due to his recognizability and sending his bodyguard, Pete, pick her up instead. The "Steel Magnolias" star couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed about how her nerves affected the whole situation: "I remember just sort of being a fool, a clown." The rest of the night was a little hazy. "We went to dinner. I think there were others there. I remember that there were others there," Field said. "I just was nervous. It was all just a blur."
They ultimately broke up, though Reynolds said he still loved Field decades later
Despite how the media portrayed their relationship, Sally Field had some sad memories of her time with Burt Reynolds, whom she said could make her feel special one minute and tear her down the next. "He was very much like my stepfather. ... my stepfather was both wonderful and evil," she revealed to People in 2026. She said Reynolds could be very controlling, recalling how he reacted furiously when she wanted to star in 1979's "Norma Rae," which would go on to win her an Academy Award for best actress.
Ultimately, that's what it took for Field to stand up for herself after years of trying to cater to Reynolds. Looking back, she has no regrets. "I went and did meet with [the director] Marty Ritt. I did the film, but it was the beginning of me finding my legs," she reflected. Two years after splitting from Reynolds, she and her second husband Alan Greisman tied the knot. Field welcomed her youngest son with Greisman, though they eventually divorced. (She also has two sons from her previous marriage, and all three of Field's children have seriously transformed.) Reynolds moved on as well, tying the knot with his second wife, Loni Anderson, in 1988, which he would later admit was a huge mistake. In truth, he never got over Field.
Over the years, Reynolds didn't shy away from expressing his regret over how he treated Field throughout their relationship, even describing his former leading lady as the true "love of my life." "I miss her terribly. Even now, it's hard on me," he told Vanity Fair in 2015. "I don't know why I was so stupid." Reynolds died at 82 in September 2018.