Burt Reynolds Was 'Hurt' by Sally Field Yet Missed Her 'Terribly' — She Didn’t Speak to Him in His Final 30 Years

Burt Reynolds was in love with Sally Field since she was 7 years old, and although they married other people and had children with them, he still nurtured his love for her and struggled all his life because they did not work out. Reynolds called Field the love of his life despite being "shocked and hurt" after her revelations about him while married to another man.

Actor Burt Reynolds once claimed during his appearance on the "Today" show that he first fell in love with actress Sally Field when she was young.

The famed Michigan native was promoting his new film, "The Last Movie Star," when television host Hoda Kotb asked him about his love life, particularly who the love of his life was.

"Well, she was 7 when I fell in love with her. She stayed 7 for about 11 years. I would say, Sally," Reynolds replied. To which Kotb asked, "Sally Field?" and he answered, "Yes. Sally Field."

The director and the two-time Academy Award winner dated for about five years in the late '70s and '80s. In his book, "But Enough about Me," Reynolds, who was 10 years her senior, detailed his onscreen and off-screen relationship with Field, including her childhood.

He revealed that she grew up in Hollywood with an actress mother and a father who was an army officer. However, Field's parents divorced when she was only four years old. Following their split, her mom remarried actor-stuntman Jock Mahoney.

Reynolds made his feelings about Mahoney known and expressed that he was conflicted. He had much respect for his craft but, at the same time, despised him for mistreating Field at a young age.

Mahoney had a biological daughter named Princess and treated her as such, but when it came to his stepdaughter Field, it was a different story. He was cruel toward her and ignored her.

Mahoney only took notice of the "Steel Magnolias" star when she got recognized for her work and was awarded, something that angered Reynolds. He also alleged that Mahoney might have been abusing Field physically, adding that although she had not said it, he could tell.

The "Deliverance" star not only paid attention to Field's personal life, but he also guided her career. When he starred in the film, "Smokey and the Bandit" in 1977, he recommended the California native for a part in the movie.

But that was not easy at first because Universal questioned his choice, asking why her specifically, and he argued that she was talented. Still, the studio felt Field had a long way to go before starring in a feature film, adding she was not sexually attractive.

"You don't understand. Talent is sexy," Reynolds explained to the execs, who still would not budge. He then approached studio executive and talent agent Lew Wasserman, who finally made it happen.

Reynolds contacted Field to tell her about the role, and her reaction was not as he expected. She told him his movies were not in her field of expertise but that her agents advised her to go for it because she needed a commercial film.

He expressed his disappointment at her reaction but moved on from it. The pair met for the first time at the reading, and Reynolds was instantly smitten by Field, "She was strong and funny and spectacular."

They goofed around on set, but Field was too hard on herself and wanted to get serious while Reynolds tried to make her laugh here and there. He succeeded, but it still bothered her that they were playing around too much as she was a professional.

She would get upset at herself and Reynolds, asking for them to stick to the dialogue while he encouraged her to improvise. Field admitted she was not good at that, but he reassured her.

The brunette ultimately tried it and succeeded as she mastered improvisation in one scene. While guiding her through her acting career, Field would seek Reynolds' input, like she once asked him to read a script and what he thought about it.

He told her it was her time to make an impression and should not overlook the opportunity. The script was for "Norma Rae" (1979), which became Field's breakout film. He also advised her to star in "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure" (1979), but it failed to deliver.

Reynolds noted Field showed reluctance to star in the film, and after it became a "disaster," she was unhappy about her performance and was mad at him.

Overall, Reynolds starred alongside Field in four films, including: "Smokey and the Bandit," "The End," "Hooper" and "Smokey and the Bandit II." He stated that although she had no interest in the original "Smokey," it became a massive success, and she held it against him for the longest time.

He also shared how he fell for her. In one scene, they were in a car, and she had her feet up on the windshield and began dancing and talking about how she always wanted to feature in a play.

As she went on, Field discussed funny stuff and started dishing out things about herself which Reynolds described as authentic. He admitted:

"That's when I realized I was falling in love."

Reynolds initially revealed that the sexual tension between him and Field was evident on screen, and it appears she also fell for him during that time.

In May 2019, actress Meredith Salenger posted a throwback photo of the pair from the film, "Smokey and the Bandit." Field was pictured looking admirably at her co-star in the snap as the Hollywood duo smiled in the picture.

Reynolds & Field Proposed to Each Other Several Times

In his book, Reynolds revealed he and Field proposed to each other several times. However, whenever the other person asked, the other needed more time to be ready, and vice versa. He noted that it had more to do with bad timing.

The film icon admitted he and Field had reservations about whether or not they could make a marriage work if they had to work in different locations, especially on other continents, and if they could fathom each other's success.

In addition, the pair had been married before to other people and were divorced, which contributed to their doubts about their relationship. They feared that history would repeat itself.

Years later, Reynolds said if they had tied the knot, it would have likely resulted in a disaster. However, he noted they would have had some good moments, too, because he would have tried his best to make their union work.

While dating, the couple did not live together and kept their separate homes. They ended up breaking up, and afterward, he asked to see her over dinner, but she refused, and it broke him. Reynolds explained:

"I still wanted to see her, but my pride stepped in, and I gave up."

At the time of their romance, Field already had two kids, sons whom Reynolds described as good boys. He loved them both and enjoyed spending time with them. Reynolds only realized after becoming a parent himself that Field had given him a gift.

He saw her caring for her sons, dropping them off at school, cooking, helping with homework, getting them to bed, and still having time for him. From that point of view, he described her as a strong person.

Reynolds still considered Field as the love of his life despite their split. But she disappointed him several years later when she was asked during an interview with "Playboy" in 1987 whether he had AIDS.

"The Flying Nun" star said she did not know, while Reynolds expressed she should have rubbished the rumors instead. Field added another remark that made him even more heartbroken: "There's always been something going on around Burt."

Reynolds was baffled by that statement and said, "I was shocked and hurt," adding he did not know what came over her for her to utter such words. After the interview, Field wrote a letter of apology to the "Boogie Nights" star, but the damage had already been done. Reynolds said:

"We haven't been in touch since. I wish I could turn back the clock. I'm sorry I never told her that I loved her, and I'm sorry we couldn't make it work. It's the biggest regret of my life."

The interview occurred while Field was still married to her second husband, film producer Alan Greisman. The pair wed in 1984 but divorced in 1994. They welcomed one child together, a son named Samuel.

Field, a mother of three, was previously married to Steven Craig, whom she married in 1968, but divorced in 1975 after seven years of marriage. They had two sons, Eli and Peter.

In 2015, Reynolds expressed his disbelief that he and the "Forrest Gump" star did not work out, although he still regarded her as his love.

Although their relationship ended in the 1980s, he admitted to missing her "terribly." He questioned his past mistakes and revealed he had found the ideal woman, but he ruined things between them.

No Communication for 30 Years

During an appearance on the chat show "The View" in September 2018, Field revealed she and Reynolds had not been in contact for three decades.

She felt him trying to reach out to her using the press over the years whenever he had interviews. Field noted he would share what he wanted to say to her via the media instead of calling her on the phone. Reynolds did the same thing while the former lovebirds were dating.

Nonetheless, Field said, "He will always be in my heart and in my history." Meanwhile, asked what his biggest disappointment was in life during a 2016 interview, Reynolds said it was her:

"She was the love of my life, and I screwed the relationship up. That sense of loss never goes away. I have no idea what Sally thinks about it. She could pick up the phone and speak to me, but she never does. I spoke to her son recently. He said that his mom talks about me all the time."

The father of one expressed hope that perhaps one day he and Field could at least talk over the phone, and he looked forward to that conversation.

Reynolds Died & Field Attended His Funeral Service

Sadly, Reynolds never had the chance to reunite with Field, as he passed away on September 6, 2018. He suffered a cardiac arrest, and his family had his body cremated.

His loved ones and friends, including Field, gathered at Family Church to attend a service held in his honor to celebrate his life and legacy at West Palm Beach.

Reynolds died at age 82, and Field paid tribute to him at his funeral. She said there are moments in one's life that forever stay with a person no matter how much time passes by. In this case, it had been forty years for her and Reynolds:

"My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and in my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy."

Following the end of her second marriage, a friend revealed Field stopped dating altogether, while another insider disclosed that the award-winning star prefers being alone.

In addition to that, the "Mrs. Doubtfire" star reportedly does not see herself walking down the aisle ever again and is content with her current life.

The now 76-year-old spends much of her time with her beloved brother Richard and fellow Hollywood stars such as actor Tom Hanks.

Adding to that list are Field's adult sons, Peter, whom she welcomed in November 1969; Eli, born in May 1972; and her youngest, Samuel, who arrived in December 1987.

The Oscar Award-winning family matriarch, who is also a grandmother of five grandchildren with whom she spends time, once spoke fondly about being a parent.

"To raise children who go on to be great parents is an accomplishment. That's the Oscar moment in life," said the proud mother.