Burt Reynolds Turned Down Han Solo, James Bond, and Pretty Woman. He Died Broke.

From 1978 to 1982, Burt Reynolds was the biggest movie star on the planet. Not one of the biggest. THE biggest. He topped the box office rankings for five consecutive years, a feat matched only by Bing Crosby.

He was offered every major role Hollywood had. He turned them all down.

The Roles He Rejected

George Lucas wanted Reynolds for Han Solo in Star Wars. Reynolds said no. He thought science fiction was beneath him.

After Sean Connery left the Bond franchise, Reynolds was offered 007. He turned it down because "an American can't play James Bond."

He passed on the Jack Nicholson role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He passed on the Richard Gere role in Pretty Woman. When asked why he turned down Pretty Woman, his answer was disarmingly simple: "Because I'm an idiot."

The Investments

Reynolds poured his fortune into a chain of restaurants called Po' Folks, themed around Southern comfort food. The chain struggled. His divorce from Loni Anderson cost him millions more. Bad real estate deals and excessive spending consumed the rest.

In 1996, the #1 movie star of the 1970s and 80s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The End

Burt Reynolds died on September 6, 2018, at the age of 82. His estimated net worth was approximately $3 million. He had been the highest-paid actor in Hollywood. He had been offered the most iconic roles in cinema history. He invested his fortune in a restaurant chain called Po' Folks.