Smokey and the Bandit star Burt Reynolds had a long and respected career in Hollywood as a film actor and director. During the 1970s and 1980s, Reynolds was known as one of the biggest Hollywood icons of the time. He was beloved by all his fans, especially the female fans. With his signature swagger, rugged athleticism, and cheeky charm, Reynolds embodied the era’s ideal of masculine appeal, making him one of the biggest names in Hollywood. However, recent findings reveal there was a much darker side to the actor that most never knew about. A side that was not only secretive but also allegedly dangerous.
Behind closed doors, Burt was reportedly nothing like the actor that millions adored. According to Radar Online, Reynolds kept the other side of him well hidden from his adoring public. It was a side not many knew and with good reason.
New details regarding Burt Reynolds’s darker side have recently come to light. Details revealing FBI files from 1972 show that Reynolds and his then-girlfriend, actress Dinah Shore, were secretly investigated for their ties to infamous mafia lawyer Frank Ragano. Ragano was known as a dangerous mobster with direct links to some of the biggest mob bosses known to man. So, how does legendary actor Burt Reynolds come into play in all of this?
According to the newly exposed explosive documents, the FBI opened a formal case file titled Burt Reynolds; Frank Ragano. Investigators dug deep into the men’s relationship, and their findings were very interesting. In Ragano’s 1994 memoir, Mob Lawyer, he reveals some groundbreaking and earth-shattering details regarding Dinah Shore and Burt Reynolds.
Hollywood Screen Hero To Sexy Mobster, Burt Reynolds Remains A Mystery
Reynolds and Shore were flagged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa after being spotted cozying up to Ragano. The relationship put a lot of heat on everyone involved, especially Dinah Shore and Burt Reynolds. Despite FBI surveillance evidence revealing the three spent a lot of time together, there was not enough proof of Reynolds’s direct ties to the mob.
As for the murder claims, Burt Reynolds’ sister-in-law, Maria, claims her late brother-in-law was allegedly involved in a motel murder that took place in 1973. According to Maria, the playboy actor was caught messing with another man, David Whitling’s girlfriend. Whitling walked in and busted Burt and his woman together, and Maria claims they got into a brawl, and Burt allegedly killed the man. “Burt got caught with the man’s girlfriend. They got in a fight and he killed him,” Reynolds’ sister-in-law states.
News reports reveal Whiting was found dead, with a significant head injury and high concentrations of two tranquilizers in his bloodstream. Extensive media coverage speculated that Reynolds had played some role in Whiting’s death. Two months later, the coroner ruled the death an accidental overdose, and Reynolds’ part in the bizarre event was seemingly quickly forgotten.
Burt Reynolds died on September 6, 2018, at the age of 82 after suffering a heart attack at a hospital in Florida. His passing marked the end of a legendary career that spanned over 60 years in Hollywood.
While fans mourned the loss of the charismatic star who brought so much charm and swagger to the screen, it seems Reynolds didn’t just leave behind a legacy of iconic roles, but it looks as if he also took decades of secrets to the grave.
