Burt Reynolds Reveals How He Battled Rumors He Was Dying Of AIDS –Watch

Courtesy of Entertainment Tonight

Actor Burt Reynolds is opening up about a time in the ’80s in which he was plagued with rumors that he was dying of AIDS, following a dramatic weight loss. In his new memoir, he discusses the ways he fought to work through the dark period.

In the 1980s, Burt Reynolds, now 79, faced harsh speculation that he was dying of AIDS, after a dramatic weight loss. In his memoir, But Enough About Me, available Nov. 17, Burt discusses what actually caused him to lose so much weight in such a short period of time, as well as the ways in which he combatted those devastating rumors– oh, and of course, he dishes on his longtime ex, Sally Field. Watch the interview!

Burt did lose a lot of weight in the ’80s, but it was not due to him having contracted AIDS. Actually, it was because he was addicted to prescription pain killers, following a jaw injury, as Burt discusses in his memoir. It was a truly difficult time in his life, but Burt worked through it the only way he knew how to. “I just kept working,” he said, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I thought the only way to make these rumors go away is to keep working… it really was an awful period.”

Also in the memoir, Burt looks back on his relationship with two-time Oscar winner, Sally, 69, whom he calls “the love of my life.” Burt admits that, today, he still thinks about her. “I do miss her,” he said. “I think she was one of the most underrated actresses, you know? She was the best actress I ever worked with.” The former couple starred together in the 1977 film, Smokey and the Bandit.

Are you going to check out Burt’s new memoir?

— Casey Mink