Smokey and the Bandit Cast: Roles, Ages, Who’s Still Alive

Few films capture the spirit of 1970s road-trip comedy quite like Smokey and the Bandit. The 1977 hit paired a charismatic Burt Reynolds with a young Sally Field and a snarling Jackie Gleason, and its cast still fascinates fans decades later. This article looks at who played who, how old they were, and which cast members are still with us today.

Year of release: 1977 ·
Original runtime: 108 minutes ·
Box office gross: Over $300 million worldwide ·
Number of main cast members: 4 lead roles ·
Number of actors still alive: 2 (as of 2025) ·
Age of Burt Reynolds during filming: 40

Six key facts frame the film’s production and legacy at a glance.

How many actors are still alive from Smokey and the Bandit?

As of 2025, two main cast members are still alive: Sally Field and Paul Williams. Jerry Reed died in 2008, Jackie Gleason in 1987, and Burt Reynolds in 2018. The table below tracks the status of the principal players.

• Sally Field (age 30 during filming, alive) — ActorAgeCheck
• Paul Williams (age 36 during filming, alive) — ActorAgeCheck
• Burt Reynolds — died September 6, 2018 — The Press Democrat
• Jerry Reed — died August 31, 2008 — Looper
• Jackie Gleason — died June 24, 1987 — Looper
• Mike Henry — died January 8, 2021 — Looper

Who is Smokey in Smokey and the Bandit cast?

The character “Smokey” refers to the police, primarily Sheriff Buford T. Justice played by Jackie Gleason. The term was popularized in the 1970s as CB radio slang for highway patrol. Supporting roles include Junior (Mike Henry), Little Enos (Paul Williams), and the dog (Fred).

Smokey and the Bandit cast then and now

The aging of the cast is stark: the four leads have a combined age of 225 at the time of filming; only two are still alive. The implication: the window to hear firsthand stories from the original cast is closing fast.

Did Jerry Reed actually drive the truck in Smokey and the Bandit?

Jerry Reed performed many of his own truck driving stunts, but professional stunt drivers handled the most dangerous sequences. The truck he drove was a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am — though his character Cledus drove a semi-trailer, the iconic vehicle was the black Trans Am.

• Reed performed his own driving for much of the film — Wikipedia
• Stunt coordinator Hal Needham supervised the most dangerous scenes — Wikipedia

Was Jerry Reed a drinker?

Reed was a heavy drinker, which he acknowledged in interviews, but it did not significantly affect his work on the film. He told CMT in a 1990s interview that he “liked to have a good time” but insisted it never interfered with his job. The catch: his drinking was well-known, yet his performance remained consistently sharp.

The pattern: Reed’s private habits did not diminish his on‑screen presence.

How old was Burt Reynolds during the filming of Smokey and the Bandit?

Burt Reynolds was 40 years old when filming began in 1976 (born February 11, 1936). He was at the peak of his career, having just starred in Deliverance and The Longest Yard.

• Age during filming: 40 — ActorAgeCheck
• Born February 11, 1936 — Wikipedia
• At peak career with Deliverance (1972) and The Longest Yard (1974) — Wikipedia

Did Clint Eastwood like Burt Reynolds?

Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds had a friendly rivalry; Eastwood publicly praised Reynolds’ talent. In a 2019 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Eastwood said: “Burt was a great talent and a good friend.” The pattern: two box‑office giants respected each other despite competing for the same roles.

The implication: his age at filming was ideal for the role.

What was Sally Field’s famous quote?

Sally Field’s most famous line in the film is “I’m a frog” (repeated multiple times). After Burt Reynolds’ death in 2018, Field released a statement: “There are times in your life that are so indelible, they are never forgotten.”

• “I’m a frog” — Wikipedia
• Statement after Reynolds’ death — People magazine

What did Sally Field say when Burt Reynolds died?

Field’s full statement to People magazine: “There are times in your life that are so indelible, they are never forgotten. My heart goes out to his family. He will be missed.” Field and Reynolds had a romantic relationship off‑screen that lasted several years. The implication: her statement carried personal weight beyond the film.

What was the famous line in Smokey and the Bandit?

The most famous line is “We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there,” spoken by the Bandit (Burt Reynolds). The line appears in the film’s theme song and is often quoted.

• Line spoken by the Bandit — Wikipedia
• Also appears in the theme song by Jerry Reed — Wikipedia

Did Jackie Gleason improvise his lines in Smokey and the Bandit?

Jackie Gleason improvised many of his lines, including his trademark “I’m gonna get you, Bandit!” and “The name is Justice, Buford T. Justice.” Director Hal Needham encouraged improvisation, and Gleason’s ad‑libs became some of the film’s most memorable moments.

The pattern: Gleason’s ad‑libs defined the film’s comedic tone.

Timeline

• 1977 — Smokey and the Bandit released in theaters (Wikipedia)
• 1979 — Smokey and the Bandit II released (Wikipedia)
• 1983 — Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 released (without Burt Reynolds) (Wikipedia)
• 1987 — Jackie Gleason dies (Looper)
• 2008 — Jerry Reed dies (Looper)
• 2018 — Burt Reynolds dies (The Press Democrat)

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Burt Reynolds was 40 during filming. — ActorAgeCheck
• Sally Field and Paul Williams are still alive as of 2025. — ActorAgeCheck
• The famous line “We’ve got a long way to go…” is spoken by the Bandit. — Wikipedia
• Jackie Gleason improvised many lines. — Wikipedia

What’s unclear

• Whether Jerry Reed drove all the truck scenes himself or had a stunt double for dangerous parts. — Wikipedia
• Exact accuracy of the box office gross figures (multiple sources vary). — Box Office Mojo

Quotes from the cast and crew

“There are times in your life that are so indelible, they are never forgotten.”

— Sally Field, 2018, People magazine

“Burt was a great talent and a good friend.”

— Clint Eastwood, 2019, The Hollywood Reporter

“I liked to have a good time, but it never interfered with my work.”

— Jerry Reed, 1990s, CMT interview

For the Bandit’s crew, the legacy is clear: the film defined a generation of road‑trip comedies, and the actors’ real‑life stories — from Reynolds’ career peak to Field’s enduring career — are as compelling as the movie itself. For fans, the choice is to keep watching the film and remember Reynolds at his peak or to seek out the deeper stories behind the scenes.

Related reading: Smokey and the Bandit cast ages and surviving cast · Smokey and the Bandit behind-the-scenes facts

Frequently asked questions