Burt Reynolds' father never told him he loved him during his lifetime.
Burt Reynolds
The 79-year-old actor had, at times, a strained relationship with his late dad Burton Milo Reynolds - who was a police chief - and admits his lack of emotional support for him had an effect on Burt for his entire life.
In an interview on 'The Jonathan Ross Show, the 'Boogie Nights' star said: "He couldn't say 'I love you.' He didn't ever. He was from that generation that didn't hug and kiss and say, 'I love you,' but he did say finally, 'I'm proud of you,' and that was enough, that was enough for me ... A little bit (of love) would have been nice, just a little tiny piece, no I never got that."
"Right now it makes me cloud up when I think of it, when he said it to me ... That was 'I love you' in his way, yes ... He was a strong, strong man. I idolised him, most people did that knew him and it was a tough time for me."
Burt had been a promising American football player until an injury whilst in college derailed his dreams to make it in the NFL, and when he discovered he had a passion for acting he told his dad he wanted to prove he could be great at it.
He recalled: "We had a real hard time when I got hurt playing ball and it was obvious I wasn't going to get to play professional football, I wandered from where the football was at the university to my father who was on campus and he turned out to be in the theatre and I walked on the stage and it was amazing, it was like the first time I walked on a football field and I thought 'this is home'. I can do this good and I felt that way on stage, this is home.
"I think my dad laughed then he said, 'How sweet.' I don't think he meant it, 'how sweet' but it wasn't a happy day for him when I told him that I was going to go in the theatre. I said, 'Well I don't intend just to go to the theatre, I intend to go into it and be a big success.' And he said, 'Worth a chance.' And I said, 'I'm very good but I'm going to do it for you.' "
Burt's experience with his own father has meant he has always showered his son Quinton with as much love as possible.
He revealed: "My son, who I hug and kiss and grab and love and say 'I love you, I love you, I love you,' when he sees me coming, he covers his face but I can't help it. I don't want him to have what I have, I want him to know that his father loves him so much."
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