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To the uninitiated, acting legend Burt Reynolds was just another white actor who reaped innumerable benefits from decades of him being the top-billed name on the marquee above other names of other white actors. But a closer look at the cinematic career of the actor who died Thursday morning showed that he was not only a champion of diversity in Hollywood, but that his films and TV shows often featured Black actors, something that at the time was a rarity.
In fact, he acted and performed alongside more Black people than people give him credit for.
Notable Black actors and celebrities who appeared alongside Reynolds range from the old school (Paul Winfield, Flip Wilson, Bernie Casey and Ossie Davis, to name but a few) to more recent stars like Chris Rock and even the rapper Nelly. But what’s indisputable is that each of the names is a legend in his or her own right.
Reynolds was outspoken about needing more diversity in Hollywood both behind and in front of the cameras. He told the BBC in 2015 that he gets “quite angry about” racism in Hollywood. “”I was the first one to speak up to the director and the producer and say – you have to change these things because it’s not right the way we’re talking about them,” he added.
It was unclear if he ever did more to help bring more color to a lily white industry, but just being a white matinee idol who at least seemed willing to perform alongside Black talent likely helped convince the Hollywood decision-makers who were (and still are) decidedly not Black to look outside of their comfort zone for actors of color, both men and women.
As proof, we’ve assembled dozens of photos of Reynolds acting or otherwise appearing alongside Black actors or celebrities. Take a look below, as some of the pictures just might surprise you.
1. Bernie Casey
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Actors Bernie Casey and Burt Reynolds on set of the movie “Sharky’s Machine,” circa 1981. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
2. Ossie Davis
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EVENING SHADE cast member Burt Reynolds (as Wood Newton) and Ossie Davis (as Ponder Blue). Image dated 1991. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images)
3. Jim Brown
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Burt Reynolds and football star-turned-actor Jim Brown in Spain for the location shoot of the western ‘100 Rifles’, 1969. (Photo by Terry O’Neill/Iconic Images/Getty Images)
4. Flip Wilson
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(left to right) Flip Wilson as Geraldine, Burt Reynolds as himself on “The Flip Wilson Show” that aired Nov. 8, 1972. (Photo by NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
5. Paul Winfield
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Ernest Borgnine tells Paul Winfield and Burt Reynolds their theories are farfetched in a scene from the film ‘Hustle’, 1975. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)
6. Nelly
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Nelly and Burt Reynolds during the Ccst of ‘The Longest Yard’ visit to MTV’s ‘TRL’ on May 23, 2005, at Times Square in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
7. Dionne Warwick
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(left to right) Dyan Cannon, Burt Reynolds, Bob Hope and Dionne Warwick during The Bob Hope Comedy Special in 1981. Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank
8. DL Hughley
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DL Hughley and Actor Burt Reynolds appear on the set of ‘Cloud Nine’ on May 12, 2004, at Will Rodgers State Beach, in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
9. ‘The Longest Yard’
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Burt Reynolds uproots a tree in a scene from the film ‘The Longest Yard’, 1974. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)
10. Ena Hartman
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‘The King is Dead’ – Airdate Oct. 14, 1970. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) ENA HARTMAN; BURT REYNOLDS
11. Ossie Davis
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(right to left) Burt Reynolds, Clint Walker and Ossie Davis on set of the movie ‘Sam Whiskey’ in 1969. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
12. Don Cheadle
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(from left) John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle, Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore and Heather Graham at the ‘Boogie Nights’ premiere. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
13. Michael Clark Duncan and Jerry Rice
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Michael Clark Duncan, Burt Reynolds and Jerry Rice during 2000 ESPY Awards at MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
14. Chris Rock
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Burt Reynolds, Chris Rock and Adam Sandler flanked by Hooters girls during the taping for ‘The Best Darn Sports Show’ at the Jacksonville Landing. The actors were promoting the release their new movie, a remake of ‘The Longest Yard.’ (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
15. Bernie Casey and Marsha Warfield
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(left to right) Bernie Casey, host Marsha Warfield and Burt Reynolds on The Marsha Warfield Show. Photo by: Joseph Del Valle/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
16. Garrett Morris
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(left to right) Harry Shearer as Lyle, Garrett Morris as Julian, Burt Reynolds as Lewis during the ‘Deliverance II’ sketch, Saturday Night Live, April 12, 1980.
(Photo by: Alan Singer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
17. LaVern Baker
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Actress Loni Anderson, Burt Reynolds and singer LaVern Baker attend LaVern Baker’s Opening Night Singing Engagement on Sept. 8, 1992, at the Cinegrill, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
18. Sammy Davis, Jr.
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Burt Reynolds, Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Frank Sinatra sit on a car on set of the film ‘Cannonball Run II’, 1984. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images)
19. Michael Clarke Duncan
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Michael Clarke Duncan and Burt Reynolds during 2000 NATO/Showest Convention at Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
20. Jim Brown
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Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch on the set of “100 Rifles.” (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
21. Hoda Kotb
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Hoda Kotb and Burt Reynolds, March 15, 2018. (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
22. Angela Bassett
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(left to right): Angela Bassett and Burt Reynolds on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, March 2018. (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
23. Ella Edwards
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‘The Color of Fury’ – Airdate Oct. 28, 1970. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) ELLA EDWARDS; NED ROMERO; BURT REYNOLDS; NORMAN FELL
24. Quinton Aaron
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Quinton Aaron and Burt Reynolds attend the 15th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival. Aaron received the Horizon Award and Reynolds received the Lifetime Achievement Award on April 23, 2010, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Carlos Marino/Getty Images)
