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Enduring, strong-featured, and genial star of US cinema, Burt Reynolds started off in T.V. westerns in the 1960s and then carved his name into 1970s/1980s popular culture, as a sex symbol (posing nearly naked for "Cosmopolitan" magazine), and on-screen as both a rugged action figure and then as a wisecracking, Southern type of "good ol' boy."

Burton Leon Reynolds was born in Lansing, Michigan. He was the son of Harriette Fernette "Fern" (Miller) and Burton Milo Reynolds, who was in the army. After World War II, his family moved to Riviera Beach, Florida, where his father was chief of police, and where Burt excelled as an athlete and played with Florida State University. He became an All Star Southern Conference halfback (and was earmarked by the Baltimore Colts) before a knee injury and a car accident ended his football career. Midway through college he dropped out and headed to New York with aspirations of becoming an actor. There he worked in restaurants and clubs while pulling the odd TV spot or theatre role.

He was spotted in a New York City production of "Mister Roberts," signed to a TV contract, and eventually had recurring roles in such shows as Gunsmoke (1955), Riverboat (1959) and his own series, Hawk (1966).

Reynolds continued to appear in undemanding western roles, often playing a character of half Native American descent, in films such as Navajo Joe (1966), 100 Rifles (1969) and Sam Whiskey (1969). However, it was his tough-guy performance as macho Lewis Medlock in the John Boorman backwoods nightmare Deliverance (1972) that really stamped him as a bona-fide star. Reynolds' popularity continued to soar with his appearance as a no-nonsense private investigator in Shamus (1973) and in the Woody Allen comedy Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972). Building further on his image as a Southern boy who outsmarts the local lawmen, Reynolds packed fans into theaters to see him in White Lightning (1973), The Longest Yard (1974), W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975) and Gator (1976).

At this time, ex-stuntman and longtime Reynolds buddy Hal Needham came to him with a "road film" script. It turned out to be the incredibly popular Smokey and the Bandit (1977) with Sally Field and Jerry Reed, which took in over $100 million at the box office. That film's success was followed by Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). Reynolds also appeared alongside Kris Kristofferson in the hit football film Semi-Tough (1977), with friend Dom DeLuise in the black comedy The End (1978) (which Reynolds directed), in the stunt-laden buddy film Hooper (1978) and then in the self-indulgent, star-packed road race flick The Cannonball Run (1981).

The early 1980s started off well with a strong performance in the violent police film Sharky's Machine (1981), which he also directed, and he starred with Dolly Parton in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and with fellow macho superstar Clint Eastwood in the coolly received City Heat (1984). However, other projects such as Stroker Ace (1983), Stick (1985) and Paternity (1981) failed to catch fire with fans and Reynolds quickly found himself falling out of popularity with movie audiences. In the late 1980s he appeared in only a handful of films, mostly below average, before television came to the rescue and he shone again in two very popular TV shows, B.L. Stryker (1989) and Evening Shade (1990), for which he won an Emmy. In 1988, Burt and his then-wife, actress Loni Anderson, had a son, Quinton A. Reynolds (aka Quinton Anderson Reynolds), whom they adopted.

He was back on screen, but still the roles weren't grabbing the public's attention, until his terrific performance as a drunken politician in the otherwise woeful Striptease (1996) and then another tremendous showing as a charming, porn director in Boogie Nights (1997), which scored him a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Like the phoenix from the ashes, Reynolds resurrected his popularity and, in the process, gathered a new generation of young fans, many of whom had been unfamiliar with his 1970s film roles. He then put in entertaining work in Pups (1999), Mystery, Alaska (1999), Driven (2001) and Time of the Wolf (2002). Definitely one of Hollywood's most resilient stars, Reynolds continually surprised all with his ability to weather both personal and career hurdles and his almost 60 years in front of the cameras were testament to his staying ability, his acting talent and his appeal to film audiences.

Burt Reynolds died of cardiac arrest on September 6, 2018, in Jupiter, Florida, U.S. He was eighty two.

Best known for playing the perpetually-ditzy blonde bimbo in several installments of the "Carry On" franchise, buxom Liz Fraser (born Elizabeth Joan Winch above a corner shop in south London) studied at RADA on a scholarship and first acted in repertory theatre and television before breaking into films. Her first role of note was Cynthia, the daughter of radical left-wing shop steward Fred Kite in The Boulting Brothers comedy I'm All Right Jack (1959) (the film which made Peter Sellers a star). In a second outing with Sellers, (Two Way Stretch (1960), she played his girlfriend Ethel; up next were eight guest appearances on Hancock's Half Hour (1956). By that time, her screen personae were firmly established as scatterbrained blondes or feisty gum-chewing working-class Cockneys. Though she often managed to rise above her material, the typecasting sadly continued through a series of dreadful low-brow '70s sex comedies in the 'Adventures' and 'Confessions' series, which represented a significant step-down from the "Carry Ons" and did nothing for her reputation.

Liz attempted to change her image by playing straight dramatic roles in The Family Way (1966) and Up the Junction (1968) (as the mother) and her later career prospered as a fine character actress with guest spots on The Professionals (1977), Minder (1979), Foyle's War (2002), and Midsomer Murders (1997), along with a string of successes on the West End stage. In her private life, she was known to be fond of animals, and she loved to play bridge and ladies' bowls at the exclusive Hurlingham club in Fulham. Her financial astuteness brought substantial gains at the stock market, which she in turn developed into a healthy property portfolio. She always spoke fondly of her co-stars, many of whom she regarded as her close 'mates' during the sixties, in particular Sidney James, Joan Sims, Tony Hancock and Tommy Cooper.

Peter Benson played the funeral director Bernie Scripps in most of the 18 series of Heartbeat (1992), from 1995 to 2009, a role perhaps which he is most likely to be remembered for.

His character also ran a garage in the fictional town of Aidensfield and often got involved in disastrous money-making schemes with Claude Greengrass (Bill Maynard) and half-brother Vernon Scripps (Geoffrey Hughes).

Benson also appeared in BBC comedy Blackadder (1982) as Henry VII, ITV's 1980s soap opera Albion Market (1985) and in two episodes of hospital drama Casualty (1986).

Benson was a highly skilled singer and dancer and an accomplished theatre actor. He and Maynard starred on stage together in a production of Trinity Tales in the late 70s. He portrayed Henry VI in a BBC television adaptation of Shakespeare's play in 1983.

Thad Mumford was born on 8 February 1951 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for M*A*S*H (1972), The Electric Company (1971) and A Different World (1987). He died on 6 September 2018 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

Will Jordan was born on 27 July 1927 in Bronx, New York, USA. He was an actor and director, known for The Doors (1991), Down with Love (2003) and I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978). He died on 6 September 2018 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

Mabel Kwong was an actress, known for Profile in Anger (1984), Possessed II (1984) and Two Jolly Cops (1985). She died on 6 September 2018 in Hong Kong.

Prudence Fitzgerald was born in 1930 in Staffordshire, England, UK. She was a director and producer, known for Studio 4 (1962), Paul Temple (1969) and Crying Down the Lane (1962). She was married to Marius Goring. She died on 6 September 2018 in East Sussex, England, UK.

Philippe Eidel was born on 22 December 1956 in Tananarive, Madagascar. He was a composer and actor, known for Peter Brook's the Mahabharata (8K) (2024), Wild Target (1993) and Bunker palace hôtel (1989). He died on 6 September 2018 in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France.

Michiru Hojo was born on 9 February 1930 in Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan. He was an actor, known for Astro Boy (1980), Astro Boy: The Brave in space (1964) and Adventures of the Young Shadar (1967). He died on 6 September 2018.

Eva Engström was born on 24 December 1933 in Härnösand, Ångermanland, Sweden. She was an actress and director, known for Den försvunne (1996), Raggare! (1959) and Kaninmannen (1990). She died on 6 September 2018 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Ernesto Juárez was born on 4 August 1931 in Nochistlán, Zacatecas, Mexico. He was an actor and writer, known for Aquella Rosita Alvírez (1965), Mi caballo prieto rebelde (1967) and The Royal Eagle (1973). He died on 6 September 2018 in Mexico, D.F., Mexico.

Claudio Scimone was born on 23 December 1934 in Padua, Veneto, Italy. He is known for No Way Out (1973), Lorenzo's Oil (1992) and Invitation au voyage (1982). He died on 6 September 2018 in Padua, Veneto, Italy.

Sven Wernström was born on 3 April 1925 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was a writer and actor, known for De hemligas ö (1972), Trællene (1978) and Trællenes børn (1980). He was married to Inga Karlsson. He died on 6 September 2018 in Eastern Husby district, Vikbolandet, Östergötlands län, Sweden.

Ljuba Benesová was born on 4 September 1926 in Ivanovice na Hané, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Botostroj (1954), Ta tretí (1969) and Bakalári (1972). She was married to Jirí Adamíra. She died on 6 September 2018 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Johnny Kingdom was born on 23 February 1939 in Brayford, Devon, England, UK. He was married to Julie Carter. He died on 6 September 2018 in Wadham Cross, Knowstone, Devon, England, UK.

Teresa Bonder was born on 4 February 1939 in Poland. Teresa was a production manager, known for Kim jest ten czlowiek? (1985), Dzien Wisly (1980) and Rzeka klamstwa (1989). Teresa died on 6 September 2018 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.

Ödön Csellár was born on 28 March 1923 in Miskolc, Hungary. He died on 6 September 2018.

Rick Devos was born on 4 March 1926 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He was married to Helen Van Wesep and Helen DeVos. He died on 6 September 2018 in Ada, Michigan, USA.

Jacques-Alain de Sedouy was born on 18 November 1935 in Paris, France. He was married to Maitchou Lehideux. He died on 6 September 2018 in Bayonne, Pyrénées-Atlantique, France.

Madeleine Yayodele Nelson was born on 16 September 1948 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. She was a composer, known for Alive from Off Center (1984). She died on 6 September 2018 in New York, New York, USA.

Wilson Moreira was born on 12 December 1936 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He died on 6 September 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.