Inside Burt Reynolds’ Troubled Marriage to Loni Anderson: It Wasn’t All Sunshine and Roses

Burt Reynolds, the beloved actor who passed away at the age of 82 in 2018, openly admitted that marrying actress Loni Anderson was a decision he regretted.

In a candid interview with PEOPLE in 2015, Reynolds described their marriage as “a really dumb move on my part” and acknowledged that it wasn't as blissful as it appeared.

Reynolds elaborated on the factors that drove them apart in his 2015 memoir, But Enough About Me.

He discussed Anderson's extravagant spending habits, revealing that she bought everything in triplicate, from clothing to jewelry to household items.

According to Reynolds, Anderson never wore a dress more than once and insisted on living like a star.

To cater to her desires, Reynolds gave Anderson a platinum American Express card with a $45,000 credit limit.

Shockingly, she managed to max it out within just thirty minutes.

The couple first met in 1981 and began dating a year later.

They quickly became a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood, gracing magazine covers and making appearances together on red carpets.

However, Reynolds expressed uncertainty about the future of their relationship, acknowledging the challenges they faced due to media scrutiny.

In 1988, Reynolds and Anderson tied the knot in a secret ceremony held at his ranch in Jupiter, Florida.

The reception that followed the short ceremony was filled with love and joy, as Reynolds declared himself a lucky man surrounded by dear friends and married to his best friend.

Anderson compared herself to Cinderella and referred to Reynolds as Prince Charming.

The couple later adopted a son named Quinton Reynolds.

Sadly, the tides turned in their marriage, and in June 1993, Reynolds announced their shocking split.

His representative stated that the marriage had become “irretrievably broken” due to differences in priorities.

Reynolds later revealed on Good Morning America: Evening Edition that the lack of physical intimacy played a significant role in their separation.

Reynolds admitted to being involved with another woman, claiming that he discovered Anderson's infidelity and decided to end the marriage.

He didn't hold back in his criticisms, describing Anderson as an underemployed actress with low self-esteem and questioning her abilities as a mother.

The divorce proceedings turned ugly, with Reynolds' close friend and personal photographer, Lisa Smith, even mocking Anderson's cooking skills.

Anderson chose not to engage in a media war but emphasized the importance of considering their son's welfare.

In 1995, Anderson finally spoke out about the divorce, accusing Reynolds of physically abusing her on numerous occasions while under the influence of drugs.

She also claimed that Reynolds was inconsistent with his child support payments.

It wasn't until 2015 that Reynolds wrote a check for $154,520, officially ending their divorce.

Despite the animosity between them, Anderson expressed her condolences after Reynolds' passing, acknowledging his impact on her and their son's lives.

Reynolds never remarried after divorcing Anderson but revealed that Sally Field was the one true love he couldn't forget.

In a 2015 interview with PEOPLE, he confessed that he genuinely cared for Field and considered her incredibly special.