Burt Reynolds Once Revealed Clint Eastwood Got Fired From Hollywood Studio for 1 Physical Trait

The 1950s and 1960s brought with it a very talented group of young actors. That group included the tough guys Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood. These two young actors both worked for the same Hollywood studio at one point during their early careers. As it happened, both of them also get fired from the same Hollywood studio.

Burt Reynolds recalled the whole situation live in an interview with CNN’s Larry King. “Well, Eastwood was — I always tell the story that we were fired the same day, but we weren’t,” Reynolds said. “We were fired the same year. And he was fired because his Adam’s apple stuck out too far. He talked too slow. And he had a chipped tooth and he wouldn’t get it fixed. And I said, ‘Why are you firing me?’” The people at the studio replied, “You can’t act.”

So a protruding Adam’s apple almost cost Clint Eastwood his career. In hindsight, it’s fair to say that his Adam’s apple didn’t hinder him that much in his acting and directing career. In fact, he sort of made a career out of his slow-talking, hard mannered demeanor. It’s also probably fair to say that Burt Reynolds learned how to act.

Burt Reynolds Jokes About Clint Eastwood Friendship

Despite the fact that Burt Reynolds did not get along with all of the actors he came up with, he maintained a fairly close relationship over the years. However, the two only worked together on one movie in all of their years of friendship. The movie, “City Heat,” actually performed pretty poorly in the box office despite the star-studded cast.

In their friendship, Burt Reynolds always liked to poke fun at Clint Eastwood. For instance, he talked more about getting laid off from the same studio as Eastwood.  “I said to Clint, ‘You know, you are really screwed, because I can learn how to act. You can’t get rid of that Adam’s apple.’” Reynolds joked “And it’s held him back. It’s held him back.” 

It certainly did not hold Eastwood back for long, as he became one of the prominent stars of his era. He even took up directing and ended up doing that role almost as well as acting. He continues to act and direct today, even at 90 years old. Burt Reynolds talked about Eastwood acting into his old age in an interview with Deadline.

“Well, maybe he just got married and he wants a new house,” Reynolds joked. “I don’t know. But knowing Clint, he loves to do what he does, and he’s very, very good at it. He’s the best of my group at directing, and I think he’ll do it till he drops over.”