Burt Reynolds
Reynolds in 2004, photo by PrPhotos
Birth Name: Burton Leon Reynolds
Date of Birth: February 11, 1936
Place of Birth: Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Date of Death: September 6, 2018
Place of Death: Jupiter, Florida, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, with some Scots-Irish/Northern Irish and Scottish, distant German and Dutch
Burt Reynolds was an American actor, singer, director, producer, and football player. He starred in the films Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit, Boogie Nights, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, among many others, as one of the top movie stars of the 1970s and part of the 1980s.
Burt was the son of Harrietta/Harriette Fernette “Fern” (Miller) and Burton Milo Reynolds, who was Chief of Police of Riviera Beach, Florida, where Burt was raised.
Burt had English, some Scots-Irish/Northern Irish and Scottish, and distant German and Dutch, ancestry. While he was often associated with the American South and Southern characters, he appears to have had no Southern-born ancestors.
Burt was sometimes said to have had Italian ancestry. This is not accurate. Burt was also often cited as having had some degree of Cherokee Native American ancestry, specifically through his father and paternal grandmother. It is not clear if this Cherokee Native American ancestry has been verified/documented. None of Burt’s verified ancestors appear to have been Native American.
Burt had a son, who is adopted, with his former wife, actress Loni Anderson.
Burt’s paternal grandfather was John Burton Reynolds (the son of Eli/Elijah Burton Reynolds and Elizabeth L. Lattimore/Lattamore). Burt’s grandfather John was born in Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York. Burt’s great-grandfather John was the son of Eli Reynolds and Anna Hurd Field, who was born in Vermont; Eli and Anna’s fathers both fought in the Revolutionary War. Elizabeth was born in Ohio, the daughter of English parents, John Lattimore, from Northumberland, and Elizabeth Stanley, from Nottingham.
Burt’s paternal grandmother was Effie May Thompson (the daughter of Milo Thompson and Ann/Anna Eliza Wilcox). Effie was born in Aurelius, Ingham, Michigan. Milo was the son of Orin/Orrin Thompson and Susannah/Susanna Wright. Ann was the daughter of George W. Wilcox and Lauria/Laura Sophronia Olmsted/Olmstead.
Burt’s maternal grandfather was Leon Chauncey Miller (the son of Charles Aldrille Miller and Florilla/Flora Annette Bell). Leon was born in Casnovia, Muskegon, Michigan. Charles was the son of George Miller and Anna Akerly. Burt’s great-grandmother Annette was the daughter of David Bell and Lucy Ann Blodgett.
Burt’s maternal grandmother was Nina Bell Wheeler (the adopted daughter of George Y. Wheeler and Harriette/Harietta/Harriet/Harrietta A. Hungerford). Nina was born in Michigan. George was born in Canada, and was the son of William Wheeler and Sarah Wright. Harriette was the daughter of Elias B. Hungerford and Polly/Dolly Lovina Tucker.
Sources: Information about Burt’s birthplace – http://lansingonlinenews.com
A discussion of Burt’s claimed Cherokee Native American ancestry – https://www.quora.com
Genealogies of Burt Reynolds – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
http://findagrave.com
https://famouskin.com
Burt’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Burt’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Burt’s paternal grandfather, John Burton Reynolds, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Burt’s paternal grandmother, Effie May Thompson, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Burt’s paternal great-grandparents, Milo Thompson and Ann/Anna Eliza Wilcox, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Burt’s paternal great-grandmother, Ann/Anna Eliza Wilcox, on the 1860 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Burt’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Lauria/Laura Sophronia Olmsted/Olmstead, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Burt’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Burt’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Burt’s maternal grandparents, Leon Chauncey Miller and Nina Bell Wheeler – https://www.familysearch.org
Burt’s maternal grandparents, Leon Chauncey Miller and Nina Bell Wheeler, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Burt’s maternal grandmother, Nina Bell Wheeler, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
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