Hollywood Legend Was So Ashamed of $43M Mark Wahlberg Movie He Fired His Agent for Making Him Act in it, Still Got an Oscar Nomination For it

The late and great Burt Reynolds’ acting credits go well over 150 and it’s a testament to his long acting career. However, out of all of his projects, Boogie Nights (1997) holds a special place. Apart from him, the movie also starred Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mark Wahlberg, Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, and more.

The film grossed $43 million and is special because the film got Reynolds his first Oscar nomination in the best supporting actor category in 1998. However, the actor’s relationship with the film wasn’t good, to say the least. In fact, he fired his agent for getting him the movie.

Burt Reynolds Hated Everything About Boogie Nights

Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Boogie Nights is about the p*rn industry in the 1970s. Mark Wahlberg has a prominent role in the film. Apparently, when Burt Reynolds saw the film’s rough cut, he regretted starring in it. So much so that he fired his agent for getting him the role.

This was confirmed in a Vulture interview by William H. Macy. He said that Reynolds was clueless about the film. Macy explained:

“I think Burt was sort of clueless as to what we were doing. I think all of us very early in the film thought, ‘Holy crap, this is extraordinary,’ and I think Burt was clueless. And he trashed the film after we wrapped — up until the time he got an Academy Award nomination.” 

Burt Reynolds

It’s true that the Gunsmoke star did trash the film and didn’t even participate in promotional interviews. He did get nominated for the Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for the role but didn’t win it as Robin Williams took home the statue for Good Will Hunting.

It’s rumored that he didn’t win because he had publicly distanced himself from the film. However, it didn’t look like the late star had any qualms with that. In fact, he trashed the film and director even later on.

Burt Reynolds Wanted To Hit The Director Of Boogie Nights 

In a March 2018 Interview on TBS’ Conan, Burt Reynolds told host Conan O’Brien that Boogie Nights made him uncomfortable, and he was afraid that people would spot him in the film. He said:

“It just wasn’t my kind of film … It made me very uncomfortable because I was afraid they might recognize me.”

Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights

The interviewer then asked him if the reports of him wanting to hit director Paul Thomas Anderson in the face were true. He said that they were. But he made one change. The actor said:

“No, I didn’t want to hit him in the face. I just wanted to hit him… I don’t think he liked me … I think mostly because he was young and full of himself. Every shot we did, it was like the first time [that shot had ever been done].”

Even though Reynolds didn’t like starring in the film, Mark Wahlberg still credits it for launching his career.

Boogie Nights is available on HBO Max.

Source: Vulture and The Washington Post