The Bearskin Rug And The Box Office: 5 Shocking Truths About Burt Reynolds' Iconic Nude Centerfold
Few photographs in Hollywood history are as instantly recognizable and culturally seismic as Burt Reynolds’ 1972 nude centerfold for Cosmopolitan magazine. Published in the April issue, this single image—featuring the actor reclining on a bearskin rug with a mischievous grin—didn't just sell over a million copies; it redefined the male sex symbol and became the most debated career move of his life. Decades later, as of late
The story behind the shoot, the immediate fallout, and Reynolds’ decades-long regret offers a fascinating, complex look at fame, masculinity, and the high cost of a single, provocative image. While it cemented his status as a global superstar, the actor himself always viewed it as a monumental mistake that derailed his serious acting ambitions.
Burton Leon Reynolds Jr.: A Hollywood Icon's Profile
Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. was an American actor, director, and producer whose career spanned six decades. He was one of Hollywood's most bankable stars throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, known for his charismatic persona, distinctive mustache, and self-deprecating humor. The following is a brief overview of his life and career highlights:
- Full Name: Burton Leon Reynolds Jr.
- Born: February 11, 1936, in Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
- Died: September 6, 2018, in Jupiter, Florida, U.S. (Aged 82)
- Education: Attended Florida State University (FSU) on a football scholarship, where he played halfback. His professional football dreams ended due to a knee injury in a car accident.
- Key Early Work: Began his career in television, notably in the series Gunsmoke and Hawk.
- Breakthrough Film: Deliverance (1972), released the same year as the centerfold, established him as a serious dramatic actor.
- Career Peak (The Box Office King): From 1978 to 1982, Reynolds was voted the number one box office star in the world, a feat few actors have matched.
- Signature Films: Smokey and the Bandit (1977), The Cannonball Run (1981), Hooper (1978), Semi-Tough (1977), and White Lightning (1973).
- Major Awards: He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jack Horner in Boogie Nights (1997), a performance that also earned him an Academy Award nomination.
- Memoir: My Life (1994) and But Enough About Me (2015).
The 1972 Photo That Changed Everything: Context and Controversy
The decision by Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown to feature a nude male centerfold was a groundbreaking moment for the magazine and a deliberate statement on the sexual revolution of the 1970s. The goal was to give women the same kind of pin-up fantasy that men had enjoyed for decades.
The Groundbreaking Deal with Helen Gurley Brown
In 1972, Burt Reynolds was a rising star, known for his rugged good looks and charming screen presence. He agreed to the shoot for the April issue, a move orchestrated by the legendary editor Helen Gurley Brown. The photo, taken by photographer Francesco Scavullo, was not fully nude in the traditional sense, as it was carefully framed to be suggestive, with Reynolds using his arm to cover his groin while reclining on a bearskin rug. It was a provocative, yet playfully intimate shot that instantly became a cultural phenomenon, selling over a million copies of the magazine.
The Immediate and Lasting Career Fallout
While the centerfold catapulted Reynolds to a new level of celebrity—cementing his status as a sex symbol—it simultaneously created a professional chasm. Reynolds later stated that the decision was "one of the biggest mistakes" of his life. He believed the photo overshadowed his work, particularly his dramatic roles, and turned him into a punchline. He recalled that after the centerfold's release, his standing ovations on stage turned into "burlesque show hoots and catcalls." He felt the public "cared more about my pubes than they did about the play," a sentiment that highlighted his deep frustration with the image's power.
Behind the Scenes: The Shocking Revelations and Regret
The story of the photoshoot is full of surprising details that Reynolds revealed later in his life, underscoring his discomfort with the entire experience. These revelations give the photo a much deeper, more complicated context than its cheeky public image.
1. He Was 'Plastered' During the Shoot
In a 2015 interview on Conan O'Brien's show, Reynolds confessed that he was "plastered" (drunk) during the entire Cosmopolitan shoot. He explained that the only way he could bring himself to pose nude was by consuming a significant amount of alcohol beforehand. This detail reveals the deep anxiety and reluctance he felt about the groundbreaking, yet personally compromising, assignment.
2. Seeking Advice from Raquel Welch
After the centerfold hit newsstands, Reynolds was so overwhelmed by the reaction that he sought out advice from his friend, actress Raquel Welch, who was herself an iconic sex symbol. He reportedly asked her what she thought of the photo, a move that highlights his need for validation and guidance on navigating the sudden, intense spotlight of sexualized fame.
3. The Oscar Connection: A Lingering Regret
One of Reynolds' most profound regrets was his belief that the nude photo cost him an Academy Award nomination for Deliverance, which was released just months after the Cosmo issue. While he was at the height of his fame and box office success in the 70s and 80s, it wasn't until his role in Boogie Nights in 1997 that he finally received a nomination, a full 25 years after the centerfold controversy. This deep-seated belief that the photo permanently damaged his reputation as a serious actor speaks volumes about the era's perception of male nudity and celebrity.
The Nude Centerfold's Enduring Modern Legacy
Decades after his death in 2018, the Cosmopolitan centerfold continues to be a subject of discussion and even modern-day controversy, proving its staying power as a cultural artifact. This ongoing relevance is a key part of the photo's legacy, transitioning from a 1970s pin-up to a 21st-century meme.
The Facebook Apology Incident
In a recent demonstration of the photo's complex status, Facebook (now Meta) was forced to issue an apology for taking down posts that featured the iconic Burt Reynolds photo. Facebook's automated and strict nudity policies flagged and removed the image, which users were sharing to commemorate the actor. The social media giant had to publicly acknowledge that the photo, despite its nudity, held a historical and cultural significance that warranted an exception to their content rules. This incident, occurring well after Reynolds' death, underscores how the image remains a culturally significant entity that challenges modern digital censorship standards.
A Redefinition of Masculinity
Ultimately, the picture's legacy is a complicated one. While Burt Reynolds regretted it, the image undeniably helped redefine the male sex symbol in popular culture. It was a bold, unprecedented move that helped usher in an era of more open discussion about male sexuality and physical presentation in mainstream media. It set a precedent for future celebrity magazine shoots, challenging the traditional gender imbalance in how nudity was presented and consumed. The bearskin rug photo remains a powerful, if controversial, landmark in the history of celebrity, publishing, and the evolution of American masculinity.
List of Entities and LSI Keywords: Burt Reynolds, Cosmopolitan magazine, nude centerfold, bearskin rug, April 1972 issue, Helen Gurley Brown, Francesco Scavullo, Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit, Boogie Nights, Academy Award, Golden Globe, Raquel Welch, Conan O'Brien, Facebook apology, Meta, box office star, celebrity image, sexual revolution, masculinity, Hollywood, Jupiter, Florida, Burton Leon Reynolds Jr., regret, career mistake, stage career.
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