By: Mark Morrison
The Admired: Burt Reynolds, 64. Eternal sex symbol (and onetime Cosmopolitan centerfold), seventies box-office king, nineties comeback kid (on TV in Evening Shade and big screen in Boogie Nights). Stars in The Crew (opens August 25).
The Scene: William Daily Rare Books, Los Angeles. (Both men collect books.)
Wyle on Reynolds-The First Impression: "I remember when I first saw Smokey and the Bandit--I must have been 7. We all wanted black Trans Ams and mustaches. He was the first guy I ever saw who could be really funny and charming, yet very sensitive and really tough. So many stars play characters without a shred of vulnerability. I always felt Burt looks for vulnerability first."
The Lasting Influence: "I look for that underbelly of sensitivity--how to make a character accessible. Burt did that really well. The thing that's really attractive about him is that he looks like he loves what he's doing more that anything. It inspired me not to take acting so seriously--there's plenty of room for pathos, but it should be in the context of enjoying your life."
Reynolds on Wyle: "The best time for an actor is where Noah is now--the climb--when you're not as vulnerable as you are closer to the top. It's best when you keep climbing and don't bask in whatever light is--or isn't--there. My own [inspiration] was Montgomery Clift, and Noah [has the same] sweetness and shyness that come through in his work. Certain actors don't have to play strength--they already have it."
