Their romance began in 1977 while filming the hit action-comedy Smokey and the Bandit. Reynolds was already one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and was reportedly determined to have Field cast opposite him, even after others questioned whether she was right for the role.
According to Reynolds, he strongly advocated for Field after she was initially dismissed as not being “sexy” enough for the part. His support paid off, and the film became a massive success, launching one of the era’s most beloved on-screen pairings.
As audiences watched the chemistry between the two stars, they were also witnessing a real-life romance unfold. Reynolds and Field went on to appear together in several more films, including Hooper and The End, becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable couples.
Field later admitted that Reynolds made her feel attractive and confident, and she often wanted to look her best when they were together. But behind the glamorous public image, the relationship was far more complicated than many fans realized.
Over time, Field said she began to lose herself in the relationship. Reflecting on those years, she explained that she eventually stopped “existing” as her own person. After about five years together, the couple ended their relationship.
Despite the breakup, Reynolds never hid his feelings for Field. For years afterward, he continued to speak publicly about her with affection, often referring to her as the greatest love of his life.
In interviews later in life, Reynolds admitted he regretted how their relationship ended. Speaking in 2015, he called Field “the love of my life” and acknowledged that he believed he was largely responsible for their separation.
A year later, he admitted that the pain of losing her had never truly disappeared.
“The sense of loss never goes away,” he said.
Reynolds also revealed that the two had never reconnected after their breakup. Although they remained apart, he said he had heard through Field’s son that she occasionally spoke kindly about him, something that gave him comfort.
Field, however, largely avoided discussing Reynolds publicly while he was alive.
After Reynolds died of a heart attack in September 2018 at the age of 82, Field reflected on their relationship with honesty and compassion. She said she was always touched whenever he spoke warmly about her, but described him as a deeply complicated person.
When news of his passing broke, she released a statement saying that Reynolds would always remain part of her history and in her heart.
Around the same time, Field published her memoir, In Pieces, in which she offered her most detailed account of their relationship.
In the book, she described Reynolds as “confusing, complicated and hurtful,” while also acknowledging that there had been genuine love between them. She explained that she didn’t write about him to criticize or embarrass him, and admitted she was relieved he would never have to read the book or respond to its contents.
Field recalled that Reynolds’ enormous fame had already begun affecting him by the time they met. She wrote that his behavior sometimes became controlling and that the relationship reflected unhealthy patterns they both brought into it.
Looking back, she described them as “a match of flaws.”
She also revealed that reports of Reynolds’ alleged infidelity had been deeply painful. She remembered feeling humiliated when family members called her after hearing stories about his supposed cheating, leaving her feeling betrayed and embarrassed.
Although Reynolds continued speaking fondly about her throughout the years, Field chose not to resume contact. She later confirmed that the two had not spoken for roughly 30 years before his death.
According to Field, Reynolds often tried to communicate with her through interviews and public comments rather than privately, something she said had also happened during their relationship.
Even so, she never denied the importance of the chapter they shared.
Their romance may not have had a fairy-tale ending, but it left a lasting mark on both of their lives. Reynolds carried regret over losing the woman he believed was his greatest love, while Field remembered both the affection they shared and the emotional difficulties that ultimately drove them apart.
Today, their relationship remains one of Hollywood’s most talked-about love stories—not because it ended happily, but because both stars eventually spoke candidly about its joys, its pain, and the lasting impact it had on them long after the romance was over.