Jerry Reed, Singer/Actor: 1937 – 2008
Jerry Reed died Monday of complications due to emphysema. He was a huge part of a certain period of my movie-going eduction: the 1970s drive-in years. Primarily I remember him from Gator, W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings, Hot Stuff and of course, his turn as trucker Cledus “Snowman” Snow in the immortal Smokey and the Bandit.
He wasn’t an actor blessed with a wide range, but he brought an easy, laid back charm that was the perfect compliment to the car chases and smart-ass charisma of Burt Reynolds.
Best of all of course is his Bandit theme song East Bound and Down. Here’s a clip of Smokey and the Bandit that doesn’t include much of Cledus, but you get a taste of the song and that’s the best part.
Source: AP. Thanks to Alison for the heads up.
Filed under: News, Obituaries
Tags: Jerry Reed, Smokey and the Bandit
Definitely a laid-back and easy charm and added some real comic moments to the movies he was in. He wrote and sang some great tunes, too.
Bandit goes without saying of course, but he was also hilarious as the assassin who claimed credit for the death of Jimmy Hoffa in The Survivors, a less-than-stellar but very comedic film with Walter Matthau and Robin Williams. Not the high-point of Matthau’s career but there were some funny moments in the film.
RIP, Jerry.
I totally forgot about Survivors.
It was a funny movie. And in some ways very sad.
He was before my time, but I do like him in Smokey and the Bandit. RIP.