During their relationship, Burt Reynolds met Sally Field's mom, and the two had a private conversation. Margaret Field knew her daughter's romance was doomed, and Reynolds' told the story to People. "She said, 'Now I know you're going to break her heart, but please be gentle.' I said, 'I don't know how you could break somebody's heart and be gentle, but I don't intend to break her heart.' You never intend to."

Reynolds and Field were steady for three years, and off-and-on for an additional two, but the relationship had a lasting effect for both. Field told NPR, "He was a very important part of my life, but for a tiny little part of my life," while Reynolds confessed to the Daily Mail his biggest disappointment was losing his leading lady. "I did four movies with Sally and spent five years with her. She was the love of my life and I screwed the relationship up."

Field, 31 to Reynolds' 41 when they appeared in "Smokey and the Bandit," was already a mom of two when she began dating her co-star. During their relationship, Reynolds talked about marriage and having his own kid with Field. However, the flirty actor, who once had a reputation for being a ladies' man, began to wander, and rumors of him cheating eventually soured the relationship.