8 Actors who turned down the role of James Bond: Rod Taylor, Richard Johnson, and more

One of the biggest box office stars of the 1970s, best known for ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ and ‘Deliverance’, Reynolds was approached to replace Sean Connery but declined out of concern that the public would not accept an American in the role. In a 2015 interview with USA Today, he admitted, “It was a stupid thing to say, I could’ve done it, and I could’ve done it well,” reflecting on a decision he clearly never fully made peace with. It remains one of Hollywood’s most openly regretted decisions.Burt Reynolds

One of the biggest box office stars of the 1970s, best known for ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ and ‘Deliverance’, Reynolds was approached to replace Sean Connery but declined out of concern that the public would not accept an American in the role. In a 2015 interview with USA Today, he admitted, “It was a stupid thing to say, I could’ve done it, and I could’ve done it well,” reflecting on a decision he clearly never fully made peace with. It remains one of Hollywood’s most openly regretted decisions.