Burt Reynolds has me to thank for his career, says lecturer
Superstar Burt Reynolds owed his worldwide stardom to a lecturer at Paisley College of Technology.
Dr Konrad Hopkins “discovered” Reynolds when he was an out-of-luck football player at Florida State University.
“Why not try acting?,” he suggested.
“Are you crazy?” replied Reynolds.
But eventually he did – and a star was born, we reported in May 1981.
Millions of women all over the world could be grateful to the quiet academic, who had lived and taught in Paisley for the past 14 years.
Reynolds was 18 years old and studying to be a professional footballer when he first met Dr Hopkins at Florida State.
The academic was a 27-yearold graduate student and part-time lecturer.
His job was to teach English to the football team.
He admitted: “When I first met Burt he had never read a book in his life.”
A promising career as a football star ended when he aggravated an on-the-field injury in a car crash that almost killed him.
Said 53-year-old Dr Hopkins: “As well as lecturing the team, I also acted as their adviser.
“At that time, Burt had no other ambition in life than to be a professional football player.
“When he came to me after the accident, he was deeply worried about his future.
“He thought I was crazy when I suggested he try acting.
“But I finally persuaded him to read some books.”
Dr Hopkins explained why he recommended acting.
“He very much resembled Marlon Brando at that time,” he said.
“I could sense that this was a young man with tremendous possibilities.”