Our family really didn't have a car; we had my dad's police cruiser. Later he got a Buick, and that's what I was driving when I had a wreck. I'm luck….

There are no awards in Hollywood for being an idiot..

It was a bit of a lark when I agreed to do [Smokey and the Bandit], and I knew we'd have fun if we could get Jackie Gleason..

The most important thing to remember is: to protect your quarterback - ME!.

I regret that I do not have the dignity of Ricardo Montalban, the class of Dean Martin, or the humor of Bill Cosby. I do have the heart of a lion..

Smokey and the Bandit was the first picture [Hal Needham ] directed, and I knew he could handle it. I had just directed Gator, and he saw my style an….

Friends come in herds and they leave in herds. Hollywood loves an adventure, but you have to hit bottom. Then they love to save you and be a part of ….

The audience will always forgive you for being wrong and exciting, but never for being right and dull..

Trans Am sales went up 70 percent after Smokey and the Bandit, and I was promised a free car every year for life by the Pontiac president..

Gator [ McKlusky from White Lightning] was a criminal and a felon, but he had a good heart - he's probably a cousin to Bo. Bo was not a felon and def….

I love Stroker Ace. I love the whole team. Jim Nabors really stole the show, and Ned Beatty, well I've made more of my movies with Ned Beatty than an….

A fan is a fan is a friend no matter what current he/she/it operates on, AC or DC. Thanks for being one of mine..

I can tell a young person where the mines are, but he's probably going to step on them anyway..

The more the art dominated my life and my house, the more the house became a home..

All of the younger actors keep coming up to me and asking me where all of the land mines are because they know I've stepped on them all..

The best way not to fail again is to be absolutely positive that when you do it this time, you're going to do it right..

If you hold on to things long enough, they get back into style. Like me..

Jay Leno is wonderful and a good friend, but it will always be the Carson show to a lot of people..

Sometimes you have to lose yourself 'fore you can find anything..

Money doesn't buy happiness. It buys great hookers - but not happiness..

You get to a certain age, where you know you can't go over the wall, but I'll never get to the age where I can't go through it..