Behind the Scenes: Burt Reynolds’ Infamous GTA Vice City Fallout
Burt Reynolds’ turbulent stint on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City left a lasting mark on Rockstar Games, prompting a rethink of their approach to celebrity voice casting.
Fame can sometimes go to one’s head, and few embodied this more than Burt Reynolds. By the early 1980s, his days as a leading man were largely behind him, yet his reputation for being a handful on set endured. While not universally disliked, Reynolds had a knack for falling out with colleagues, and his outspoken nature led to more than a few heated rows—some even turning physical. In his later years, he was more often seen in straight-to-video productions, television films, or making the odd cameo. Still, his legacy is tied to classics like Smokey and the Bandit, Deliverance, and The Cannonball Run, rather than his less celebrated projects.
As technology advanced, a new avenue opened for actors—video games. Improved graphics and more complex characters meant studios began seeking out recognisable names to voice their creations, hoping to generate buzz and boost sales. Reynolds joined this trend in 2002, lending his voice to Avery Carrington in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The cast was packed with notable names—Dennis Hopper, Ray Liotta, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Danny Trejo, and Debbie Harry among them. Yet, it was Reynolds who proved the most challenging.
Clashing Egos in the Recording Booth
Dan Houser, producer and co-founder of Rockstar Games, later reflected on the difficulties of working with established stars.
“I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, poor bugger,”
he remarked,
“But we don’t bring in name actors anymore because of their egos.”
During recording, director Navid Khonsari bore the brunt of Reynolds’ temperament. When asked to repeat a line, Reynolds refused unless he received some encouragement.
“You know, you need to give people an ‘atta boy,”
he insisted.
“People do something good, you gotta give them an ‘atta boy.”
Bemused but determined, Khonsari obliged, keen to keep the session moving.
The atmosphere in the studio was far from comfortable. With the heat rising, Reynolds began to sweat so much that a new shirt was required. His manager dashed out to buy one, and when Houser informed him,
“your shirt’s here,”
Reynolds took offence.
“There’s going to be two hits here,”
he shot back.
“Me hitting you, and you hitting the floor!”
Houser was so incensed he considered removing Reynolds from the project altogether, but Khonsari managed to calm the situation.
Aftermath and Lasting Impact
Once the recording wrapped, both director and producer were relieved to see the back of him.
“We got the performance,”
Khonsari told Houser.
“He’s a total cock, but let’s move on.”
The experience left such a mark that Rockstar Games decided to scale back their use of Hollywood talent in future titles.
In a twist of fate, Avery Carrington returned in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, but this time, the character had no lines and met an unceremonious end—killed off and devoured by a cannibal. Whether coincidence or not, it was a rather pointed send-off for a character, and perhaps, for the actor’s involvement in the franchise.