9/16/2009

in

The "Smokey and the Bandit" star has been admitted into an unknown rehab to fight his battle against pain pill addiction.

Sara Eason

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73-year-old Burt Reynolds has had a slew of injuries during his fruitful acting career, which had led him to an addiction to pain killers. His representative blames it on a recent back surgery though.  
  
"After a recent back surgery, Mr. Reynolds felt like he was going through hell and after a while, realized he was a prisoner of prescription pain pills … He checked himself into rehab in order to regain control of his life," Reynolds' representative and manager Erik Kritzer said in a short statement Wednesday according to [CNN](http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/16/burt.reynolds.rehab).  
  
Reynolds had a jaw injury in the '80s while making "City Heat," a comedy with Clint Eastwood. The injury resulted in Reynolds becoming addicted to painkillers and losing more than 50 pounds. Soon rumors began to float around that he had AIDS. He was then diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder which causes him daily jaw pain.  
  
"Mr. Reynolds hopes his story will help others in a similar situation," Kritzer added. Sources:[msnbc](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32881098/ns/entertainment-access_hollywood/), [CNN](http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/16/burt.reynolds.rehab/),