Let me tell you a story about two legends, Burt Reynolds and Dinah Shore. Burt knew something special about Dinah—she let him win at tennis. And guess what? That made him love her even more. In 2017, Burt opened up to Closer, saying, “Dinah was a much better tennis player than me, but she would pretend not to be good and let me win sometimes.” He went on to share how important she was to him. “She was incredibly important. We were the best of friends and very close throughout her life.”

How It All Began: The Meeting That Sparked a Romance

Their story started in 1970 when Burt appeared on Dinah’s first talk show, Dinah’s Place. Despite a 19-year age gap, the connection was immediate. Burt was smitten and, on a whim, invited her to spend a weekend with him in Palm Springs. Now, Dinah, who was 53 at the time and had been through two divorces, politely declined. But fate had other plans, and they eventually met up in Chicago. Dinah believed that love knows no age. “A human relationship has nothing to do with chronology. It has to do with chemistry,” she said. And boy, did they have chemistry.

A Sweet, Low-Key Romance

Over the next four years, Burt and Dinah enjoyed a sweet and private romance. They lived what Dinah called a “comfortable, ordinary life” together. Picture this: they spent countless hours playing tennis and golf. Burt joked about his preference for athletic lovers, saying, “I always wanted a jock for a lover.” They bonded over their shared Southern roots and their similar career paths. It was clear that they had a lot in common, which only deepened their connection.

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Advice from a Legend

During this time, Burt’s star was rising rapidly, and Dinah, who had been one of the most popular female recording artists of the 1940s, had invaluable insight to share. “She had experienced all that I was just going through, and she gave me some great advice,” Burt recalled. He took her advice seriously, whether he believed it or not, and it paid off. “In the end, she was always right,” he admitted. Dinah’s wisdom was a guiding light for Burt as he navigated his newfound fame.

Burt Reynolds Dinah Shore Photos — Everett/Shutterstock

Facing the Spotlight

Once the press caught wind of their relationship, Burt and Dinah became tabloid fodder. But they tried their best to ignore it. “There was so much speculation about us. I never could understand the preoccupation with it,” Dinah admitted. They made a pact not to read anything written about them. “At least 90 percent of it wasn’t true,” she said. Despite the scrutiny, they stayed true to themselves and focused on their love.

The End of an Era

As time went on, it became clear that they were at different stages in their lives. Dinah had already raised two children with her ex-husband, actor and stuntman George Montgomery, whom she divorced in 1963 after nearly two decades of marriage. Burt, on the other hand, was divorced from Laugh-In star Judy Carne and was eager to start a family. “We couldn’t have been more in love. But there was a snag. Dinah wouldn’t marry me,” Burt said. Dinah explained that it was because she couldn’t give him children, but they could have adopted. Still, Dinah felt that there had to be an end date on their relationship. “I don’t want to grow old in his arms,” she reportedly told a friend.

Life After Love

Dinah never remarried, but Burt went on to wed Loni Anderson in 1988, and together they adopted the son he longed for, Quinton. But Burt never forgot Dinah and often said she had been the love of his life. They remained friends until her death in 1994. “My biggest regret is parting ways with her; it was so stupid of me,” Burt admitted before his passing in 2018. “We were soulmates. … I was so lucky to have had someone like that in my life. She was so young of heart and spirit in every way.”

For more on this touching story, grab the latest issue of Closer magazine, available now at newsstands.