Buford T. Justice
Encyclopedia
Sheriff
Buford T. Justice is the fictional character
played by Jackie Gleason
in the movies Smokey and the Bandit
(1977), Smokey and the Bandit II
(1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
(1983). As a determined, foul-mouthed Texas
county sheriff, he chases the Bandit, played by Burt Reynolds
in the first two movies, across the southern United States
on several occasions with no success, sometimes being right next to Bandit without noticing it. According to Smokey and the Bandit II, he has two brothers, Gaylord Justice and Reginald Van Justice, both also played by Jackie Gleason.
In Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, Buford T. Justice claims to have chased the Bandit for over 3,000 miles and across 20 states, although the first two movies only show him chasing Bandit through 6-7 states. Buford also has a son who he only calls "Junior", played by Mike Henry.
' father, who himself was once Chief of Police of Jupiter, Florida
. His father was also the inspiration for the word "sumbitch" used in the movie, a phrase he reportedly uttered quite often, according to Reynolds. Jackie Gleason was given quite free rein over ad-libbing dialogue and making suggestions. In particular, the scene where Sheriff Justice unknowingly encounters the Bandit in the "choke and puke," was not in the original story, it was Gleason's idea.
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Buford T. Justice is the fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
played by Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
in the movies Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. It inspired several other trucking films, including two sequels, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3...
(1977), Smokey and the Bandit II
Smokey and the Bandit II
Smokey and the Bandit II is a comedy film released on August 15, 1980 in the United States. It is the sequel to the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit. The film stars Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason, and Dom DeLuise...
(1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 is the sequel to Smokey and the Bandit and Smokey and the Bandit II starring Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Paul Williams, Pat McCormick, Mike Henry and Colleen Camp...
(1983). As a determined, foul-mouthed Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
county sheriff, he chases the Bandit, played by Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
in the first two movies, across the southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
on several occasions with no success, sometimes being right next to Bandit without noticing it. According to Smokey and the Bandit II, he has two brothers, Gaylord Justice and Reginald Van Justice, both also played by Jackie Gleason.
In Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, Buford T. Justice claims to have chased the Bandit for over 3,000 miles and across 20 states, although the first two movies only show him chasing Bandit through 6-7 states. Buford also has a son who he only calls "Junior", played by Mike Henry.
Character Origin
"Buford T. Justice" was the name of a real Florida Highway Patrolman known to Burt ReynoldsBurt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
' father, who himself was once Chief of Police of Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. The estimate population for 2009 is 50,606. As of 2006, the population had grown to 50,028, according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research....
. His father was also the inspiration for the word "sumbitch" used in the movie, a phrase he reportedly uttered quite often, according to Reynolds. Jackie Gleason was given quite free rein over ad-libbing dialogue and making suggestions. In particular, the scene where Sheriff Justice unknowingly encounters the Bandit in the "choke and puke," was not in the original story, it was Gleason's idea.