Burt Reynolds Institute

Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum is the largest celebrity museum in Florida. Its glistening chandeliers, mirrored cases and theatrical lighting create a magical atmosphere.
Actor, Director, Emcee of the Oscars, Talk Show host and Super Star, Burt Reynolds is one of America's most famous celebrities. Friend to world leaders and Hollywood legends he has been romantically involved with some of the most beautiful and respected women of our time. The first star to be paid one million dollars per movie, he has been recognized for playing both drama and comedy. His lifetime collection of awards and personal gifts from his friends is now on display at the Burt Reynolds and Friends Museum in Jupiter, Florida. The collection includes the ..1 Box Office Star Award for five consecutive years (a record unmatched in Hollywood), an Emmy Award, 9 Peoples Choice Awards,(five for favorite motion picture actor, three for all around male entertainer), New York Film Critics Award, John Housman Award, and many others. Some of his philanthropic work has won him the Voice for Children award, the Tuss McLaughry Award, Eastman Kodak Second Century Award, and the Herbert Humphries Award. Locally, he has been inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame, and received the Providencia Award, Palm Beach County's top award. He was the Master of Ceremonies for the grand opening of the Kravis Center, and a thirty-acre county park is named in his honor. Other items included at the museum are high school, football, and acting trophies as well as a multitude of National, State and City proclamations, awards, citations and gold keys that fill the walls, attesting to the magnitude of the popularity Mr. Reynolds has held for half a century.
He has called Jupiter home for much of his career and his name has become synonymous with the Town. The Town's reputation as a cultural center can be directly attributed to the contributions he has made through the years. In everything he accomplished he always endeavored to bring Hollywood back home including many of his famous celebrity friends who he encouraged to visit and live in our area. He has brought his films home to Florida creating jobs and opportunities in the film industry for Florida residents. His B.L. Styker series brought more film dollars ($48 million) to Palm Beach County than any other film or series shot in the county.
Mr. Reynolds has played an important part in Jupiter's modern history and the impact he has had on our community is a vital part of that history. These historic memories are now preserved and shared with our citizens.
On April 26, 2002 the Town provided the museum with a lease on an unoccupied bank building that Jupiter owns. The location was perfect and a devoted group of local businesses, craftsmen, and artistic volunteers began transforming the building into a magnificent showcase to house Mr. Reynolds' collection.
Over the years, Mr Reynolds developed many educational as well as entertainment venues in our area, and in 1979 he created the Burt Reynolds Institute of Theater Training (BRITT), for young actors until it closed in 1997. The museum has begun to revive his efforts in creating educational opportunities for actors and film-makers, and in 2003 he personally taught two master acting classes for seasoned actors. He has also developed an outreach program for disadvantaged young actors. Some of the museums other educational efforts include a class on documentary film-making and screenwriting.