Burt Reynolds was such a screen icon that even the list of roles he turned down is legendary, from James Bond to Han Solo

Following the forgettable tenure of George Lazenby as James Bond in 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli went to Reynolds to be the next 007. But Reynolds felt an American couldn't pull off the role. He feels differently now.

"I think I was putting myself down in a way, because I think I could have done it very well," Reynolds said. "Though once you do something like that and it's successful you're bound to play that part for a long time. I think I would have liked it. I like that kind of tongue-in-cheek humor."

Broccoli instead was able to get the first Bond, Sean Connery, to reprise the role, paying him a then-record $1.25 million salary.

James L. Brooks specifically wrote the role of womanizing retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove in 1983's "Terms of Endearment" for Reynolds, but the actor turned him down. (Legend has it he chose the NASCAR comedy "Stroker Ace" instead.)

Brooks went with Jack Nicholson, who took home a best supporting actor Oscar for the role. (Reynolds has never won an Oscar.)

"I regret that one most of all because it was a real acting part," Reynolds said. "I wish I would have done it, and thinking back now, it was really a stupid decision, but I made a lot of stupid decisions in that period. It must have been my stupid period."

Before Richard Gere, Reynolds was offered the part of businessman Edward Lewis, who falls in love Julia Roberts' prostitute-with-a-heart-of-gold character in "Pretty Woman."

We admitted to Reynolds that it would have been a weird choice to see him in this role opposite Roberts.

"I agree," he replied.