Charlotte, the Asian elephant in Smokey and the Bandit II, was portrayed by an elephant named Cora. Cora was owned by Bill and Cindy Morris of Elephant Encounter. Bill was a second generation elephant trainer.
Cora is 62 years old, but when she was much younger she starred alongside legendary actors Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. Cora played “Charlotte” in “Smokey and the Bandit II” in 1980. Today, she spends her days at the Topeka Zoo with an African elephant named Tembo.
What happened to the elephant from Smokey and the Bandit 2?
Cora, the elephant who portrayed Charlotte in Smokey and the Bandit 2, now resides at the Topeka Zoo and will be on hand in the guest area to give fans of the classic film a chance to meet the stars and take photos.
Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) - That's An Elephant! Scene (1/10) | Movieclips
Why was Smokey and the Bandit 2 so bad?
A sequel to "Smokey and the Bandit" was inevitable, and the original set the stage quite nicely. But this movie opens with the gang scattered and the actors seem to be playing cartoon versions of their characters. None of the charm or humor of the first movie is present this time around.
Why did Burt Reynolds leave Smokey and the Bandit 3?
Original "Smokey and the Bandit" director Hal Needham and its big star Burt Reynolds were not interested in making this movie as they were developing another project, Stroker Ace (1983). Reynolds ended up making a very brief cameo appearance though, in the final scene.
An elephant christened by activists as one of the world's "saddest" has died at a Philippine zoo, where she lived almost all her life alone in a pen. Tributes have poured in for Mali, who was the star attraction at Manila Zoo for four decades and much beloved.
Activists led by Cher fought for several years to free Kaavan from the zoo and bring him to sanctuary. Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary served as his best destination where he lives the best life of any captive elephant in the world.
On December 4, 2023, Arjuna, a 64-year-old Kumki elephant known for carrying the golden howdah, lost its life in a confrontation with a wild elephant at the Yesalur range forest in Sakleshpura taluk of Hassan district.
There is a Basset Hound in the Smokey and the Bandit movie series. The dog, Fred, was personally picked by lead actor Burt Reynolds because it refused to obey commands.
How much did Sally Field get paid for Smokey and the Bandit?
It is not known how much Sally Field was paid for her role in Smokey and the Bandit. However, it is known that the budget was a meager $4.3 million and star Burt Reynolds was paid $1 million. As a result, it is likely Field was paid in the tens of thousands to low hundreds of thousands for the role.
What roller coaster was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit?
After critics panned the film and his work as Director, Hal Needham took out a full page ad in 'Variety' depicting himself sitting on a wheelbarrow full of cash. The roller coaster destroyed in the movie is the old "Greyhound" coaster that was located at the Lakewood Fairgrounds in Atlanta, Georgia.
As of 2023, Myanmar possesses ten captive white elephants, which are in the custody of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation's Forest Department. Three white elephants are currently held in a pavilion near the Kyauktawgyi Buddha Temple in Yangon.
"Because of indifference and greed, Mali the elephant died the same way she had lived for nearly 50 years: alone in a concrete pen at the Manila Zoo,” People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) Asia wrote in a statement.
Asian elephants loudly mourn and bury their dead calves, according to a study by Indian scientists that details animal behavior reminiscent of human funeral rites.
On January 4, 1903, Topsy was killed in front of 1,500 spectators at Coney Island's Luna Park by poisoning, followed by electrocution using an AC electrical current facilitated by electricians from a company bearing Thomas Edison's name, though Edison himself was not directly involved in the execution.
Mary (c. 1894–September 13, 1916), also known as "Murderous Mary", was a five-ton Asian elephant who performed in the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. After killing circus employee Walter “Red” Eldridge on his second day as her handler in September 1916, in Kingsport, Tennessee, she was hanged in nearby Erwin.
How much of his own stunt driving did Burt Reynolds do in Smokey & The Bandit? Some. Some of it was done by Hal Needham-Burt's longtime stunt double, who also directed “Bandit”.
Sally Field is sharing more about what she says happened in her relationship with the late Burt Reynolds. The Academy Award winning actress dated Reynolds for about five years back in the 1970s.
