Reed was named a “Certified Guitar Player” by Chet Atkins and was only one of four people to earn the award for completely mastering guitar. As an actor he starred as Cledus Snow in the Smokey and the Bandit film franchise and also starred in the movies Gator, High-Ballin’, Hot Stuff, The Survivors, and The Waterboy. He won a People’s Choice Award in 1979 for Favorite Motion Picture Supporting Actor. Jerry Reed passed away on September 1, 2008 at 71 years old.