Burt Reynolds told Sandy Duncan 'I wanted to kill you' over constant Barney repeats

Actress Sandy Duncan has recalled a humorous but shocking encounter with Burt Reynolds, who once told her he “wanted to kill” her because of how often her children’s show Barney was playing in his household.

Duncan, best known for her role in Barney and the Backyard Gang, shared the story during an interview reflecting on her brief time in the beloved children’s franchise that later became Barney & Friends.

“Burt Reynolds, I can’t say [where] exactly, but we were at a big gathering, one of those events, and somebody behind my back creeped up and whispered in my ear, ‘I wanted to kill you,’” Duncan said.

She explained that the actor was referring to the constant presence of Barney in his home due to his toddler son. Reynolds, who adopted his son Quinton with wife Loni Anderson in 1988, was among many parents who found the show inescapable during its peak popularity.

“He had a toddler, and he said, ‘All we have on television is you and Barney,’” Duncan recalled.

The actress also reflected on the overwhelming cultural impact of the show, which became a phenomenon despite its simple preschool format. Like many involved in children’s programming at the time, she noted the unexpected intensity of audience reactions, including frustration from parents.

While the comment from Reynolds was clearly made in a joking tone, it highlights how Barney became a defining, and sometimes exhausting, part of early childhood television culture for families in that era.