Burt Reynolds Calls Marrying Loni Anderson 'A Really Dumb Move'

They were one of Hollywood’s most glamorous ’80s couples, but Burt Reynolds says his marriage to Loni Anderson was a mistake.

“I should have known that you don’t marry an actress,” the star, 79, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.

“That was a really dumb move on my part.”

The Smokey and the Bandit actor – who recently spoke about his past romance with Sally Field, calling her the love of his life – writes about his marriage to the WKRP in Cincinnati star, 70, in his candid new memoir, But Enough About Me. They have a son, Quinton, 27, who works in film production.

“She bought everything in triplicate, from every day dresses to jewelry to china and linens,” he writes. ” ‘I never wear a dress after it has been photographed,’ ” she said. ” ‘I have to dress like a star.’ ”

“I gave her a platinum American Express card with a $45,000 credit limit. She maxed it out in half an hour.”

He writes that when the pair split, Princess Diana wrote him a thank-you note for “keeping her off the cover of PEOPLE magazine.”

For much more of PEOPLE’s interview with Burt Reynolds and an exclusive excerpt from his new memoir, pick up this week’s issue, on newsstands Friday

“It wasn’t lollipops and roses,” he says of the “ups and downs” in the relationship with Anderson.

What will she think of his book?

Says Reynolds: “She’ll be surprised it isn’t more of a hammer.”

For much more of PEOPLE’s interview with Burt Reynolds and an exclusive excerpt from his new memoir, pick up this week’s issue, on newsstands Friday