Burt Reynolds in rehab for pain pill addiction

Rep says actor ‘felt like he was going through hell’ and sought treatment

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Burt Reynolds hopes his truthfulness will encourage others to get help, his rep said.

LOS ANGELES - Burt Reynolds has checked himself into rehab, a rep for the star confirmed to Access Hollywood on Wednesday.

“After a recent back surgery, Mr. Reynolds felt like he was going through hell and after a while, realized he was a prisoner of prescription pain pills,” the rep said in a statement to Access. “He checked himself into rehab in order to regain control of his life.”

The 73-year-old “Smokey and the Bandit” star also hoped his truthfulness will encourage others to get help as well.

“Mr. Reynolds hopes his story will help others in a similar situation,” the statement continued. “He hopes they will not try to solve the problem by themselves, but realize that sometimes it is too tough to do on their own and they should seek help, as he did.”

Reynolds starred in such critically acclaimed pictures as 1972's “Deliverance” and 1997's “Boogie Nights.” He also had a hit TV show in the 1990s with “Evening Shade.”