NATCHEZ — The world lost a class act when actor Burt Reynolds died, local actor Ritchie Montgomery said Thursday evening.

The death of film and television star known for his performances in commercial hits such as “Smokey and the Bandit” and for acclaimed performances in “Deliverance” and “Boogie Nights” was confirmed Thursday by his agent Todd Eisner.

Montgomery said he was saddened when he heard the news.

“For us Southerners, he was our Marlon Brando,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery said he was thankful that he had opportunities to work with Reynolds on the CBS television series, “Evening Shade,” in the early 1990s and two feature-length movies, “The Dukes of Hazard” in 2005 and “Deal” in 2008.

As an actor who has worked with countless actors and actresses in many films and television shows, Montgomery said Reynolds was one-of-a-kind.

“He was a class act,” Montgomery said. “The man called me by my first name every time he saw me.”

One of the things that made Reynolds special, Montgomery said, was that he was willing to share his love of acting with him and other actors.

Montgomery said he and Reynolds would have long talks on the set of “Evening Shade” where CBS built a workout room for Reynolds.

“We talked about acting many times and he gave me pointers,” Montgomery said. “He told me to just do your thing, be real and have fun.”

In his house in Natchez, Montgomery looked at pictures and memorabilia Thursday from the films he made with Reynolds. In one photo from “The Dukes of Hazard,” Reynolds, dressed as Boss Hogg, has his arm around Montgomery, dressed in the deputy costume of the character he played. Written on the photo are the words “To my man Ritchie. Your friend always Burt Reynolds.”

“He was just a wonderful human being. He made me a better human being,” Montgomery said. “It is a sad day for me to know that there is no Burt Reynolds in the world today.”