Legendary actor, director, and Sundance Film Festival founder Robert Redford has passed away at the age of 89. The Academy Award-winning star, whose career spanned more than six decades, died peacefully at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by loved ones, according to his publicist Cindi Berger.
In a heartfelt statement, Berger said:
“Robert Redford passed away on September 16 at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”
Remembering a Hollywood Legend
Redford’s career was filled with timeless roles in some of cinema’s most celebrated classics, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All the President’s Men, and Out of Africa.
The actor, who also became an influential filmmaker, won an Academy Award for Best Director in 1980 for his work on Ordinary People. In 2018, he announced his retirement from acting, noting that he was “tired of acting” and ready to focus on other creative pursuits.
Tributes from Co-Stars and Hollywood Icons
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry. Actress Meryl Streep, who starred with Redford in Out of Africa, called him “one of the lions of Hollywood” and said, “Rest in peace my lovely friend.”
Jane Fonda, who shared the screen with Redford in Barefoot in the Park, said she was devastated by the news:
“It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way.”
Director Ron Howard remembered him as “a tremendously influential cultural figure and artistic gamechanger.” Actor Colman Domingo, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Leonardo DiCaprio also shared moving tributes, with DiCaprio calling him an “actor, activist, passionate environmentalist, and champion of the arts.”
From Rising Star to Hollywood Powerhouse
Robert Redford’s breakout role came in 1969 with the release of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a film that catapulted both him and co-star Paul Newman to global fame. Despite being labeled a heartthrob, Redford once said he never felt comfortable with the attention focused on his looks:
“People have been so busy relating to how I look, it’s a miracle I didn’t become a self-conscious blob of protoplasm,” he told New York magazine.
He reunited with Newman for The Sting in 1973, another box-office success that is now considered a cinematic classic.
Sundance Film Festival: Redford’s Gift to Filmmakers
Perhaps one of Redford’s greatest contributions to the entertainment world was the founding of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. Launched as a platform for independent filmmakers, Sundance has grown into one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.
In a 2014 interview, Redford explained his vision:
“We started Sundance as a place to come and develop new artists, with the ambition of creating a community and giving them a platform for their work. Our mission has not changed.”
Sundance has been instrumental in launching acclaimed films like Manchester by the Sea, Little Miss Sunshine, The Blair Witch Project, and the 2022 Best Picture Oscar winner CODA.
Directing, Producing, and Advocacy
Beyond acting, Redford became a respected director and producer, with credits including A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, and The Horse Whisperer. He was also a passionate advocate for environmental causes, using his influence to raise awareness on issues related to conservation and climate change.
Family and Personal Life
Redford leaves behind his wife, Sibylle Szaggars, whom he married in 2009. He was previously married to historian Lola Van Wagenen, with whom he had four children. Tragically, his first son, Scott, died in infancy, and another son, James, passed away from cancer in 2020. He is survived by his two daughters, Shauna, an artist, and Amy, a filmmaker.
A Lasting Legacy
Robert Redford was more than just a film star – he was a pioneer, an activist, and a visionary. His work both in front of and behind the camera shaped generations of actors, directors, and film lovers. His legacy will continue to live on through the films he made, the festival he built, and the countless lives he inspired.
As Hollywood mourns one of its brightest stars, the world remembers Robert Redford as a man whose talent, charm, and commitment to storytelling transformed cinema forever.
Sources: BBC
