Robert Redford, Oscar winner and generational icon, dies at 89

Robert Redford, a beloved actor and director known for classics like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “All the President’s Men,” has passed away at the age of 89. He was a major figure in American cinema, earning acclaim for both his performances and his work behind the camera, including the award-winning film “Ordinary People.”

I was really saddened to hear about Robert Redford’s passing. For years, he was such a champion of independent movies, especially through the Sundance Institute, and helped so many filmmakers get their start. The news came out this morning that he passed away peacefully at his home in Utah.

Redford effortlessly embodied the spirit of post-war America through his acting choices and other work. As Newsweek observed, he particularly excelled at portraying complex, imperfectly heroic characters – the flawed American hero.

Robert Redford often excelled in roles that played with the contrast between his handsome, all-American appearance and his talent for portraying troubled, intense characters. From the brooding athlete in “Downhill Racer” to the idealistic but flawed politician in “The Candidate,” and even the charming outlaw in “Butch Cassidy,” Redford intentionally focused on the difference between how a character seemed and who they truly were.

He explained that he’s always been drawn to the complexities and shadows within characters. He often gets asked why he portrays so many characters who struggle to express themselves. His answer is that it’s a powerful way to show a character’s journey – by having them act out their feelings rather than simply stating them.

Director Sydney Pollack, who often worked with Robert Redford, described Redford’s appeal by saying he was subtle and understated. Instead of trying to impress viewers, Redford draws them in by letting them connect with him on their own terms.

Films like “Jeremiah Johnson,” “Downhill Racer,” “The Candidate,” and “Ordinary People” – all favorites of his – often showed Redford exploring how people are shaped, and sometimes damaged, by the worlds around them. He continued this theme later in his career with “All is Lost,” where he played a troubled sailor lost at sea. Remarkably, Redford was the sole actor in the film and spoke only 51 words, but still received a Golden Globe nomination.

Robert Redford successfully transformed himself throughout his career – sometimes a witty comedian, other times a classic leading man, and always a reliable box office success. He also became a major force in independent filmmaking and a passionate advocate for film preservation, building his fame on his appealing personality and taking advantage of the changing studio system to become a leading figure in independent cinema.

Robert Redford, a thoughtful and visually skilled filmmaker, consistently championed environmental issues both in his films and through his activism. He advocated for causes like Native American rights, opposed offshore oil drilling, and raised awareness about global warming.

In a 2007 interview with Playboy, Robert Redford explained that he’d stopped believing films could truly change people’s lives or political views. He realized that Americans generally prefer entertainment as a distraction and aren’t seeking deeper meaning in it.

Originally from Santa Monica, he eventually left Los Angeles for the Rocky Mountains, using his first substantial earnings to buy land. He explained to biographer Michael Feeney Callan that he was saddened by Los Angeles losing its natural, countryside character and becoming dominated by pollution and industry.

Born in Santa Monica in 1936, Charles Redford Jr. came from a working-class background and was raised in a predominantly Latino area of South Los Angeles.

In 2007, Redford explained to The Times that during the war, there was a strong sense of community, with everyone working together and making sacrifices. But when World War II ended, things quickly changed. A focus on social class emerged, and a palpable sense of resentment began to build.

Charles Schulz’s father, Charles Sr., made it a weekly tradition to take the family to the Santa Monica Public Library, and young “Charlie” loved reading about Greek myths there. The family enjoyed simple pleasures like comic strips and the radio, and sometimes his mother, Martha, would take him to see a movie at the Aero Theater.

I was so moved by what he shared about his childhood. He described a tough time, saying everyone struggled back then. He found escape and inspiration in the library, discovering mythology that really shaped him. But what struck me most was how people connected – it wasn’t through screens, but through simple things like the radio and the Sunday funnies! He remembered rushing to get the comics, and it made me realize how much those shared experiences meant to him – and how connected he felt to everyone around him, even without realizing it at the time.

The family moved to Van Nuys but Redford found it sterile and loathed his new neighborhood.

He earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Colorado in 1954, but quickly lost his place on the team due to alcohol. He then spent a short time studying painting in Paris before returning to the United States to become an actor.

He explained that he believes a desire to express himself publicly led him to become an actor. He loves the experience of performing, even though it can be both incredibly difficult and wonderfully rewarding, and he encourages others to feel the same way.

Looking back at Robert Redford’s early career, it’s a familiar story for actors of his generation. He really paid his dues, starting with the typical rounds of 1960s television – you know, shows like “Playhouse 90,” “Perry Mason,” “Play of the Week,” and even a turn on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” He was also hustling for any stage work he could find. By 1962, he’d landed a memorable role on “The Twilight Zone” and even appeared in a smaller, gritty war film called “War Hunt,” which, interestingly enough, also featured Sydney Pollack – a name we’d be hearing a lot more of later.

The director, known for love stories that often touched on political issues, worked with Robert Redford many times and directed him for the first time in the 1966 film, “This Property is Condemned.”

Robert Redford was a little-known actor when he landed his first big role in his 20s. Director Mike Nichols chose him to star in Neil Simon’s popular Broadway comedy, “Barefoot in the Park.” The play, which debuted in 1963, was a success, and Redford quickly gained attention, with many comparing him to the famous actor Cary Grant.

Landing that role in the play really opened things up for me – it led to being in the movie version of ‘Barefoot in the Park’ with Jane Fonda, and honestly, that’s when I started getting recognized as a leading man. It was a huge break!

He truly became a major star after teaming up with Paul Newman in the 1969 hit “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” His character in the film actually inspired the name of his yearly film festival. The movie, about two likable outlaws whose time is passing, became the most successful Western ever made, and it showcased the incredible comedic chemistry between the two actors.

Redford shared that making the film was the most enjoyable experience of his career, and it led to a lasting friendship with Newman.

We really connected while making that movie, and everything just seemed to click after that. It wasn’t about long conversations, but we had a great time working together. Honestly, I feel like I owe a huge part of my career to Paul.

After the success of “Butch Cassidy,” Redford starred in the 1969 film “Downhill Racer” and the 1972 comedy “The Hot Rock.” He collaborated with director Sydney Pollack again on “Jeremiah Johnson,” playing a frontiersman targeted by a bitter enemy. In 1973, Redford also began producing films, starting with “The Candidate,” a sharply critical and humorous look at political campaigns. This film cemented his reputation as a respected actor and won an Academy Award for its screenplay.

Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand starred together in the popular 1973 film, “The Way We Were,” marking Redford’s return to romantic leading roles. He played Hubbell, a man perfectly comfortable with the differences between them and Streisand’s character, Katie – the pair quickly became one of the most discussed couples in movies that year. The film was a major success, earning Academy Awards for its original song and music score, as well as a Grammy for the top song from a film.

In the 1973 film “The Sting,” he reunited with Newman, playing a pair of con artists seeking revenge on a powerful gangster. The movie was a huge success, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and marked a high point in the actor’s career, earning him his only nomination for a leading actor Oscar for his effortless performance.

Redford’s successful run continued with the 1976 film “All the President’s Men,” where he and Dustin Hoffman played Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. The movie was a critical and commercial hit, winning four Academy Awards, including awards for William Goldman’s screenplay and Jason Robards’ performance as editor Ben Bradlee. It was one of the year’s biggest films, appeared on the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest movies ever made, and was immediately praised as a classic by film critic Charles Champlin.

After the 1972 Watergate burglary, when links to President Nixon’s White House surfaced, Robert Redford persuaded journalist Bob Woodward to meet him secretly in Washington, D.C. Woodward later admitted to Redford that he initially suspected a trap, thinking Redford wasn’t genuine. As Redford recalled in a 2006 interview with The Times, the Watergate figures were incredibly paranoid, aware they were under surveillance.

Even before the book was finished, while the story was still developing, Redford contacted the reporters and secured the film rights for $450,000 through Warner Bros. in 1974.

In 1978, Robert Redford, along with Sterling Van Wagenen, John Earle, and Cirina Hampton, started the U.S. Film Festival in Utah. Redford’s wife, Lola Van Wagenen – Sterling’s cousin, whom he married in 1958 – was fond of Utah, and Redford purchased property there in the 1970s.

Robert Redford founded the Sundance Institute in 1981 as a place for developing new films and theater projects on his Utah land. It helped launch movies like “El Norte,” “Heartland,” and the Academy Award-winning “The Trip to Bountiful.” Redford intentionally kept a low profile at the festival, wanting to ensure the focus remained on the filmmakers and their work.

Honestly, something that’s really worried me over the last decade is how the movie business has become so focused in the hands of a few big players. What I’ve always valued most is the variety of voices and stories we see, and that’s exactly why I created Sundance. I wanted it to be a place where fresh ideas and new talent could really grow and get a chance.

In 1984, the institute rebranded the U.S. Film Fest as Sundance. Robert Redford, as honorary chairman, strongly supported independent films, which were central to the festival and the organization’s mission. He also hosted an annual brunch for directors, which became a well-known event for emerging filmmakers and a valuable chance to connect with others in the industry.

During the 1980s, Robert Redford appeared to focus on quality over quantity, taking on projects that allowed for deeper artistic exploration. This shift led to his critically acclaimed directorial debut, 1980’s “Ordinary People,” which he adapted from Judith Guest’s novel. The film explored the hidden struggles within a seemingly perfect, affluent family. Redford received significant recognition for his work on the film, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and the Directors Guild of America’s highest honor, among other accolades.

Redford continued with roles in “The Milagro Bean Field War” and then “The Natural,” a baseball film adapted from Bernard Malamud’s novel. In 1985, he starred opposite Meryl Streep in Sydney Pollack’s successful romance, “Out of Africa,” which won seven Academy Awards, though critics weren’t impressed with his acting. The following year, he appeared in the poorly received romantic comedy “Legal Eagles” alongside Debra Winger and Darryl Hannah.

Despite being a famous actor, Robert Redford largely kept to himself. He primarily lived in Utah and the Napa Valley, and he and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenan, raised their four children in New York before their divorce in 1985. He later married German artist Sybille Szaggers in Germany in 2009.

Back in 1990, when “Havana” came out, Robert Redford did something he rarely did – he opened up about his personal life for an NBC documentary. He agreed to it as a way to get the word out about the film, and honestly, it was a surprising move for such a private guy.

I used to believe strongly in letting my work define me, and I still prefer that. I’ve always kept my personal life separate from my public persona, and I feel that’s important. While I perform for the public, I don’t feel I owe them my personal life.

‘Havana’ was the last of the seven films they made together. It was a large-scale romantic movie, aiming for the feel of ‘Casablanca,’ but it was released during a busy time of year, competing with popular films like ‘Hamlet’ and ‘The Godfather Part III.’

Despite his initial reservations about casting Robert Redford, director Pollack acknowledged the actor’s natural elegance and insightful performance style. However, critics felt Redford didn’t share a strong connection with his fellow actress, Lena Olin.

I remember reading an interview with Sydney Pollack from 1990 where he talked about Robert Redford and the criticism he sometimes faced. People would ask why Redford always had to play the hero, or why he wouldn’t drastically change his appearance for a role – like gain weight or wear a prosthetic nose. Pollack’s point was that wasn’t what we *wanted* from Redford. For thirty years, he’d become this symbol of American ideals, and his roles really mirrored that image. He wasn’t about playing characters who were flawed or comedic in that way; he *was* the image.

Redford acknowledged that the criticism stung.

Redford admitted it does bother him. He feels helpless to change it, explaining that with loss comes gain. He described a shift from letting his work speak for itself to having his performances overshadowed by public perception, and perhaps even by his own self-doubt.

The 1990s saw mixed success for Redford. His film “Quiz Show,” based on a true TV game show scandal, received four Oscar nominations. “A River Runs Through It,” a charming story about growing up in Montana, was praised by critics but didn’t connect as strongly with general audiences, though it did win an Oscar for its beautiful cinematography.

Robert Redford received his first Razzie Award in 1993 for his role as a wealthy man who makes a scandalous offer in the film “Indecent Proposal.” His performance in “Up Close & Personal” (1996) wasn’t any better. He also directed two films, “The Horse Whisperer” and the golf movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” but neither received positive reviews from critics.

He later directed the 2004 film “The Motorcycle Diaries,” a biography of Che Guevara. In 2010, he made “The Conspirator,” a historical drama set during the Lincoln era. He also directed the 2007 war thriller “Lions for Lambs,” which reunited him with Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise.

In 2012, he both starred in and directed the film “The Company You Keep,” where he played a former activist who had been in hiding for three decades. While he’d previously worked on smaller, socially relevant films, he also joined the popular superhero world with a role in Marvel’s “Captain America: Winter Soldier.”

He explained to The Times that he took on the film because it was a departure from his usual work and presented a fresh challenge. He believes the film is impactful and enjoyable, and it’s the type of movie he wished he’d seen growing up.

I remember being completely blown away by Robert Redford in “All Is Lost” back in 2013. It was incredible – he was the *only* person in the whole movie, and barely spoke a word! He played this sailor, just called ‘Our Man,’ who was stranded at sea after his boat was wrecked. It was amazing to learn he was 77 and did a lot of his own stunts, even though he ended up losing a significant portion of his hearing in one ear during a particularly intense storm scene they filmed. Without any dialogue or other actors to play off of, he really had to rely on pure, raw performance – something he said he’d never quite done before, and it truly showed.

Honestly, even though making the film was really tough physically and I wasn’t sure how audiences would react, Robert Redford told The Times he simply enjoyed the process. He ‘just liked doing it,’ which I totally get – sometimes you take on a project because it feels right, regardless of the challenges or potential outcome.

“It was my ego,” Redford said. “My ego jumped in and said, ‘Hey, you can do this. You can do this.”

Robert Redford received the Documentary Association’s Career Achievement Award in 2014, recognizing his significant contributions to documentary filmmaking throughout his career. He was previously honored with an honorary Oscar in 2002 for his overall work, and in 2016, President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

However, Redford dedicated a significant amount of time to activism. In 2012, Pitzer College established the Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability, inspired by his belief in connecting art, media, and environmental science to teach students about creating effective policies. He served as a trustee and environmental advisor to the college.

When Paul Newman decided not to star alongside Robert Redford in the 2004 film “A Walk in the Woods,” he instead chose to work with Nick Nolte on the movie, which finally came out in 2015. Nolte remembered advice from their shared lawyer, Gary Hendler, who often collaborated with Redford.

It’s great to have a career path like Bob’s – doing some mainstream work to fund your passion projects.

He revealed his retirement from acting in 2018, shortly before his charming film, “The Old Man & the Gun,” came out.

2025-09-16 16:03

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