Hollywood has lost one of its greatest legends. Robert Redford — the Oscar-winning actor, director, and activist whose career spanned more than six decades — has passed away.
His longtime representative, Cindi Berger, confirmed the news on Tuesday, revealing that Redford died peacefully in the early morning at his beloved home in Sundance, Utah. He was surrounded by family and close friends in the very place that became synonymous with his legacy. The cause of death has not yet been made public.
A Storied Acting Career
Redford was more than a movie star — he was one of the defining faces of American cinema in the second half of the 20th century. Known for his all-American looks, quiet charisma, and impeccable range, he anchored some of the most beloved films of his era.
His breakout came opposite Paul Newman in the 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a role that helped define the new Hollywood. He and Newman reunited in The Sting (1973), a caper that earned the Academy Award for Best Picture. Redford went on to headline Three Days of the Condor (1975), Alan Pakula’s political thriller All the President’s Men (1976) — where he portrayed journalist Bob Woodward — and the baseball drama The Natural (1984).
Over the years, he shared the screen with some of Hollywood’s most celebrated actresses, including Jane Fonda in Barefoot in the Park (1967), Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were (1973), and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa (1985).
From Actor to Director
In 1980, Redford transitioned behind the lens with his directorial debut Ordinary People, a searing family drama that won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Redford himself took home the Oscar for Best Director — cementing his reputation not just as a matinee idol but as a serious filmmaker.
He went on to direct several more projects, balancing his career in front of and behind the lens, and continued working steadily into his later years. In 2002, the Academy honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his profound impact on the art of film.
Honors and Lasting Legacy
In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded Redford the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him “a storyteller of the highest order.” It was the nation’s highest civilian honor — and a recognition of not only Redford’s artistic achievements but also his tireless advocacy for the arts and the environment.
Perhaps his most enduring contribution outside of acting and directing was the creation of the Sundance Institute in 1981. What began as a nonprofit to support independent filmmakers grew into the Sundance Film Festival, which Redford transformed in 1984 into the premier showcase for independent cinema. While he later admitted some frustration with how mainstream the festival had become, it remains one of the most influential platforms for storytellers around the world.
An Irreplaceable Figure
Robert Redford leaves behind a legacy that transcends the screen. He was a pioneer who championed new voices, a heartthrob who matured into one of America’s most respected directors, and a cultural icon whose name will forever be tied to both Hollywood glamour and the independent film movement.
He is survived by family, friends, countless collaborators, and generations of admirers who grew up watching his films. And though the silver screen will never again be graced by his presence, the stories he told — and the artists he empowered — will live on for decades to come.
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