Robert Redford, Celebrated Actor and Filmmaker, Passes Away at 89

Robert Redford, the celebrated actor and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, died Tuesday morning at his home in the mountains of Utah, surrounded by family and friends at the age of 89. 

Cindi Berger, the publicist for Redford, has confirmed the news, stating that the family asks for privacy during this period.

Redford, a prominent figure of Hollywood's golden era, gained recognition for his captivating performances in classic films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men. His windswept hair and effortless charm established him as a quintessential leading man of the 1960s and 1970s. Redford's impact reached well beyond his acting career. He was a groundbreaking filmmaker and political activist, earning an Academy Award for Best Director for his 1980 film Ordinary People, which marked the start of a prosperous career behind the camera.

Alongside his achievements in acting and directing, Redford's entrepreneurial vision inspired him to create the Sundance Film Festival in 1981, which remains a significant venue for independent filmmakers. In a 2018 interview, Redford reflected on the festival’s inception, stating, “I saw other stories out there that weren’t having a chance to be told, and I thought, ‘Well, maybe I can commit my energies to giving those people a chance.’”

Throughout his six-decade career, Redford garnered numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and an honorary Oscar in 2002. In 2016, President Barack Obama honored him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, commending Redford for his "remarkable acting" and his talent for evolving his career in innovative and significant directions.

Charles Robert Redford Jr. was born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, to a father who transitioned from being a milkman to an accountant. He studied at the University of Colorado Boulder before embarking on a journey to Europe, where he immersed himself in the rich cultures of France, Spain, and Italy. He ultimately made his home in New York City, where he pursued his studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his Broadway debut in Tall Story (1959).

Redford's rise to prominence in film started in the 1960s, highlighted by his performances in Inside Daisy Clover (1965), for which he received a Golden Globe for Best New Star, and The Chase (1966), paving the way for his continued success. His commitment to fostering and promoting independent filmmaking through the Sundance Institute, in addition to his performances, defines his lasting impact.

He is survived by his wife, Sibylle Szaggars, and his two children, Shauna Jean and Amy Hart Redford, from his first marriage to Lola Van Wagenen. Redford’s family also faced the heartbreaking loss of two sons: Scott, who succumbed to SIDS, and David, who lost his battle with cancer in 2020.