Robert Redford, beloved actor and indie film pioneer, died on September 16, 2025, at age 89. He passed peacefully at his Sundance home in Utah’s mountains, surrounded by loved ones, said publicist Cindi Berger. No cause of death was shared.
1970s Fame and Oscar Win
In the 1970s, Redford’s blond hair and warm smile made him a star. Hits like The Candidate, All the President’s Men, and The Way We Were won hearts.
In 1980, he earned a Best Director Oscar for Ordinary People, a drama that also took Best Picture. He chose diverse roles, from a journalist to a Marvel spy, starring with Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, and Tom Cruise.
Memorable Team-Up with Newman
Redford’s chemistry with Paul Newman shone in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), a box-office hit that named his Sundance Festival.
They reunited in The Sting (1973), earning Redford a Best Actor nomination as a 1930s con artist.
Championing Indie Films
Later, Redford focused on directing and producing. He starred in Out of Africa (1985), All Is Lost (2013), where he played a lone sailor, and The Old Man & the Gun (2018), his final role. At 82, he said, “It’s time to retire and focus on family.”
Frustrated by Hollywood’s commercial turn, he founded the Sundance Institute to support new talent. The Utah festival launched filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh. It plans to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027.
Environmental and Political Passion
Redford’s love for nature inspired A River Runs Through It and decades of activism. Los Angeles’s smog pushed him to back the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts and join the Natural Resources Defense Council.
His films like The Candidate tackled politics, and All the President’s Men exposed Watergate. Other directorial works include The Horse Whisperer and Quiz Show.
Early Life and Family
Born August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford studied art and drama. He debuted on Broadway in the 1950s and appeared on The Twilight Zone.
Married twice, most recently to Sibylle Szaggars, he had four children. Two predeceased him: Scott Anthony (1959) and James Redford (2020).
Lasting Legacy
Redford’s “outlaw spirit” shaped his career and Sundance’s mission. His work in film, activism, and mentoring endures.
