Robert Redford, the acclaimed actor, director, and champion of self-reliant film, has died at the age of 89. The news was confirmed Tuesday by his publicist, Cindi Berger, who stated he passed away at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by family.
Redford’s death marks the end of an era for Hollywood, leaving a void in the industry for a talent who seamlessly transitioned from leading man to respected auteur and tireless advocate for emerging filmmakers. He rose to prominence in the 1960s, becoming a defining star of the 1970s with iconic roles and, later, an Oscar-winning directorial debut.
After achieving stardom in the 1960s, Redford became one of the most prominent actors of the 1970s, starring in films such as “The Candidate,” “All the President’s men,” and ”The way We Were.” He capped the decade by winning the Academy award for best Director for 1980’s “Ordinary Peopel,” which also earned the Best Picture Oscar that year.
Known for his striking looks and versatile acting range, Redford consistently challenged himself with diverse roles, from portraying Bob Woodward in “All the President’s Men” to a rugged mountain man in “Jeremiah Johnson.” He shared the screen with numerous Hollywood luminaries, including Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, and tom Cruise.
His most celebrated partnership was with Paul Newman, with whom he starred in the 1969 classic “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid” – a film that inspired the name of redford’s influential Sundance Institute and festival. The duo reunited for the 1973 Best picture winner, “The Sting,” earning Redford a Best Actor nomination.
Beyond his acting career,Redford’s commitment to independent cinema through the Sundance Institute profoundly shaped the landscape of American filmmaking,providing a platform for countless emerging voices and innovative stories. He died “at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved,” Berger said. No cause of death was provided.