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Robert Redford, the magnetic Hollywood leading man who later became an Oscar-winning director and a driving force behind independent cinema, has died at the age of 89. His publicist confirmed that he passed away peacefully on Tuesday at his home in Utah.
A Hollywood icon
Redford shot to stardom in the 1960s and soon became one of the defining actors of the next decade. With his golden hair and easy charm, he embodied the quintessential American movie star in films such as The Way We Were and All the President’s Men.
His enduring screen partnership with Paul Newman produced two of Hollywood’s most beloved classics — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sting (1973), the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Behind the camera
Redford made a seamless transition to directing, with his debut feature Ordinary People (1980) winning four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film cemented his reputation as more than just a screen idol.
The Sundance legacy
Determined to nurture filmmakers working outside the studio system, Redford founded the Sundance Institute in 1981. Its annual festival in Utah became the leading showcase for independent film in the United States, propelling the careers of directors such as Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino.
In 2027, the festival will relocate to Boulder, Colorado — a symbolic homecoming to Redford’s alma mater.
Remembered with admiration
Fans and admirers mourned his passing. Michelle Cregut of Boulder called him a champion of non-mainstream cinema, adding that this would remain his true legacy “aside from being incredibly handsome.” Gary Germain, visiting from New York, remembered him as “a remarkable actor who genuinely cared for the nation and its people.”
A lasting influence
Redford leaves behind a body of work that defined generations of filmgoers and a legacy of independence that reshaped American cinema. His influence — as actor, director, mentor and advocate for artists — will endure for decades to come.
