HOLLYWOOD – The entertainment world is in mourning today following the death of iconic actor, Oscar-winning director, and indie film champion Robert Redford. He passed away peacefully Tuesday morning at his home in Utah, his publicist confirmed. He was 89.
The news was announced by Cindi Berger of Rogers & Cowan PMK. “He died at his home in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly,” Berger said in a statement. “The family requests privacy.” No cause of death was given.
Redford was the definitive leading man of the 1970s, a decade he dominated with era-defining films like The Way We Were, The Candidate, and All the President’s Men. With his wavy blond hair and easy grin, he became a matinee idol, but he fiercely transcended that label through powerful performances, political activism, and a groundbreaking commitment to independent film.
His filmography is a masterclass in range: from the rugged mountain man in Jeremiah Johnson to the investigative journalist Bob Woodward, and even a late-career turn as a cunning double agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Yet, it was his legendary partnership with Paul Newman that cemented his place in Hollywood history. Their electric chemistry fueled two of the biggest hits of their time: the classic western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and the Best Picture winner The Sting (1973), which earned Redford a Best Actor nomination. Their on-screen camaraderie was a direct reflection of their deep, mischievous friendship off-screen.
Redford’s influence extended far beyond his acting. In 1980, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for his profound debut, Ordinary People, which also took home Best Picture. He later directed acclaimed films like Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It.
His most enduring legacy, however, is the Sundance Institute and Film Festival. Founded in the mountains of Utah, Sundance became the North Star for independent film, providing a vital platform for emerging voices. It launched the careers of countless filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Darren Aronofsky, fundamentally changing the landscape of modern cinema.
“For me, the word to be underscored is ‘independence,’” Redford told The Associated Press in 2018. “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.’”
In what he billed as his final acting role, 2018’s The Old Man & the Gun, Redford delivered a graceful, critically adored performance that served as a perfect farewell. “I’ve had a long career that I’m very pleased with,” he said at the time. “It’s maybe time to move toward retirement and spend more time with my wife and family.”
Redford is survived by his wife, artist Sibylle Szaggars. He had four children; his sons Scott and James predeceased him.
The curtain falls on a true giant—a movie star who had it all and used it to shine a light on stories that otherwise would have remained in the dark.