Robert Redford, Sundance Founder and Hollywood Legend, Dies at 89/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director, and Sundance founder, died Tuesday at 89 at his Utah home. Rising to fame in the 1960s, Redford became a 1970s box-office star before championing independent film through the Sundance Institute and Festival. His career spanned six decades, marked by hits like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and Ordinary People.
Robert Redford Death at 89: Quick Looks
- Passing: Redford died at his Sundance home in Utah, surrounded by family.
- Early Stardom: Rose in the 1960s; 1970s hits included The Candidate and The Way We Were.
- Oscar Triumph: Won Best Director for Ordinary People (1980).
- Famous Partnership: Teamed with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy (1969) and The Sting (1973).
- Sundance Founder: Created Sundance Institute and Film Festival, nurturing indie voices.
- Later Career: Starred in Out of Africa (1985), All Is Lost (2013), and The Old Man & the Gun (2018).
- Advocacy: Vocal environmentalist, supporting conservation and clean-air initiatives.
- Personal Life: Married twice, father of four; survived by wife Sibylle Szaggars.
- Legacy: Remembered as Hollywood icon, liberal activist, and champion of independent cinema.
Deep Look: Robert Redford, Hollywood Icon and Indie Pioneer, Dies at 89
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Robert Redford, the charismatic actor who evolved into an acclaimed director, environmental activist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, died Tuesday at his Utah home at the age of 89. His publicist confirmed he passed away surrounded by loved ones, though no cause of death was disclosed.
From Heartthrob to Actor’s Actor
Redford’s rise to stardom began in the 1960s, but it was the 1970s that cemented his superstardom. Known for his blond hair, boyish grin, and all-American good looks, he nevertheless resisted being typecast. His performances in The Candidate (1972), The Way We Were (1973), and All the President’s Men (1976) made him one of the defining stars of the era.
He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for The Sting (1973), where he and Paul Newman’s on-screen chemistry echoed their real-life friendship, first displayed in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).
Directorial Success
In 1980, Redford shifted gears to directing with Ordinary People, a searing family drama that won the Oscar for Best Picture and earned him the Academy Award for Best Director. Critics praised his nuanced storytelling, particularly his decision to cast Mary Tyler Moore against type in a dramatic role.
His later directing projects included Quiz Show (1994), The Horse Whisperer (1998), and The Milagro Beanfield War (1988). The Academy awarded him an honorary Oscar in 2002 for his multifaceted contributions to cinema.
The Birth of Sundance
Concerned with Hollywood’s increasing risk-aversion, Redford created the Sundance Institute in 1981 to support emerging filmmakers. What started as a workshop in Utah grew into the Sundance Film Festival, launching the careers of Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs), Steven Soderbergh (sex, lies, and videotape), Darren Aronofsky (Pi), and Paul Thomas Anderson (Hard Eight).
Although Sundance was sometimes criticized for becoming too commercial, Redford defended its diversity and independence. In 2025, festival organizers announced Sundance would move to Boulder, Colorado in 2027, a city tied to Redford’s own college years at the University of Colorado.
Later Roles and Farewell
Though his acting slowed in later decades, Redford delivered notable performances. Out of Africa (1985) paired him with Meryl Streep in a sweeping romance. Decades later, All Is Lost (2013) showcased his solo performance as a sailor stranded at sea, earning critical acclaim. His self-declared farewell role came in The Old Man & the Gun (2018), where he played a charming career criminal.
“I’ve had a long career I’m very pleased with,” he told AP ahead of its release. “Now it’s maybe time to retire and spend more time with family.”
Activism and Environmentalism
Beyond film, Redford was a lifelong activist, championing environmental causes and progressive politics. He campaigned for the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, supported land conservation in Utah, and sat on the board of the Natural Resources Defense Council. His love of nature also inspired films like A River Runs Through It (1992).
Personal Life
Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. in 1936 in Santa Monica, he pursued baseball and art before finding acting. After Broadway success in Barefoot in the Park (1963), he transitioned to film.
Redford married twice: first to Lola Van Wagenen (divorced in 1985), with whom he had four children, and later to artist Sibylle Szaggars, who survives him. His son James Redford, a filmmaker, died in 2020; another son, Scott Anthony, died in infancy.
A Lasting Legacy
From box-office megastar to indie film godfather, Redford’s career embodied both Hollywood glamour and artistic rebellion. His Sundance vision reshaped the industry, providing a platform for new voices and stories.
“The idea of the outlaw has always been very appealing to me,” Redford once said. “I think I was just born with it.”
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