Legendary actor Robert Redford dies aged 89

Robert Redford, the celebrated actor, director, and environmental activist whose career spanned more than six decades, has died at the age of 89. According to The New York Times, Redford passed away in his sleep on Tuesday morning, September 16, at his home in the mountains outside Provo, Utah.

No cause of death was provided. Cindi Berger, chief executive of Rogers & Cowan PMK, confirmed his passing in a statement. Redford rose to international fame with his role as the Sundance Kid in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) alongside Paul Newman.

The film’s success cemented him as one of Hollywood’s leading men. He later starred in acclaimed projects including The Sting (1973), All the President’s Men (1976), and Out of Africa (1985). His work behind the camera was equally celebrated.

Redford won the Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People in 1980 and was later nominated again for Quiz Show (1994). In 2002, he received an honorary Oscar recognizing his contributions to cinema and his support of independent filmmakers.

Accepting the award, he reflected, “I’ve spent most of my life just focused on the road ahead, not looking back. But now tonight, I’m seeing in the rearview mirror that there is something I’ve not thought about much, called history.”

Born August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before making his Broadway debut in Tall Story (1959). His early screen work included appearances on The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. By the mid-1960s, he had taken on leading roles, including Barefoot in the Park (1967) opposite Jane Fonda.

Beyond acting, Redford left a profound mark on independent cinema by founding the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival in 1984. These platforms became vital for emerging filmmakers, reinforcing his reputation as a champion of artistic freedom.

A lifelong environmental activist, Redford campaigned against projects he believed threatened natural landscapes and co-founded The Redford Center to fund films highlighting climate change. At a United Nations climate conference in 2015, he urged global leaders to act, saying, “This has to be the time because we’re running out of time.”

Redford’s personal life was marked by both joy and tragedy. He and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, had four children, including James, who died of cancer in 2020. He later married multimedia artist Sibylle Szaggars in 2009. He is survived by his wife, daughters Shauna and Amy, and several grandchildren.