Robert Redford, the leading man with the golden-boy looks who won an Oscar for directing Ordinary People and later became a godfather for independent film as founder of the Sundance Film Institute, has died at 89 years of age.
Cindi Berger, the chief executive of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, shared the news in a statement to The New York Times. She said Redford had died in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home in Utah but did not provide a specific cause of death.
The actor-turned-director, who had a stellar run in such films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were, The Sting, Three Days of the Condor and All the President’s Men, had worked less frequently both in front of and behind the camera in recent years.
His last on-screen acting job was in Avengers: Endgame, in which he reprised his role as Secretary Alexander Pierce and joined several other Marvel vets such as Michael Douglas and Tilda Swinton.
Robert Redford’s career
Robert Redford’s career was defined by a rare combination of charisma, talent, and a deep commitment to cinema beyond Hollywood’s mainstream. Rising to prominence in the 1960s, his golden-boy looks and easygoing screen presence made him a leading man in an era of anti-heroes.
He delivered iconic performances in classic films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), and All the President’s Men (1976), often playing characters that were both charming and complex.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, he also pursued a path behind the camera, making a celebrated directorial debut with Ordinary People (1980), which earned him an Academy Award for Best Director. This dual legacy as a box-office star and an accomplished director cemented his status as a cinematic legend.
Beyond his work on screen, Redford’s most enduring legacy is his role as a godfather of independent film. In 1981, he founded the Sundance Institute to champion new and diverse voices in cinema.
What began as a small regional event in Utah evolved under his guidance into the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival, a crucial platform that launched the careers of countless filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs) and Steven Soderbergh (sex, lies, and videotape).
Redford’s vision transformed the independent film movement from a niche corner of the industry into a powerful and influential force, forever changing how stories are told and distributed. His activism for environmental and social issues also underscored a career that was dedicated to more than just commercial success.
Redford was also a dedicated environmentalist, moving to Utah in 1961 and leading efforts to preserve the natural landscape of the state and the American West.
