(WDNews) – Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, director and champion of independent film, died Tuesday at his home in Sundance, Utah. He was 89.
Publicist Cindi Berger confirmed Redford died surrounded by family at his mountain home. No cause of death was released.
Redford’s career spanned more than six decades, rising to fame in the 1960s and becoming one of Hollywood’s top stars in the 1970s. His performances in “The Candidate,” “All the President’s Men,” and “The Way We Were” made him one of the most sought-after leading men of his era. He won the Academy Award for best director in 1980 for “Ordinary People,” which also won best picture.
With Paul Newman, Redford formed one of film’s most iconic duos in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting.” His role as the Sundance Kid gave its name to his Sundance Institute and film festival, which went on to shape the future of independent cinema.
Beyond acting, Redford dedicated much of his life to directing, producing, and promoting new filmmakers. The Sundance Film Festival became a launchpad for directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Paul Thomas Anderson.
Redford was also known for his activism, supporting environmental causes and political reforms throughout his life. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 from President Barack Obama.
Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on Aug. 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, Calif., he began his career in theater and television before moving into films. His later work included “Out of Africa,” “All Is Lost,” and “The Old Man and the Gun,” which he called his farewell to acting.
Redford was married twice and had four children. Two preceded him in death — Scott, who died in infancy, and James, a filmmaker and activist, who died in 2020.
“I just figure that I’ve had a long career that I’m very pleased with,” Redford told The Associated Press in 2018. “It’s maybe time to move toward retirement and spend more time with my wife and family.”
