Hollywood Icon Robert Redford Dies at 89 — A Legend Passed, But Never Forgotten
- Teo Drinkovic
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Robert Redford, From Sundance Kid to Sundance Festival Founder — Celebrating an Era in Film; He Challenged Hollywood, Protected Nature, and Built Sundance to Lift the Unheard
Introduction
Robert Redford, actor, director, activist, dreamer, and Hollywood legend, has left us at age 89. He passed away in peace at his home in Sundance, Utah, a place he loved, surrounded by the affection and comfort of his nearest and dearest. He slipped away quietly on the morning of Tuesday, September 16, 2025, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and memories.
Who Was Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford Jr. was born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, to Martha Woodruff Redford and Charles Robert Redford Sr. He was of Irish, Scottish, and English descent. On his father’s side, his great-grandparents emigrated to New York City in 1849 and settled in Stonington, Connecticut. His mother’s side was Scottish‐Irish and had settled in the United States in the 18th century.
As a child, Robert and his family traveled often to Austin, Texas, to visit his maternal grandfather. He later attributed his love of nature and his ecological sensibilities to that childhood in Texas.
As a young man, he was drawn to art and painting, and studies in New York and Italy sharpened that creative edge long before the movie cameras ever lit up his face.
Robert’s Ascent to Stardom
Redford’s first steps in acting were in television and theater, but his breakthrough came in 1969 with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He played the Sundance Kid opposite Paul Newman’s Butch Cassidy, a role blending charm, rebellion, and melancholy, perfectly embodied by Redford. People.com
That was followed by a string of famous films: All the President’s Men (1976), where he played a journalist refusing to accept lies; his portrayal of truth-seeking and moral weight shook the status quo. Out of Africa, The Way We Were, The Sting, The Natural, All Is Lost, each role added layers: idealism, heartache, wisdom, endurance. People.com
Major Films (A Few Highlights)
Jeremiah Johnson (1972) — a man withdrawing into the wilderness, wrestling with indians, nature, isolation, and his inner demons.
The Sting (1973) — his clever, charismatic side shines in this con‐artist story.
The Way We Were (1973) — a romantic drama set against historical divides, where politics, belief, and love clash.
The Natural (1984) — myth, redemption, a second chance in baseball and in life.
All Is Lost (2013) — nearly the whole film, just one man, the sea, and his fight for survival. A masterpiece of minimalism and raw emotion.
Source: Google.com
Beyond Acting: The Director, the Visionary
Redford wasn’t content just to perform. He moved behind the camera, confronting emotional terrain as a director. Ordinary People (1980) is perhaps the crowning example: it earned him Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, and dealt honestly with grief, family fractures, and moral complexity. EW.com
Redford once said in an interview, “Life is essentially sad. Happiness is sporadic. It comes in moments, and that’s it. Extract the blood from every moment.” Esquire
He spoke often of nature not merely as a backdrop but as a teacher. He believed watching, listening, and caring for the land was essential. In the Redford Center and through his decades-long work with the Natural Resources Defense Council, he pushed for clean energy, environmental justice, clean air, and water. The Redford Center
More Than an Actor — A Beacon for Causes
His activism wasn’t a side project. It was central. In a UN address, Robert warned that “climate change is in everybody’s backyard.” The Redford Center
He helped keep power plants from being built in fragile regions, supported indigenous rights, and spoke out for free speech. He saw storytelling as politics, culture, and moral responsibility.
When so many enjoy the spotlight, he stayed engaged when the lights were dim, arguing that real change often comes when no one is filming. The Redford Center
Reactions from Those Who Knew Him & Followed His Path
The world didn’t wait long to name what’s gone.
Jane Fonda, his longtime friend and co-star, posted, “I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.” People.com
Meryl Streep said, “One of the lions has passed.” The Guardian
Director Ron Howard called Redford’s creation of Sundance “a game changer.” AP News
Colman Domingo wrote, “With love and admiration. Thank you, Mr. Redford, for your everlasting impact. Will be felt for generations.” Extra+1
Even political figures from different sides noted how rare it is.
Hillary Clinton admired his progressive activism and support for the arts. Donald Trump spoke of his great films and how, in many years, “there was nobody better.
Sundance: A Home for Unheard Voices
Perhaps Robert Redford’s grandest legacy isn’t any single film, but the institutions he helped build. The Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival became sanctuaries for independent voices, for stories that didn’t fit the mold of big studios.
He believed that film could be more than spectacle: it could reflect reality, hope, fear, the uncanny shadows of human desire. He wanted people without big names or big money to be able to tell their stories. EW.com
Robert Redford’s Legacy
Redford’s legacy endures in many forms: in the characters he embodied, in films that will continue to be watched by generations seeking to understand themselves and the world; in young filmmakers who found encouragement and opportunity through Sundance; in his environmental activism; and in his unwavering belief in truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
He never shied away from tackling hard subjects, such as pain, moral ambiguity, and family scars. In Ordinary People it’s grief; in many of his roles, the shadow side of humanity. He gave voice to vulnerability. To the possibility of failure. To the honesty that being human demands.
Now, with the lights dimming on his life, what remains is a shadow, but a strong and lasting one. A shadow that gives meaning to the lights of both small film houses and grand theaters.
My mother was in love with Robert wen she was young. He was very handsome man and an icon!
My sincere condolences to his family.
Poor Robert, I enjoyed watching his movies😪😪
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