Robert Redford, the two-time Oscar winner and Hollywood legend, has died at the age of 89.
The actor has legendary legacy
Redford, who was an actor and director, has died aged 89. Along with his roles in cinema, Redford also founded the Sundance Institute to promote independent storytelling.
He charmed audiences with his roles in The Way We Were and Barefoot in the Park. He also directed the beloved dramas Quiz Show and Ordinary People.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday
Robert Redford’s death was confirmed in a statement given to the New York Post by Rogers & Cowan PMK chief executive Cindi Berger.
“Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved.”
No cause of death was given
The statement continued, “He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”
Berger did not specify the cause of death, telling the New York Times that Redford died in his sleep.
Redford was an acting legend
Redford was beloved for his talent as well as his handsome looks.
His career was as long as six decades where he won a plethora of awards including five Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He once talked about the beauty of acting
In an interview with Collider in 2019, Redford spoke about being an actor.
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He said, “The idea of being an actor was to have a sense of freedom. You were free to be, to act as someone else, if you were paying attention to the people around you.”
Redford enjoys the artistry of acting
“You had a chance to be an artist, because acting is an art form. You had a chance to say, ‘I know this person, I’ve seen this person before and I want to bring that forward,’” the late actor added at the time.
He grew up an athlete
Redford, who was raised in Southern California, was a sportsman before he began his journey as an actor as he played football, tennis, and ran track.
He struggled to find his own path at first, telling Success magazine in 1980, “I was a failure at everything I tried. I worked as a box boy at a supermarket and got fired. Then my dad got me a job at Standard Oil — fired again.”
He eventually moved to Europe
Redford eventually moved to Europe to focus on being an artist, telling his grandson, producer-director Dylan Redford in 2016, “I was increasing my skill set and exploring storytelling through painting. Doing that, I realized how much I loved it.”
Redford then returned to the US
He added, “Later, when I became an actor, I suffered for four or five years not being sure I wanted to be in that business because I so wanted to be an artist. I just wanted to paint and sketch and tell stories by drawing.”
Redford then returned to the US and studied at the Pratt Institute and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC before his career took off.
