Robert Redford, Hollywood Legend and Sundance Founder, Dies at 89

Lead: Oscar-winning actor and director Robert Redford died in his sleep Tuesday morning at his Utah home, ending a six-decade career that reshaped American cinema and championed environmental causes.

Nut Graf: Redford’s passing marks the loss of a transformative figure whose iconic performances in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men vaulted him to stardom, while his creation of the Sundance Film Festival democratized independent filmmaking and his climate activism inspired generations.

Career Achievements

• Starred as the Sundance Kid opposite Paul Newman in the 1969 hit Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, cementing his status as a leading man of the 1970s.
• Earned Best Director Oscar for Ordinary People (1980) and received nominations for The Sting (1973) and Quiz Show (1994).
• Returned to acting in a cameo on Dark Winds in March 2025, his first screen appearance in six years.

Environmental Advocacy

Redford leveraged his fame to advance conservation efforts and climate policy, testifying before Congress and co-founding The Redford Center in 2005 to support environmental storytelling. In 2015, he joined global leaders in Paris urging action on fossil fuel emissions.

Sundance Institute and Festival

In 1981, Redford established the Sundance Institute and launched the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Under his guidance, the festival became a premier showcase for independent filmmakers worldwide, discovering talents such as Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh.

Personal Life and Legacy

Redford was born August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, and trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He is survived by his wife, Sibylle Szaggars Redford, daughters Shauna and Amy, and grandchildren. His blend of artistic innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and advocacy leaves a lasting imprint on film and environmentalism.