Robert Redford, the beloved actor who became one of Hollywood’s most influential directors and the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, has died at the age of 89. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home near Provo, Utah, according to his publicist, Cindi Berger. No cause of death has been shared.
Born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford’s early years were far from glamorous. He battled polio as a child and admitted to struggling in school. After losing his scholarship at the University of Colorado due to heavy drinking, he worked odd jobs — including as a janitor at Boulder’s historic restaurant, The Sink.
Despite setbacks, he pursued acting and eventually rose to international fame with roles in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sting (1973). His charm on screen soon earned him the reputation of a leading man, but his ambitions extended far beyond acting.
The guiding force of family
Throughout his life, Redford often spoke about how his mother, Martha Hart, was his greatest supporter. She died when he was just 18, a loss he carried with him for the rest of his life. “The one person who stood behind me was my mother,” he once said, later regretting that he never thanked her before she passed.
In 1958, he married historian Lola Van Wagenen, crediting her with “saving his life.” The couple had four children, but tragedy struck when their firstborn, Scott, died from sudden infant death syndrome at just two months old.
Years later, Redford faced more heartbreak when his son, filmmaker James “Jamie” Redford, died in 2020 at age 58 after a long battle with liver disease and cancer. At the time, his family described their grief as “immeasurable.”
A career that shaped American film
Redford’s creative legacy stretched across generations. He directed Ordinary People (1980), which earned him an Academy Award, and founded the Sundance Film Festival, which grew into the most influential platform for independent cinema.
Through his films and environmental activism, Redford left an imprint that extended far beyond Hollywood. He gave opportunities to new voices in filmmaking and used his platform to advocate for conservation and social issues.
Reflecting on his life, Redford once admitted that his greatest challenges were always tied to family. “The hardest thing is when your children have problems. There have been so many hits on our family no one knows about,” he said.
Robert Redford is survived by his wife, daughters Shauna Schlosser Redford and Amy Redford, and seven grandchildren.
His passing marks the end of an era, but his influence as an actor, director, and storyteller will endure for generations to come.
