Beloved Film Legend and Activist Robert Redford, Known for Directing Academy Award-Winning Movies, Passes Away at Age 89
Robert Redford: A Legendary Career and Legacy
Robert Redford, the iconic Oscar-winning actor, filmmaker, and director, passed away on September 16, 2025, at the age of 89. His representative confirmed the news to ABC News.
Redford's career spanned more than six decades, during which he left an indelible mark on the film industry. He was known for his performances in seminal movies like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Jeremiah Johnson," "The Sting," "The Way We Were," "All the President's Men," and "The Natural."
In 1980, Redford directed his first film, "Ordinary People," which earned him critical acclaim. Over the years, he directed nine feature films in total, including "Lions for Lambs," "The Conspirator," and "The Company You Keep," all of which either directly or obliquely addressed contemporary politics.
Redford was an outspoken supporter of progressive politics, civil rights, and environmentalism. He co-founded the non-profit Sundance Institute in 1981, named after his "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" character. The Sundance Institute, today the largest annual independent film showcase in America, was acquired by Sundance in 1985.
Redford also founded the Redford Center in 2005, with the stated mission of "merging the powers of environmental justice, collective action, education, and impact filmmaking."
In 2011, Redford drew specific parallels between "The Conspirator" and the U.S. government's refusal to try alleged 9/11 attack conspirators in civilian court. This film, along with "Lions for Lambs" and "The Company You Keep," showcased Redford's commitment to using his platform to address political issues.
Robert Redford worked with director Sydney Pollack on seven films during his career, including notable ones like "Out of Africa" and "Havana." In 2016, President Barack Obama presented Redford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. President Bill Clinton presented Redford with the National Medal of the Arts in 1996. He was recognised by the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005.
Redford received an honorary Oscar in 2002 for his lifetime of work, as well as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1994 and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1995.
Redford was married twice. His first union, to producer and activist Lola Van Wagenen, lasted 27 years before ending in divorce in 1985. In 2009, he married his longtime partner, artist Sibylle Szaggars. She survives him, as do his children.
Redford died at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah. His passing marks the end of an era in Hollywood, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and activists.
Read also:
- Today's most impactful photographic moments
- Support for Eric Adams in The Post's Letters to the Editor on August 13, 2025
- Roosting Shark and Rambunctious Red Squirrels: Unconventional House Rental in Yorkshire Involving Aquatic Marvel, Squirrely Mayhem, and Mystical Planning Regulations
- Legal Dispute Dismissed with Humor: Supreme Court Laughs off Another Civil Matter Mislabeled as Criminal Prosecution
