Renowned actor and director Robert Redford, whose career spanned over five decades, passed away at the age of 89. The American actor, who won an Oscar for his role in 'Ordinary People', was also an outspoken activist.
Robert Redford: A Life and Legacy of an American Icon
Robert Redford, the acclaimed Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker, passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah. He was 89 years old.
Redford's representative confirmed his death to ABC News, and his family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
Throughout his illustrious career, Redford directed critically acclaimed works like "Ordinary People," "A River Runs Through It" and "Quiz Show." He also directed three films in just three years, all of which addressed contemporary politics: "Lions for Lambs" (2007), "The Conspirator" (2011), and "The Company You Keep" (2012).
In "The Conspirator," Redford drew parallels between the U.S. government’s refusal to try alleged 9/11 attack conspirators in civilian court and a historical case from the 1860s.
Redford's first marriage produced four children, one of whom died in infancy. He was married twice: first to Lola Van Wagenen from 1958 to 1985, and then to artist Sibylle Szaggars from 2009 until his death in 2025.
Redford was known for his roles in movies like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "The Sting," "The Way We Were," "All the President's Men" and "The Natural." In the 1990s, he directed two films: A River Runs Through It and The Horse Whisperer, with The Horse Whisperer being particularly successful.
He was an outspoken supporter of progressive politics, civil rights, and environmentalism. Redford was politically active throughout his life, particularly regarding environmental issues, Native American issues, and civil rights.
In addition to his work in film, Redford co-founded the Sundance Institute in 1981, named after his "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" character. The Sundance Institute offers programs and grants to aspiring filmmakers and acquired the US Film Festival in 1985, renaming it the Sundance Film Festival.
Redford's legacy will be celebrated in a one-hour special, "Robert Redford: The life and legacy of an American icon - A special edition of 20/20," which will air on ABC on September 18, 2025.
Over his six-decade-long career, Redford received numerous awards, including an honorary Oscar in 2002, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1994, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1995, the Audubon Medal in 1989, the National Medal of the Arts in 1996, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Redford declared his retirement from acting in 2018. His passing marks the end of an era for Hollywood and a tribute to a life dedicated to art and activism.
