Renowned Actor Robert Redford, famously known as the 'Sundance Kid', leaves lasting impact on American cinema
Robert Redford, the legendary actor and director, passed away at the age of 89 on Tuesday. Throughout his 60-year career, Redford left an indelible mark on Hollywood, earning an Oscar for his directorial debut, co-founding the Sundance Film Festival, and starring in some of the most memorable films of the 20th century.
Redford's big screen break came in 1967 with the romantic comedy 'Barefoot in the Park' opposite Jane Fonda. However, it was his collaboration with Paul Newman in the Western 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' in 1969 that truly catapulted him to stardom. The pair would team up again in 1973 for 'The Sting,' a film that saw them portray 1930s con artists.
Redford's acting career spanned over two decades before he moved behind the camera. His directorial debut, 'Ordinary People,' won him an Oscar in 1980. He saw the creation of the Sundance Film Festival in 1985 as one of his greatest achievements, fostering directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Tarantino, and Steven Soderbergh.
In 1985, Redford starred in the epic romance 'Out of Africa' alongside Meryl Streep. He also worked with Brad Pitt in 'A River Runs Through It' in 1992 and the Oscar-nominated 'Quiz Show' in 1994. At age 76, Redford had a significant starring role in 'All Is Lost' in 2013 and appeared in 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' in 2014 and 'Avengers: Endgame' in 2019.
Redford's personal life was marked by tragedy and triumph. He married his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, in 1958 and had four children together, one of whom died as an infant. He married German artist and longtime girlfriend Sibylle Szaggars in 2009 in a small ceremony in Hamburg, Germany. Redford lost his mother a year after finishing high school and, due to heavy drinking, lost a scholarship to the University of Colorado a year after he received it.
In 2013, Redford stated that pursuing the independent path ensured his own survival in the movie business. The #MeToo movement was the greatest change in Hollywood over his career, according to a statement made in 2018. Redford received a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 2002, with Barbra Streisand stating that his work represents 'the intellectual, the artist, the cowboy.'
Redford's legacy in the film industry will undoubtedly continue to influence and inspire future generations of actors and filmmakers. His commitment to independent filmmaking and his unwavering dedication to the craft will be remembered as a testament to his enduring passion for storytelling.
Read also:
- Late-night host Lawrence O'Donnell responds to Jimmy Kimmel's departure with a discussion on a subject "Donald Trump doesn't wish us to examine"
- EU Member States cast their decisions
- Eighteen-Year-Old Speaks Out Against Lowering Voting Age to Sixteen
- "Trump Lowering Taxes, Audaciously Challenges Starmer in Embarrassing Turnberry Interaction"
