LOS ANGELES – Robert Redford, the legendary actor, director, and Oscar winner, as well as the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, has passed away at the age of 89.
A spokesperson confirmed that Redford died at his home in Sundance, Utah, a place he loved, on Tuesday local time, surrounded by his family. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and the family has requested privacy.
Redford, a beloved figure worldwide, rose to fame in the 1960s and reached the height of his career in the 1970s with films such as The Candidate, The Way We Were, and All the President’s Men. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1981 for Ordinary People, which also took home Best Picture.
Beyond his acting and directing career, Redford was a political and environmental activist who championed independent filmmaking. He was often hailed as the “father of indie cinema.” In 1978, he founded the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to nurture emerging filmmakers. The festival later became a launching pad for acclaimed directors including Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Darren Aronofsky.
Some of Redford’s notable later works include Out of Africa (1985), All Is Lost (2013), Truth (2015), and his final film, The Old Man and the Gun (2018), after which he announced his retirement from acting. Redford had previously told the media that he was proud of his long career and, upon reaching his 80s, felt it was time to retire and focus on spending more time with his family.
Redford’s contributions to film, activism, and independent cinema have left a lasting legacy, inspiring generations of filmmakers and audiences worldwide. (TNA)
