Robert Redford, Hollywood’s golden rebel, dies at 89

Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, director and visionary behind the Sundance Film Institute, has died aged 89. His publicist confirmed that he passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Utah home on Tuesday morning. No cause of death was shared, but the news has already prompted widespread reflection on his extraordinary career.

Redford was one of the defining stars of Hollywood’s golden era in the 1970s, his charisma and golden-boy looks making him an international icon. His breakthrough role came in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), where he played the Sundance Kid opposite Paul Newman. That performance propelled him to superstardom, leading to other landmark films including The Sting, The Way We Were, Three Days of the Condor and All the President’s Men.

In 1980, Redford stunned Hollywood by moving behind the camera with his directorial debut Ordinary People, which won him the Academy Award for Best Director. He continued to direct films that explored themes of disillusionment and redemption, such as A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show and The Legend of Bagger Vance.

Beyond the screen, Redford reshaped the industry with the creation of the Sundance Institute in 1981. What began as a modest lab for emerging filmmakers grew into the Sundance Film Festival, which became the most important platform for independent cinema in the United States. Many of today’s most celebrated directors first found recognition there, cementing Redford’s legacy as not just a movie star but a champion of creativity outside the studio system.

Even late in his career, Redford remained active. He appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and gave a near-wordless performance in All Is Lost, widely regarded as one of his most impressive turns. His final starring role came in The Old Man & the Gun (2018), which many viewed as a fitting farewell.

Redford also spoke out passionately on political and environmental issues, often using his platform to raise awareness. His combination of artistry, activism and entrepreneurship left an indelible mark on both Hollywood and culture at large.

He is survived by his wife, Sibylle Szaggars, two children and several grandchildren.