Robert Redford

Robert Redford, the golden-haired icon who defined American cinema in the 1970s, died peacefully at his Sundance home in Utah on September 16, 2025, at age 89. Born in Santa Monica in 1936, he transformed from a rebellious college dropout into one of Hollywood's most beloved figures. Rising to stardom as the Sundance Kid opposite Paul Newman in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969), Redford became the quintessential leading man with classics like "The Sting," "All the President's Men," and "The Way We Were." He won an Oscar for directing "Ordinary People" (1980). His most enduring contribution was founding the Sundance Institute in 1981, revolutionizing independent filmmaking and launching careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh. A passionate environmentalist, Redford used his celebrity to champion conservation causes throughout his life. Working until the end with his final role in "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), Redford's legacy encompasses memorable performances, transformation of independent cinema, and decades of environmental activism. He proved a movie star could be both serious artist and agent of cultural change.