Los Angeles, September 16 2025 (Agencies): Hollywood icon Robert Redford, one of cinema’s most revered actors, directors, and a driving force behind the independent film movement, has passed away at the age of 89.
Redford’s publicist, Cindi Berger, confirmed the news on Tuesday, stating that the screen legend died peacefully at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah. “He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy,” Berger said, without disclosing the cause of death.
Redford first captured global attention in the late 1960s and 1970s with his magnetic performances in cinematic classics including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), and The Way We Were (1973). His portrayal of Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward in All the President’s Men (1976) became a defining role, chronicling the investigative journalism that exposed the Watergate scandal and led to President Nixon’s resignation.
Beyond acting, Redford made a profound impact behind the camera. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People (1980), which also earned Best Picture. In 2002, he received an honorary Oscar for his lifelong contributions to the film industry.
Redford’s influence extended far beyond Hollywood as the founder of the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, which nurtured generations of independent filmmakers and helped launch iconic works such as Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape.
A committed environmentalist and activist, Redford championed global awareness on climate change, even addressing the UN General Assembly in 2015. In 1988, he visited Moscow to open a festival of his films and lead discussions on environmental challenges such as ozone depletion.
Throughout his career, Redford was also outspoken on political issues, supporting the Democratic Party and voicing concerns over threats to American democracy.
He is survived by his wife, German artist Sibylle Szaggars, and two daughters. His two sons predeceased him.