Robert Redford, A Legend of Screen and Spirit, Dies at 89 Robert Redford, the actor, director, and activist whose life and work transformed American cinema, has died at 89. He passed away at his home in Sundance, Utah, the place he cherished most, surrounded by loved ones. Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. in Santa Monica in 1936, he rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most enduring and soulful presences in film. With Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and All the President’s Men, Redford became more than a movie star—he became a mirror of his times, carrying both the charm of a leading man and the weight of flawed, searching humanity. But Redford was never content to rest on stardom. With his directorial debut, Ordinary People, he revealed the depth of his artistry, telling a quiet, devastating story of loss that won him Oscars for both Best Director and Best Picture. He showed that cinema could heal by confronting pain, that beauty could live in truth. His greatest gift to future generations may be the Sundance Institute and its festival, which gave countless independent filmmakers the platform to be heard. In nurturing new voices, Redford extended his own restless vision, proving that art thrives in risk and rebellion. Beyond the screen, he fought tirelessly for the environment, for clean air and wild spaces, believing that storytelling and stewardship were bound together. His activism, like his acting, was born not of vanity but of conviction. Redford’s final appearance, a cameo in the series Dark Winds earlier this year, was brief but potent—a reminder that even in silence, his presence carried gravity. He leaves behind not only a body of unforgettable work, but also a spirit of generosity, resilience, and grace. Robert Redford was not merely an actor, not merely a director, but a dreamer who believed that stories could change the world. And in countless ways, his did. #RoberRedford #RIP
