Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Robert Redford, the iconic American actor, director, producer, and activist whose career shaped the landscape of modern cinema, has died at the age of 89. The family announced that Redford passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, nestled in the mountains of Utah—a place he cherished deeply and helped transform into a haven for independent filmmaking.
In a statement issued by Cindi Berger, Chairwoman of Rogers & Cowan PMK, the family shared:
“Robert Redford passed in the place he loved, surrounded by his loved ones. We will miss him dearly. The family asks for privacy during this time.”
According to The New York Times, no specific cause of death was disclosed. Redford’s health had reportedly been declining in recent years, though he remained intellectually active and occasionally involved in artistic projects until shortly before his death.
From California Roots to Global Stardom
Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford grew up with a love for storytelling and art. After attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, he began his career on stage. His breakout performance came in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park (1963), a role he later reprised in the 1967 film adaptation opposite Jane Fonda.
Redford’s early television work in the 1960s included appearances in shows like Route 66, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Twilight Zone, but it was his casting as the Sundance Kid in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) that catapulted him to international fame. Starring alongside Paul Newman, the film became a box office smash and a cultural touchstone, solidifying Redford as a new kind of leading man: charismatic, intelligent, and effortlessly cool.
A Defining Figure of 1970s American Cinema
Throughout the 1970s, Redford’s career soared. He became one of the most bankable and beloved actors of his generation, known for roles in critically acclaimed and socially resonant films such as:
- The Way We Were (1973)
- The Sting (1973), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor
- The Great Gatsby (1974)
- All the President’s Men (1976), where he portrayed journalist Bob Woodward in the groundbreaking film about the Watergate scandal
Redford had a unique ability to combine Hollywood star power with a deep commitment to complex, often politically charged storytelling. His presence onscreen was matched by a growing desire to take creative control behind the camera.
From Actor to Acclaimed Director
In 1980, Redford made his directorial debut with Ordinary People, a harrowing family drama that won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director—an Oscar Redford personally took home. The film marked the beginning of his parallel career as a director, where he demonstrated a sensitive, humanistic style.
His later directorial efforts included:
- A River Runs Through It (1992), which introduced a young Brad Pitt to audiences
- Quiz Show (1994), which earned him a second Oscar nomination for Best Director
- The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
- Lions for Lambs (2007), which reflected his ongoing interest in political discourse
A Lifelong Commitment to Independent Film
In 1981, Redford founded the Sundance Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting independent artists. The institute’s annual Sundance Film Festival became one of the most important platforms for emerging filmmakers around the world, launching the careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and the Coen Brothers.
Through Sundance, Redford helped redefine the possibilities of American cinema, championing diverse, innovative voices long before it became industry standard.
Later Career and Final Appearances
Despite announcing his retirement from acting in 2018 after The Old Man & the Gun, Redford later expressed regret about the statement, suggesting he remained open to the right opportunity. True to form, he made a brief yet poignant return to the screen in March 2025 with a cameo in the television series Dark Winds, his first onscreen appearance in six years.
Redford continued to act throughout his later years, taking on roles in films such as All Is Lost (2013)—a nearly wordless performance that many critics hailed as one of the finest of his career—and The Horse Whisperer (1998), which he also directed.
Personal Life and Private Struggles
Redford married Lola Van Wagenen in 1958. The couple had four children: Scott, Shauna, Jamie, and Amy. Tragically, Scott died of sudden infant death syndrome at just two months old, and Jamie, a filmmaker and activist, passed away from bile duct cancer in 2020—a loss Redford described as one of the deepest pains of his life.
In 2009, Redford married German-born artist Sibylle Szaggars, whom he credited with bringing renewed joy and stability to his life in his later years.
Honors and Legacy
Throughout his storied career, Redford received nearly every major accolade in the film industry, including:
- The Academy Award for Best Director
- The Golden Globe’s Cecil B. DeMille Award
- The Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
- The Presidential Medal of Freedom (awarded in 2016)
His contributions to environmental causes and indigenous rights, often overlooked in discussions of his film career, were equally significant. Redford used his platform to raise awareness about climate change, public lands protection, and political transparency, often at personal and professional cost.
Robert Redford was not just a Hollywood legend—he was a generational voice, a cinematic pioneer, and a man who lived his values both on and off screen. His legacy endures not only in the films he made, but in the artists he inspired, the institutions he built, and the causes he championed.
He is survived by his wife Sibylle, daughters Shauna and Amy, and a legacy that forever shaped the face of American cinema.
