Los Angeles/Utah, September 16, 2025 – Robert Redford, the legendary actor, Oscar-winning director, and champion of independent cinema, passed away at the age of 89. According to his publicist Cindi Berger, Redford died peacefully at his beloved Sundance home in the Utah mountains, surrounded by family.
“Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly,” Berger said in a statement. The family has requested privacy during this time of mourning.
Hollywood Royalty Who Shaped Independent Cinema
Redford became a household name through iconic roles in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were, and All the President’s Men. Beyond acting, he cemented his legacy as a director with the critically acclaimed Ordinary People, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and earned him an Oscar for Best Director.
In 1981, Redford founded the Sundance Institute, nurturing young talent and creating the annual Sundance Film Festival, now the most influential showcase for independent films in the United States. Many celebrated filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh, got their big break through Sundance.
A Reluctant Leading Man Who Pushed Boundaries
Despite being one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars in the 1970s, Redford often rejected the idea of being typecast as just a “handsome leading man.” He took on daring projects, including political dramas and socially relevant films that studios initially resisted.
His later acting credits include Our Souls at Night (2017) with Jane Fonda and The Old Man & the Gun (2018), which he said would be his final acting role. However, Redford never truly retired, saying, “To me, retirement means stopping something. There’s this life to lead — why not live it as much as you can as long as you can?”
A Life Dedicated to Art, Nature, and Activism
Born in 1936 in Santa Monica, California, Redford grew up fascinated by mythology and storytelling. He discovered a love for art and baseball, earning a sports scholarship to the University of Colorado before pursuing theater in New York City.
A passionate environmentalist, Redford moved to Utah in 1961 and spent decades advocating for the preservation of America’s wilderness. He merged his love for nature and film through the Sundance Institute, located in the pristine Utah mountains.
Legacy and Family
Redford’s impact on film, culture, and activism is immeasurable. He is survived by his wife, Sibylle Szaggars Redford, daughters Shauna and Amy, and seven grandchildren. His son David Redford, a filmmaker and philanthropist, passed away in 2020.
Redford’s career remains a blueprint for actors seeking more than stardom — a reminder that storytelling can inspire change and preserve truth.