Film icon Robert Redford passes away at age 89

Hollywood icon Robert Redford has died at the age of 89. He was one of the most influential film stars of his time, branching out into directing, environmental activism, and independent film. Tessa Bennett sat down with Redford’s biographer and longtime friend to reflect on the legacy he leaves behind…

The Hollywood golden boy and Sundance Film Festival founder, Robert Redford, has died at the age of 89. His publicist confirmed he passed away in his sleep at his home just outside Provo, Utah.

The actor-producer-director, who had an impressive film run in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were, and All the President’s Men, had worked less frequently in front of and behind the camera in recent years. His last on-screen acting role was 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, where he reprised his role as Secretary Alexander Pierce, a character he had portrayed for years. Michael Feeney Callan, Redford’s biographer and longtime friend, says he was like a poem—each aspect of his life and career coming together to create a unique legacy. In his heyday back in the ’70s and ’80s, few other actors possessed the same star wattage—and tousled blonde locks—as Redford.

Through his environmental work and efforts to support independent filmmakers, Redford used his Hollywood star power to challenge the status quo and promote creativity in all aspects of film. His career reached a milestone in 1981 when he earned an Oscar for directing the film Ordinary People. Some of the greatest gifts left behind by the late actor are the Sundance Institute, his mentorship of young filmmakers, and of course, the Sundance Film Festival. Tributes from former co-workers, friends, and fans continue to pour in, highlighting the legacy Robert Redford leaves behind.

(Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images)