Robert Redford, Actor And Champion Of Independent Film, Dies Aged 89

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UNITED STATES – Actor, Director, and producer Robert Redford died today at the age of 89.

Redford passed away at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah, surrounded by his loved ones.

ZACHARY GOELMAN – REPORTING
“Robert Redford, who cut the mold as a quintessential handsome Hollywood leading man and devoted himself to supporting independent films, has died at the age of 89.

Redford was once dismissed as “just another California blond.” But his charm and craggy good looks made him one of the industry’s most bankable leading men for half a century.

His role in the 1969 western caper “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” alongside Paul Newman launched him as one of the world’s most recognizable and best-loved movie stars.

He made hearts flutter in romantic roles such as “Out of Africa.” 

He played the dogged real-life journalist Bob Woodward in “All the President’s Men.” 

And he played against type, acting a smarmy and middle-aged millionaire in “Indecent Proposal.”

He used the millions he made to launch the Sundance Institute and Festival in the 1970s, promoting independent filmmaking.

“Our job and our role is to create a space and a platform to bring new voices and new ways of seeing the world using independent film to this place. That’s it. We’re not interested in the money, that’s somebody else’s issue.”

Intensely private, he bought land in remote Utah in the early 1970s for his family retreat and enjoyed a level of privacy unknown to most superstars. 

He was married for more than 25 years to his first wife, before their divorce in 1985. In 2009, he married for a second time.

Redford used his star status to seek out challenging film projects and to quietly champion environmental causes such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Wildlife Federation.

“Well, first of all, we don’t have a red carpet, that’s the first thing that’s nice. Secondly, I live here, and I’m happy to do something here where I live, and the fact that I can bring something here to this community, and also tie it to the film festival, which is great, so I’m pretty happy.”

He never won the Oscar for best actor but his 1980 directorial debut won best director and best picture. In 2001, he won an honorary Academy Award..”