Entertainment

Robert Redford, Oscar-Winning Actor and Director, Dies at 89

Published SEP 16 2025

Story

Above: Robert Redford at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Oct. 29, 2021. Image credit: Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images

The Facts

Hollywood actor and Sundance Film Festival founder Robert Redford died on Tuesday at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah, according to his publicist Cindi Berger.
The Hollywood Reporter
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Redford, 89, died in his sleep, surrounded by those he loved at the place he loved, according to statements from his representatives to multiple news outlets. No cause of death has been given.
New York Post
Daily Mail
BBC News
The actor won an Academy Award for Best Director for "Ordinary People" in 1980 and received an honorary Oscar in 2002, along with multiple Golden Globe Awards throughout his career.
CNN
Daily Mail
Rolling Stone
Redford founded the Sundance Institute in 1981 and transformed a struggling film festival into the Sundance Film Festival in 1984, which became a major showcase for independent filmmakers.
CNN
Daily Mail
People
His most notable acting roles included "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" with Paul Newman in 1969, "The Sting" in 1973, "All the President's Men" in 1976, and "The Way We Were" with Barbra Streisand.
New York Post
NBC
The Times (UK)
Redford is survived by his second wife, Sibylle Szaggars, whom he married in 2009, and his daughters, Shauna and Amy, from his first marriage to Lola Van Wagenen, which lasted from 1958 to 1985.
The Hollywood Reporter
NBC
The Telegraph

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The Spin

Narrative A

Redford's death marks the end of an era for authentic American cinema and environmental activism. His commitment to independent filmmaking, as showcased through Sundance, gave voice to countless artists who might have otherwise gone unheard. The festival became a launching pad for directors like Quentin Tarantino, proving that meaningful stories don't need massive budgets to resonate with audiences.

CNN

Brian Krassenstein on X

Narrative B

While Redford championed independent film, his most incredible legacy remains his iconic performances in classic Hollywood movies that defined a generation. Films like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting" showcased the kind of star power and charisma that modern cinema lacks. His ability to embody the all-American ideal while maintaining artistic integrity set a standard that few actors have been able to match.

Variety

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