Cinema icon Robert Redford died today at the age of 89
- Jay Jacobson
- Sep 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 16
Very sad news to report, Robert Redford has died today at the age of 89. The major heartthrob of the 1970s (even my mother was smitten), he was considered the ultimate in good looks and boyish charm. Never at ease with being labeled a sex symbol, he pursued roles that emphasized depth over appearance. Just some of classics he appeared in include "Barefoot in the Park", "The Sting", "The Way We Were", "All the President's Men", "Three Days of the Condor", "The Natural", "Jeremiah Johnson", "The Candidate", "Downhill Racer", "All is Lost", "The Old Man & the Gun", "Out of Africa", "Sneakers", and the film that made him a star, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".Â
In addition to being one of Hollywood biggest movie stars, Redford also produced and directed films, and launched the Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Institute, making him one of the major forces in modern cinema. With Sundance, he gave voice to independent cinema, launching many independent filmmaker's careers, including Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Steven Soderbergh. Redford directed ten films, including his directorial debut, one of my all-time favorites, 1980's "Ordinary People", which won him a Best Director Academy Award. His others include "A River Runs Through It', "Quiz Show", and "The Horse Whisperer". In addition to producing some of the films he directed, the 50+ films and TV shows he produced or executive produced also include "Central Station", "The Motorcycle Diaries", "The Unforeseen", "The Mustang", and his final work, executive producing the TV series "Dark Winds".
An influential man, environmentalist, great humanitarian, and the face of creative and innovative filmmaking, Robert Redford will certainly be missed. Cinema has lost one of its most magnetic figures and one of its great champions. You can read more detailed information about the life and career of Robert Redford in my previous posts on "The Way We Were" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Just click on the film titles to open them.