Robert Redford, Oscar Winner and Sundance Founder, Dies at 89
Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Redford redefined what a leading man could be and built a home for independent voices through Sundance. He used his influence to push culture forward. His passing is not merely the loss of a beloved actor but the loss of a mentor, filmmaker, activist, and voice that helped shape Hollywood for more than half a century.
The Films That Made Him Unforgettable
Robert Redford was the reason so many films became timeless. In Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, he was the charming outlaw who made us root for the anti-hero. It was in The Sting, that he played the clever con man pulling off one of the greatest capers in movie history. In All the President’s Men, he gave weight and determination to the role of Bob Woodward, capturing the spirit of journalism at its most fearless. And in The Way We Were, he became the romantic lead people are still sighing over decades later.
What made these performances so powerful was Redford’s calm confidence.
As his career went on, he continued to surprise audiences. Out of Africa and Jeremiah Johnson showed his dramatic range. Later, in films like All Is Lost and The Old Man & the Gun, he proved he could still hold the screen with little more than a look or a gesture.
Redford also proved himself behind the camera. In 1980, his directorial debut Ordinary People won both the Academy Award for Best Director and the Oscar for Best Picture. It was the start of a second career as a filmmaker who cared deeply about honest, human storytelling.
Building a Community of Independent Voices
One of Robert Redford’s greatest gifts to film didn’t come from Hollywood at all. It came from the mountains of Utah. In 1981, he started the Sundance Institute, which soon gave rise to the Sundance Film Festival.
What began as a small gathering quickly evolved into the most significant platform for independent filmmakers. For decades, Sundance gave a spotlight to voices that might never have been heard otherwise. Directors like Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Damien Chazelle all got their start because Redford created a place that welcomed risk, originality, and vision.
As Ron Howard said in his tribute, Redford was “a tremendously influential cultural figure for the creative choices made as an actor, producer, and director, and for launching the Sundance Film Festival, which supercharged America’s independent film movement.”
Actress Marlee Matlin expressed it powerfully: “Our film CODA came to the attention of everyone because of Sundance. And Sundance happened because of Robert Redford. A genius has passed.”
A Life Recognized
Over the years, Redford collected some of the highest honors in film and beyond. He won an Oscar for directing Ordinary People, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globes, and later received an Honorary Academy Award. The Screen Actors Guild gave him its Life Achievement Award. The Kennedy Center honored him for his contribution to the arts. President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. France even presented him with an Honorary César.
But for Redford, trophies and medals were never the point. What mattered most was using his platform to tell stories that mattered and to stand up for the environment, a cause he supported all his life.
The Family He Left Behind
Redford’s life was filled with love and loss. He had four children with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen. Scott (who passed away as an infant), Shauna, James, and Amy. His son James, also a filmmaker and activist, died in 2020 following a long battle with cancer.
In his later years, Redford shared his life with artist and activist Sibylle Szaggars, who remained by his side until the end. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by family and left behind two children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Remembered by Friends and Fans Alike
Author Stephen King called him part of “a new and exciting Hollywood in the ’70s and ’80s.” Film critic Richard Roeper praised his body of work as “a library, a legacy.” Actor William Shatner, journalist Jake Tapper, and countless others joined in, each adding their own voice to the outpouring of love and respect.
What He Leaves Behind
Robert Redford’s passing may close one chapter, but it is not yet an end to his story. His films will continue to inspire new audiences. Sundance will keep opening doors for talent that might otherwise go unheard. His lifelong commitment to art, truth, and the natural world will remain a guide for generations to come.
Ron Howard said it best in his tribute: Robert Redford was an “artistic gamechanger.” For that, the world of film and beyond will always be grateful.