Robert Redford (1936-2025): Actor, director, activist, indie cinema patron

Hollywood icon Robert Redford died on Tuesday at the age of 89. He passed away in his sleep at his home in Sundance, the ski resort in Utah that he had acquired in 1968, renamed after one of his most loved movies, and used as the base for the respected Sundance Film Festival.

Redford wore many hats during his career – actor, director, producer, patron of independent cinema, an advocate of worthy causes, especially environmentalism. Decades before Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, Redford embodied the gorgeous blonde and effortlessly cool movie star who balanced crowd-pleasing roles with more serious, character-oriented projects. His peak was in the 1970s, a decade in which he slipped easily into the politically conscious movies being made by rebels within Hollywood.

Redford wasn’t content with headlining movies. He turned director with Ordinary People in 1980 and helmed a string of acclaimed dramas, including A River Runs Through It and Quiz Show. Redford’s contribution to cinema extended to setting up the Sundance Film Festival in 1978 to showcase independent cinema as well as the non-profit Sundance Institute to support filmmakers through fellowships and laboratories.

In a statement, the Sundance Institute said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and friend Robert Redford. Bob’s vision of a...

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