Oscar-winning actor, director and activist Robert Redford passes away at 89

Redford was a wide activistic and godfather for autarkic cinema nether the sanction of 1 of his best-loved characters, the Sundance Kid.

Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, manager and godfather for autarkic cinema arsenic Sundance founder, has died astatine the property of 89.

Redford died “at his location astatine Sundance successful the mountains of Utah – the spot helium loved, surrounded by those helium loved,” publicist Cindi Berger said successful a connection Tuesday.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3Italian manner icon Giorgio Armani passes distant astatine 91
• list 2 of 3Over 1,300 artists vow boycott of Israeli movie institutions amid Gaza war
• list 3 of 3The Pitt wins champion TV play Emmy, arsenic warfare connected Gaza echoes astatine ceremony

No origin of decease was provided.

The iconic histrion and manager is champion known for his acclaimed performances successful All the President’s Men and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The tousled-haired and freckled heartthrob made his breakthrough alongside Paul Newman arsenic the affable outlaw successful the hippy Western “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” successful 1969.

Redford made hearts bushed faster successful romanticist roles specified arsenic “Out of Africa,” got governmental successful “The Candidate” and “All the President’s Men” and skewered his golden-boy representation successful roles similar the alcoholic ex-rodeo champ successful “The Electric Horseman” and middle-aged millionaire who offers to bargain enactment successful “Indecent Proposal.”

He ne'er won the champion histrion Oscar, but his archetypal outing arsenic a manager – the 1980 household play “Ordinary People” – won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

Despite their chemistry and agelong idiosyncratic friendship, Redford was ne'er to squad up again with Newman, who died successful 2008.

“Butch Cassidy” made blue-eyed Redford an overnight prima but helium ne'er felt comfy with personage oregon the antheral starlet representation that persisted precocious into his 60s.

“People person been truthful engaged relating to however I look, it’s a occurrence I didn’t go a self-conscious blob of protoplasm. It’s not casual being Robert Redford,” helium erstwhile told New York magazine.

His wavy blond hairsbreadth and boyish grin made him the astir desired of starring men, but helium worked hard to transcend his looks – whether done his governmental advocacy, his willingness to instrumentality connected unglamorous roles oregon his dedication to providing a level for low-budget movies.

Intensely private, helium bought onshore successful distant Utah successful the aboriginal 1970s for his household retreat and enjoyed a level of privateness chartless to astir superstars. He was joined for much than 25 years to his archetypal wife, earlier their divorcement successful 1985. In 2009, helium joined for a 2nd time, to German creator and longtime spouse Sibylle Szaggars.

He utilized the millions helium made to motorboat the Sundance Institute and Festival successful the 1970s, promoting autarkic filmmaking agelong earlier tiny and quirky were fashionable. The festival has go 1 of the astir influential autarkic movie showcases successful the world.

Redford utilized his prima presumption to besides softly champion biology causes specified arsenic the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Wildlife Federation.

“Some radical person analysis. I person Utah,” helium erstwhile remarked.

Although helium ne'er showed an involvement successful entering politics, helium often espoused a wide viewpoint. In a 2017 interview, during the presidency of Donald Trump, helium told Esquire mag that “politics is successful a precise acheronian spot close now” and that Trump should “quit for our benefit”.

In 2001, Redford won an honorary, oregon beingness achievement, Oscar.