Robert Redford, Hollywood icon and Sundance creator, dies at 89
Oscar-winning actor and director Robert Redford has died at his Sundance home in Utah at age 89, his representative confirms.
Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, and President Donald Trump are among those paying tribute to Robert Redford, the acclaimed Hollywood star and Sundance Institute founder who died at 89 on Tuesday.
Redford, who led an impressive and enduring career in front of the camera and behind it, died at his home in Utah on Tuesday, Sept. 16. He was known for many films, including “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “All the President’s Men,” “The Way We Were,” and “Out of Africa.”
Born in Santa Monica and raised in Van Nuys, Redford attended Van Nuys High School, where he was, according to a 1970 article from the Valley Times, a star tennis player and remembered by classmates as an artist.
Awarded with major accolades such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Kennedy Center Honors, Redford was also known for his environmental activism, and in an opinion piece published on CNN, he wrote about how he could still remember viewing the landscape of Yosemite National Park as a child, knowing “immediately that I was somewhere special.” The Academy Award-winning actor made headlines last year after he put his multi-million dollar home in Tiburon on the market.
Ron Howard, Colman Domingo and more of Hollywood pay tribute to Robert Redford
Meryl Streep, who starred opposite Redford in the 1985 romance “Out of Africa,” said in a statement: “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”
Morgan Freeman, who appeared in the 1980 Redford-starring film “Brubaker,” paid tribute to him in a post on X.
“There are certain people you know that you’re going to click with. After working with Robert Redford on Brubaker in 1980, we instantly became friends,” Freeman said. “Working with him again in An Unfinished Life was a dream come true. Rest peacefully, my friend.”
Actor Antonio Banderas described Redford as “an icon of cinema in every sense,” in a post on X.
“Robert Redford leaves us, an icon of cinema in every sense. Actor, director, producer, and founder of the Sundance Festival,” Banderas said. “His talent will continue to move us forever, shining through the frames and in our memory. RIP.”
Actor Marlee Matlin described Redford as a “genius” in her tribute.
“Our film, CODA, came to the attention of everyone because of Sundance,” Matlin said.
“CODA” won three Oscars in 2022, including for Best Picture.
“And Sundance happened because of Robert Redford,” Matlin continued.
Director Ron Howard described Redford as an “Artistic Gamechanger” in his tribute Tuesday.
“#RIP & thank you RobertRedford, a tremendously influential cultural figure for the creative choices made as an actor/producer/director & for launching the Sundance Film Festival which supercharged America’s Independent Film movement,” Howard said.
Actor Colman Domingo thanked Redford for “his everlasting impact” in a post on X.
Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton pay tribute to Robert Redford
In news clips published on Tuesday, President Donald Trump reacted to the news about Redford’s passing.
“Robert Redford was great,” Trump said, adding that there was a series of years when nobody was better than the actor.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she admired Redford “not only for his legendary career as an actor and director but for what came next,” in a post on Instagram.
“He championed progressive values like protecting the environment and access to the arts while creating opportunities for new generations of activists and filmmakers,” Clinton said. “A true American icon.”
USA TODAY reporters Brian Truitt and Taijuan Moorman contributed to this story.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.