LOS ANGELES: Robert Redford, the Academy Award-winning actor, director, and activist who became one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons, has died at the age of 89.
He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Utah on Tuesday morning, according to a statement released by Cindi Berger, head of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born in Santa Monica, California, in 1936, Redford enjoyed a remarkable career spanning over six decades. He began his journey into acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his Broadway debut in 1959, portraying a basketball player in Tall Story.
Renowned for both his talent and charisma, Redford starred in a number of acclaimed films, including Inside Daisy Clover, This Property Is Condemned, The Chase, The Great Gatsby, and The Way We Were, solidifying his place as one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures.
While Robert Redford was widely recognised for his iconic windswept strawberry blonde hair, it was his progressive political views that profoundly shaped his career choices.
Films like The Candidate and All the President’s Men reflected his commitment to socially and politically conscious storytelling, helping define an era of politically engaged cinema.
Beyond acting and directing, Redford also left a lasting mark on the film industry as the founder of the Sundance Film Festival—an influential platform that champions independent films and voices often overlooked by mainstream studios.
Redford’s final acting appearance was a brief cameo in the 2022 AMC series Dark Winds. Prior to that, he reprised his role as Secretary Alexander Pierce in Avengers: Endgame.
Over the course of his career, Redford received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.
