Hollywood Icon Robert Redford Dies at 89

Published on 17 September August 2025, by Juliette Blanc | California

Robert Redford, legendary actor, Oscar-winning director, and the visionary behind the Sundance Film Festival, has died at the age of 89. The Hollywood icon passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by his loved ones. His family has requested privacy as they mourn the loss, and no cause of death has been disclosed.

Robert Redford

Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford grew up as the son of an accountant. His career would go on to redefine American cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. As an actor, he rose to prominence in the 1970s with unforgettable performances in films such as The Candidate, All the President’s Men, and The Way We Were. His magnetic screen presence made him one of the defining stars of his generation.

In the 1980s, Redford transitioned to directing, making an extraordinary debut with Ordinary People (1980). The film earned him Academy Awards for both Best Director and Best Picture, cementing his place as a master storyteller. He went on to direct acclaimed works including Quiz Show, The Horse Whisperer, and The Milagro Beanfield War. In 2002, he received an Honorary Academy Award recognizing his remarkable contributions to the film industry and his lasting influence on generations of filmmakers.

Beyond Hollywood, Redford’s most enduring legacy may be the Sundance Film Festival, which he founded in Utah. Sundance became a beacon for independent cinema, championing bold voices and unconventional stories that often struggled to find space in mainstream Hollywood. Landmark films such as The Blair Witch Project, Garden State, and Napoleon Dynamite owe much of their success to the platform he created.

Redford’s personal life was marked by both joy and tragedy. He married historian Lola Van Wagenen in 1958, with whom he had four children. Their son Scott Anthony died in infancy in 1959, and their son James Redford, a filmmaker and activist, passed away in 2020. After their divorce, Redford remarried in 2009 to artist Sibylle Szaggars, who survives him.

With a career spanning more than six decades, Robert Redford leaves behind an extraordinary artistic and cultural legacy. He was more than a movie star; he was a pioneer who reshaped the boundaries of film and gave countless new artists a voice. His loss marks the end of an era, but his influence will continue to inspire the world of cinema for generations to come.