Legendary actor and director Robert Redford has died at the age of 89 at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by family, marking the end of an era in Hollywood.

Robert Redford, the legendary actor, director, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 16, 2025, at his beloved home in Sundance, Utah.

He was 89. Redford’s passing marks the end of an era for Hollywood and the global film community.

Known for his magnetic performances in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and All the President’s Men, as well as his directorial achievements including Ordinary People and Quiz Show, Redford’s career spanned more than six decades, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment world.

Cindi Berger, chairman and CEO of Rogers & Cowan PMK, confirmed the actor’s death, stating that Redford died at home “surrounded by those he loved.” She noted that the family requested privacy during this time of mourning.

Redford’s final days were spent in the serene mountains of Utah, a place he cherished for both its natural beauty and its connection to the Sundance Institute, which he founded to nurture independent filmmaking.

Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford’s early life included both hardship and ambition.

He lost his mother as a teenager after a difficult pregnancy and experienced the death of his firstborn son, Scott, who died from sudden infant death syndrome. These early losses, however, did not deter Redford’s drive or vision.

He enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and quickly emerged as a promising talent on Broadway, making his debut in Tall Story in 1959 and later starring in Barefoot in the Park alongside Jane Fonda in 1963, reprising the role in the 1967 film adaptation.

Redford’s screen career began with television roles on series such as Tate, Route 66, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Twilight Zone.

His breakthrough came in 1969 with his portrayal of the Sundance Kid in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, where he starred opposite Paul Newman under the direction of George Roy Hill.

Reflecting on the casting process years later, Redford explained, “What interested me was the Sundance Kid because I could relate to that based on my own experience and particularly my own childhood and feeling like an outlaw most of my life.”

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Redford became a leading Hollywood heartthrob, balancing charm with remarkable depth as an actor.

Films such as The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), All the President’s Men (1976), and The Natural (1984) solidified his status as a screen legend.

His work behind the camera was equally impressive, with his direction of Ordinary People earning him the Academy Award for Best Director in 1980, and later directing films like A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, and The Legend of Bagger Vance.

Redford’s cinematic contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

Redford’s personal life reflected both triumph and tragedy. He was married to Sibylle Szaggars Redford, a multimedia artist, in 2009, describing her as a “very special person” who gave him a “whole new life.”

Together, they shared time at his Sundance Mountain Resort, where the couple first met in 1996. Redford also had four children with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen: Scott, Shauna, James, and Amy.

The death of his son James in 2020 from bile-duct cancer profoundly impacted Redford, who co-founded The Redford Center with James in 2005 to focus on environmental filmmaking and advocacy.

Redford’s environmental activism was a defining element of his public life.

He consistently used his platform to promote conservation and combat climate change, from his early 1970s appearance on 60 Minutes opposing a power-plant construction project to international efforts with the United Nations in 2015.

He believed in the power of film to inspire change, co-founding the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival to support independent filmmakers and give voice to stories that challenge, educate, and move audiences.

In his 2002 honorary Oscar speech, Redford reflected on the importance of nurturing artistic freedom, stating,

“To be able to be part of a freedom of expression that allows us as artists to tell our stories in our own way about the human condition, the complexities of life, the world around us, is a gift and not one to be taken lightly.”

Even in retirement, Redford remained active in creative and environmental pursuits.

After announcing plans to retire following his 2018 film The Old Man & the Gun, he returned to the screen in a cameo role on the 2025 thriller series Dark Winds, marking his final screen appearance.

He also lent his voice to projects highlighting environmental issues, including his wife’s performance-art piece The Way of the Rain — Hope for Earth. These contributions underscored Redford’s enduring commitment to storytelling and advocacy.

Redford’s impact extended beyond film and environmental activism. He was widely respected for mentoring young filmmakers and championing independent cinema through the Sundance Film Festival, which has become a global platform for emerging artists.

His dedication to the festival reflected his belief in the transformative power of storytelling to illuminate social issues and inspire change.

Survived by his wife Sibylle, daughters Shauna and Amy, and grandchildren, Redford leaves behind a legacy of cinematic excellence, social consciousness, and personal resilience.

While the world mourns the loss of an iconic figure, his contributions to film, environmental activism, and artistic freedom will continue to influence generations. Robert Redford’s life was a testament to the power of vision, passion, and integrity—both on and off the screen.

The mountains of Sundance, a place he cherished, now hold the memory of an actor, director, and activist whose presence will be felt for decades to come.