“Reflecting on his 2015 interview, Robert Redford revealed how his deep friendship with Paul Newman—born during the making of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid—transcended Hollywood fame, shaping his life and career, and leaving him heartbroken yet profoundly grateful after Newman’s passing in 2008.”

Robert Redford and Paul Newman found something rare in Hollywood: A true  and lasting friendship | CNN

In a rare and deeply emotional interview recorded on October 5, 2015, legendary actor and filmmaker Robert Redford opened up about one of the most iconic friendships in Hollywood history — his remarkable bond with the late Paul Newman.

Speaking with warmth and reflection, Redford shared how their connection went far beyond the silver screen, describing a partnership rooted in mutual respect, humor, and an unspoken understanding that shaped both their lives and their careers.

Redford began by recalling how he was first cast alongside Newman in the 1969 Western classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a film that would forever define both men as cinematic icons.

“When George Roy Hill approached me with the script,” Redford said with a faint smile, “I didn’t realize it would lead to one of the most important relationships of my life.

Paul and I didn’t just click — we collided, in the best possible way.”

At the time, Newman was already an established superstar, known for Cool Hand Luke and The Hustler, while Redford was still carving out his place in Hollywood.

Many in the industry doubted whether the two men could share the screen without one overshadowing the other.

But as Redford explained, that tension never existed between them.

“Paul had no ego when it came to me.

He was confident, generous, and funny as hell.

I learned early on that our chemistry worked because we trusted each other completely.

He gave me space, and I gave him mine.

That’s rare in this business.”

 

The Legendary Bromance of Robert Redford and Paul Newman | Vanity Fair

 

Their off-screen friendship mirrored their on-screen dynamic — Newman, the wry veteran with a quick wit, and Redford, the thoughtful up-and-comer with quiet intensity.

Together, they created a cinematic duo that audiences adored.

Their natural ease in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid would later carry over to their 1973 reunion in The Sting, which went on to win seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Redford admitted that much of their camaraderie on film wasn’t acting at all.

“We’d improvise all the time,” he said, laughing.

“There’s a scene where we’re running from the posse, and Paul just looks at me and says something completely off-script — and I lose it.

That’s what made working with him special.

There was no pretense, no competition.Just joy.”

Over the years, the two men maintained a private but enduring friendship away from Hollywood’s spotlight.

Redford revealed that they often spoke about family, politics, and aging — never fame.

“Paul hated the idea of celebrity.

He just wanted to do good work and live honestly.

That’s what I admired most about him,” Redford reflected.

When Newman passed away in 2008 after a long battle with cancer, Redford said he felt as though a part of his own history had gone with him.

“Losing Paul was like losing my compass,” he admitted quietly.

“He had this grounding energy.

Whenever I started to take things too seriously, he’d cut through it with one of his jokes or that crooked smile of his.

Even now, I can still hear his voice in my head.”

Redford also confessed that Butch Cassidy almost didn’t happen the way audiences remember it.

Studio executives initially wanted Steve McQueen to play Sundance, but creative differences drove McQueen away.

“Paul fought for me,” Redford said.

 

Robert Redford and Paul Newman Had Legendary Bromance

 

“He told them I was right for the role — even when I was still a nobody in their eyes.

That kind of loyalty… it changed everything for me.”

The friendship continued until the end, built on honesty and mutual admiration.

“We didn’t need to talk every day,” Redford said.

“But when we did, it was real.

I miss that — the simplicity of it.”

As the conversation drew to a close, Redford grew pensive, his voice softening.

“Paul was more than a friend,” he said.

“He was a brother.

We didn’t always agree, but we always cared.

Our lives ran parallel in many ways — through the ups, the losses, the laughter.

And when I look back now, I realize that everything we built — the films, the friendship — was never really about fame.

It was about trust.

That’s what lasts.”

For fans who grew up watching Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Redford’s words offer a poignant glimpse into a friendship that defined an era — one built not on Hollywood glamour, but on loyalty, laughter, and a deep respect between two men who changed the face of American cinema forever.