With a career that spanned six decades and over 50 films, he was Hollywood’s original golden boy. He was one of the last real movie stars, leaving behind a legacy of iconic performances that defined an era.
When the news broke that iconic Hollywood actor Robert Redford had passed, there was a collective sadness that echoed throughout the world. Social media was filled with tributes to the actor, celebrating his life as one of the greatest movie stars of his generation. Before the George Clooney – Brad Pitt and Ryan Reynolds – Hugh Jackman bromance was a thing, there was Paul Newman and Robert Redford. The duo had aced the old-school prank long before they did.
As an actor, Redford’s career ran six decades strong, with over 50 movies in his filmography, including eight of which he directed. Adding gravitas to his work is the prestigious list of awards and nominations from the Oscars, BAFTA, and the Golden Globes that was attached to it. In 2002, he was given an Honorary Oscar for being an “inspiration to independent and innovative filmmakers everywhere,” presented by his The Way We Were co-star and friend Barbra Streisand, especially through his work at the Sundance Film Festival.
Redford hoped that the annual festival, which he founded in the early ‘80s under the Sundance Institute, “gives a voice to new artists,” and as a way to “give back to an industry that has been good to me.” Since then, it become a springboard for many independent films to make their way into the mainstream, and for aspiring filmmakers to connect with fellow creatives, actors, and industry folk.
Redford’s continued relevance as an actor became evident when he joined the Marvel universe as Hydra operative Alexander Pierce in several films, including Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which would be his final big screen appearance. Just six months before his passing, he did a cameo in the AMC+ series Dark Winds along with Game Of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.
Related Story: The stories we tell, according to director Ramona Diaz
Related Story: And the Oscar goes to…
The actor leaves behind a number of iconic movies that have defined Hollywood through the decades. Both on-screen and from behind the camera. Each one has left its mark in film history —for its artistry, his eye for storytelling, his acting, and, yes, those chiseled good looks —crossing across genres.
A perfect partnership
It almost felt like kismet that Redford found himself as half of one of the most memorable pairings onscreen. In 1969, he was cast opposite yet another of Hollywood’s greats —the charismatic and equally handsome Paul Newman —in Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, which became a box office hit. From there, the co-actors forged a lifelong friendship, the OG bromance even.
Director George Roy Hill hoped to replicate that success by pairing the blue-eyed actors (yes, they had the same eye color!) by casting them in the 1973 film The Sting, playing grifters trying to con a mob boss. The film was both a commercial and critical success, winning over 18 awards, including the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director that season.
Redford also was fortunate to have two iconic actresses as his leading ladies. In the Sydney Pollack drama, Out Of Africa, Redford plays the wildlife hunter, Denys, who meets the aristocratic Karen, played by the legendary Meryl Streep, who travels to Africa when her husband buys a coffee plantation. They carry on a romantic dalliance until fate forces their hand to make a life changing choice. The film, which came out in 1985, became a defining moment for Redford as a leading man, adding yet another layer to the actor’s appeal.
In the bittersweet love story The Way We Were, Redford appears with singer and actress Barbra Streisand. In the decades-spanning story, their characters first meet as college students with differing political ideologies. While life takes them down differing paths, they fall in love, but also fall prey to unmet expectations.
Both Redford and Streisand delivered powerful performances, breaking barriers in how love stories are told on film. The two also remained close friends through the years, with the actress posting a tribute to him, saying that “every day on the set… was exciting, intense, and pure joy… Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting, and one of the finest actors ever.”
The actor as a director
Redford also built a solid career as a director, earning critical acclaim for his work. One such obra is Ordinary People, the family drama that delves into the impact that grief and guilt have on the human psyche. He brought together some of the greatest, with the likes of Timothy Hutton, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Donald Sutherland.
Redford was lauded by critics and the industry alike for his direction and storytelling, laying the foundation for moving performances from this actors. This led to five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (for Hutton), and Best Director, cementing his place as a cinematic legend.
The much beloved film A River Runs Through It was yet another vehicle for Redford to showcase his love for filmmaking. That it starred his almost doppelganger, Brad Pitt, almost felt like heavenly alignment. The semi-autobiographical film, based on the book by Norman Mclean, follows the story of two brothers whose life takes a tragic turn. It became an instant classic, and a star vehicle for Pitt. Redford’s gravelly voice can be heard in the narration, creating one of the most poignant ending scenes ever on film.
While the world mourns Redford’s passing, it is borne with admiration not only for an exemplary body of work, but also for the advocacies he fought for. Quite an impressive legacy for the last of Hollywood true movie stars.
Related Story: ‘Conclave,’ ‘The Brutalist,’ take top honors at the BAFTAs
