Meryl Streep on Tuesday mourned the death of her Out of Africa co‑star Robert Redford, calling the late actor and filmmaker “one of the lions” as colleagues and fans remembered a six‑decade career that encompassed acting, directing, producing and environmental advocacy.
Redford, 89, died in his sleep on Tuesday at his home in Utah, his family said. No immediate details on survivors or funeral arrangements were released.
In a statement to Deadline, Streep called Redford “my lovely friend” and said, “One of the lions has passed.” The pair starred opposite one another in the 1985 romance‑drama Out of Africa. Tributes also came from other industry figures. Leonardo DiCaprio posted a black‑and‑white photograph of Redford on Instagram and described him as an “actor, activist, passionate environmentalist, and champion of the arts,” saying Redford’s impact would endure.
Redford’s career spanned more than half a century. He earned the Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People in 1980 and became widely known as an on‑screen leading man in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Candidate. He later founded the Sundance Film Festival and the Sundance Institute, institutions that have had a substantial influence on American independent film.
In later years Redford focused on producing and selective screen work. He was the executive producer of the 2019 film The Mustang and contributed voice work to projects including 2020’s Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia. He appeared in television and streaming projects, including a 2023 voice cameo in White House Plumbers that reprised his All the President’s Men role as Bob Woodward, and a surprise on‑camera appearance in the 2024 season premiere of the Western thriller Dark Winds.
Redford spoke publicly about stepping back from acting in 2018 after The Old Man & the Gun, telling interviewers at the time that he had been acting since his early 20s and was “moving toward retirement.” He later called the retirement announcement a mistake and said he should have said less about his future plans.
Throughout his life, Redford combined his film work with environmental and civic engagement, championing conservation causes and lending his name and profile to cultural institutions. His work behind the camera and his founding of Sundance helped launch the careers of filmmakers and brought attention to independent storytelling in the United States.
Reaction from colleagues, former collaborators and film organizations reflected Redford’s multifaceted legacy as an actor, director, producer and advocate for artistic independence. Representatives for Redford did not immediately provide further comment, and details about memorial plans remained pending.
Redford’s death adds to a year of high‑profile passings in the entertainment industry and prompted renewed attention to his body of work, from early leading roles to later efforts to support other artists and causes. His contributions to cinema and the institutions he helped build are likely to be the focus of retrospectives and tributes in the weeks ahead.