Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor and director who founded the Sundance Film Festival and helped reshape American independent cinema, died Tuesday at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah, his publicist Cindi Berger said. He was 89.
Redford’s death prompted widespread tributes from colleagues, filmmakers and political figures who credited him with an enduring influence on movies, philanthropy and conservation. The marquee of the Egyptian Theatre in Park City, Utah, was changed Tuesday to read: "Applause for Bob Redford! Thank you Sundance Kid!"
Colman Domingo said Redford had an "everlasting impact" on movies, and director Ron Howard called the Sundance Film Festival a "game changer" for independent filmmakers. "Reservation Dogs" director Sterlin Harjo said Redford empowered filmmakers and helped create opportunities for underrepresented voices. The responses, from actors Jane Fonda, Leonardo DiCaprio and Barbra Streisand to political figures such as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, reflected the breadth of Redford’s influence across the entertainment industry and beyond.
Redford rose to stardom in the late 1960s and 1970s with performances in films including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a role that helped cement his public persona. He expanded his career into directing with films such as Quiz Show and was associated with politically charged thrillers including Three Days of the Condor and All the President’s Men. As an actor, director and producer, he was widely praised for a spare, naturalistic screen presence and a commitment to storytelling that often intersected with civic concerns.
Beyond his work on screen, Redford’s founding of the Sundance Institute and its Film Festival in Park City, Utah, established a crucial platform for independent filmmakers in the United States and internationally. Filmmakers and producers credited Sundance with helping to bring attention to films that later reached broader audiences; some pointed to Sundance’s role in amplifying films such as CODA as an example of that influence.
Redford was also known for his environmental activism. He was a member of the Natural Resources Defense Council and worked on conservation and Indigenous rights issues, drawing praise from colleagues who said his advocacy matched his artistic commitments.
Tributes highlighted both professional accomplishments and personal warmth. Directors and actors recalled Redford’s mentorship and generosity. Ron Howard described the festival he helped create as transformative for cinema; Sterlin Harjo emphasized how Redford’s support opened doors for Native filmmakers and other storytellers historically excluded from mainstream platforms.
Redford’s career spanned decades, with notable acting roles that ranged from romantic dramas such as The Way We Were to gritty moral portraits and ensemble pieces. He won an Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People and received numerous honors for his contributions to film and civic life.
The responses underscored the unusual combination of stardom, artistic ambition and institutional building that defined Redford’s public life. In Utah, where he lived much of the year, officials and cultural figures noted his devotion to the landscape and to making the state a center for storytelling and the arts.
Funeral arrangements and additional details about memorials were not immediately released. For many in the film community, Redford’s death marks the loss of a figure who not only shaped American cinema but also created structures — most visibly the Sundance Institute and Festival — that continue to influence which stories reach audiences and how filmmakers find their voices.