Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, director and founder of the Sundance Film Festival whose work reshaped American cinema for decades, died at the age of 89. He died in his sleep Tuesday at his home in Utah, outside Provo, The New York Times reported.
Redford rose to international stardom in the 1960s and 1970s for performances in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men and The Sting. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People (1980) and later used his prominence to champion independent filmmaking, founding the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, institutions credited with launching many filmmakers' careers and transforming the U.S. independent film landscape.
Born in 1936, Redford built a career that combined leading-man roles with a steady pursuit of projects that reflected his interests in politics, nature and storytelling. He was widely praised for his work in political drama, investigative thrillers and character-driven films, and he frequently collaborated with leading directors and writers of his generation. As a director and producer, he moved between commercial and personal films, earning peers' respect and institutional recognition for his contributions behind the camera.
Beyond his film work, Redford was a prominent advocate for the arts and for environmental conservation. The Sundance Film Festival, created out of the Sundance Institute he established in the early 1980s, became a key showcase for independent filmmakers worldwide and helped change how films are discovered and distributed in the United States. Redford's involvement with the festival and the institute reflected his long-standing interest in nurturing new talent and supporting creative communities outside the Hollywood studio system.
Throughout his career, Redford received numerous honors recognizing both his performances and his broader contributions to cinema and culture. His legacy is tied to landmark films of the late 20th century, an influential role in building a national platform for independent film, and public advocacy for conservation and the arts.
News of his death prompted statements from peers and organizations associated with independent film and conservation, who noted his influence on generations of artists and activists. Details about memorials or funeral arrangements were not immediately available.
Redford's death marks the end of a career that spanned acting, directing, producing and institutional leadership. He remained a defining figure in American film, remembered for his on-screen performances and for creating spaces that allowed other voices in cinema to be heard.
Further reporting will seek additional details about his family, public memorials and reflections from collaborators and artists influenced by his work.