Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, director and founder of the Sundance Institute, died in his sleep at his home in Utah on Tuesday, his publicist said. He was 89.
Cindi Berger, chief executive of publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, announced his death, saying Redford died at his home outside of Provo. In what has been described as his final published interview, Redford spoke to Orion magazine in November about the responsibilities and opportunities facing young filmmakers.
In that interview, Redford counseled emerging directors and writers to "start by getting involved" and to remain patient enough to let their work "sink in" so they feel connected to it. He advised them not to be deterred by rejection: "You have to believe in your own projects and ideas more than anyone else," he said, adding that creators should seek elements in their stories that will attract and hold attention.
Redford emphasized the role of young people in carrying cinema forward, saying that stories that engage younger audiences are vital to the medium's future. He quoted the poet T.S. Eliot, saying, "For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business," as a way to frame the persistence needed in creative work.
Redford rose to prominence as one of Hollywood’s leading men with roles in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men. He moved behind the camera later in his career and won the Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People in 1981. He earned additional Oscar recognition for directing Quiz Show (1994), which was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director.
In 1981 Redford founded the Sundance Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting independent filmmakers. In 1984 he reimagined a small regional event into what became the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, which grew into a premier showcase for new voices in cinema. The festival became an early platform for filmmakers who later achieved mainstream success, including Quentin Tarantino, Ava DuVernay, James Wan and Darren Aronofsky.
Throughout a career that spanned decades, Redford continued acting while also maintaining an active role in promoting independent film. His later screen appearances included the 2015 adaptation A Walk in the Woods, in which he played travel writer Bill Bryson, and the 1993 drama Indecent Proposal. His awards roster included multiple Golden Globes as well as his Academy Award for directing.
Redford’s advocacy for emerging artists and for independent institutions reshaped parts of the American film landscape. The Sundance Institute and the festival he helped forge remained central outlets for filmmakers seeking development resources and audiences outside the studio system.
Friends, colleagues and institutions that grew from his initiatives have noted his long-term influence on both mainstream and independent cinema. Redford’s November remarks to Orion underscored themes he reiterated across his career: mentorship, persistence and the need for storytelling that speaks to young audiences.
No further details about the circumstances of his death were released by Berger. Redford is survived by family members and a professional legacy that includes his film work, his awards and the institutions he founded.