Los angeles: US actor and director Robert Redford, acclaimed for films including 'Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid,' 'All The President's Men' and 'The Sting,' has died aged 89. Redford, who was known for his activism, as well as his dashing good looks, also directed films such as 'Ordinary People,' for which he won an Oscar, and 'A River Runs Through It.'
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement from his publicist Cindi Berger, chairman and chief executive of talent agency Rogers and Cowan PMK, said: 'Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah, the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved.' The statement added, 'He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.'
Redford emerged as a Hollywood golden boy in the 1970s, capturing audiences with his leading roles in 'Barefoot In The Park' with Jane Fonda, and 'Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid' alongside Paul Newman. His performance in 1973's 'The Sting,' which reunited him with Newman, earned him an Oscar nomination. He also starred opposite Faye Dunaway in 'Three Days Of The Condor' and Barbra Streisand in 'The Way We Were,' before portraying Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward in the Watergate film 'All The President's Men' in 1976, alongside Dustin Hoffman as Carl Bernstein.
Transitioning from acting to directing, Redford secured an Oscar for his directorial debut, 'Ordinary People.' Other notable directorial efforts included 'The Milagro Beanfield War,' 'A River Runs Through It,' 'Quiz Show,' and 'The Horse Whisperer,' in which he starred with Scarlett Johansson and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Redford's advocacy for independent cinema led to the creation of the Sundance Institute and its renowned Sundance Film Festival. The festival helped launch the careers of directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh, and served as a platform for films like 'Reservoir Dogs,' 'Sex, Lies And Videotape,' 'The Blair Witch Project,' 'Little Miss Sunshine,' and the Oscar-winning 'Coda.'
Throughout his career, Redford continued to act, with memorable roles in 'The Natural,' 'Out Of Africa,' and 'Indecent Proposal,' alongside Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson. In 2013, he received critical acclaim for his performance as a shipwrecked sailor in 'All Is Lost,' where he was the sole performer. Recently, he ventured into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying double agent Alexander Pierce.
Beyond his cinematic contributions, Redford was a committed environmentalist and climate activist. In 2005, he founded The Redford Centre, an environmental non-profit that produces films and provides grants to filmmakers addressing climate change and environmental issues, alongside his late son James.
Redford and ex-wife Lola Van Wagenen had four children: Scott, who died in infancy; Shauna; Amy; and James, who passed away from bile duct cancer at 58. In 2009, Redford married his second wife, artist Sibylle Szaggars Redford.
