He pulled off an impressive late-career performance as a stranded sailor in All Is Lost.
(Fun fact: it’s one of very few films that passes the “Reverse Bechdel Test,” in that there are no scenes where two men discuss anything besides a woman.)
Robert Redford is a character in the Watchmen universe. President of the United States for 26 years and counting.
Truly the end of an era. Coincidentally, the clothing company under the name Sundance Catalog has gone out of business.
Robert Redford made a truly fine quiet movie in Ordinary People. I’m glad that it won Best Picture over Raging Bull. Most of the praise over Raging Bull is for Robert DeNiro’s performance, and he won for Best Actor, which was deserved. But the other actors? Joe Pesci was just being Joe Pesci. Entertaining, but not much of a stretch.
Ordinary People had FOUR stellar performances in Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and especially Timothy Hutton and the movie richly deserved the Oscar for Best Picture that year, in my opinion.
So farewell, Robert Redford. You done good.
I’m more shocked by him being 89. He was in The Natural hitting bombs a mere 41 years ago, for chrissakes, and was born a mere 2 years after his manager in that film, Wilford Brimley…
One of my all-time-favorites. I’ll watch it this weekend in his honor.
And some folks say he’s up there still.
Me, too.
First, go immediately and read the delicious trivia section at IMDB. 
Let’s also remember that he was a champion of independent film. He created Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival. Directors who made their debuts at Sundance include Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Steven Soderberg, Richard Linklater, Darren Aronofsky, Wes Anderson, and the Coen Brothers.
I have 3 middle school friends who went on to become professional filmmmakers. They recently did that documentary about Paula Dean.
They got their start at Sundance, with a movie about a college rape case.
My favorite Redford anecdote comes from Mike Nichols. They’d worked together in Barefoot in the Park, and Redford wanted Nichols to cast him as the lead in Nichols’s new movie, The Graduate.
Nichols told him no. “You can’t play a loser.”
Redford insisted he could.
Nichols said, “No you can’t. Look at you. How often do you strike out with a woman?”
Redford’s baffled response: “What do you mean?”
He didn’t understand the concept. It had never happened.
generally, people look better in person rather than film/pictures. i’ve not seen mr redford in person, the thought that he was better looking in person is… hhhmm… i would guess “stunning”.
john difool, even though he was a walking billboard for “use sunscreen!!” he really did not look his age.
I’m baffled by multiple people (not here) saying, “I thought he was already dead.” Seriously? This is going to be A Whole Thing, with everyone who’s ever worked with/for him giving eulogies, and a tribute at the Oscars, and so forth. If that had already happened, they’d remember. Also, he never really retired, so it’s not like the last thing he was in was 15 or 20 years ago. “Already dead” my…foot.
I haven’t seen enough love for A River Runs Through It, which he directed. Such a beautiful film to look at. One of my favorites.
Being a motorcycle guy, I thought Little Fauss and Big Halsy was kinda fun, but it was really terrible. I often wondered how they got Bob to do it.
It all makes sense now…
After Robert Redford dropped out of Blue (1968), Paramount sued him for violating his three-picture deal; the lawsuit was dropped in his agreement to play Halsy in May 1969.
I remember seeing The Electric Cowboy at the theater. Redford’s experience and love for horses made his performance special.
The Natural is another favorite of mine. I’m not a baseball fan. But that movie is all about 2nd chances and redemption.
Redford’s biggest contribution is starting the Sundance Film Festival.
RIP Bob
I, too, am saddened at this news.
I grew up in Salt Lake City, moved around some and then returned for a few years in my early 20s. This was in the early 80s. Robert Redford was a consistent presence in the area that one couldn’t avoid, such was his popularity and impact.
My sister and I went to dinner one night at a swanky upscale restaurant where my sister had once worked and still knew many of the staff. Big buzz – Robert Redford was dining there that night, too! We watched as he arrived and made his way to his party, kind and patient to everyone who stopped him to express admiration or ask for an autograph. (We did not join the scrum.) I remember being mildly surprised that his physical stature was quite small. Nonetheless, he exuded huge presence.
Eventually he was seated somewhere out of our view.
Awhile later, one of the wait staff fellows fairly twinkled over to our table, breathless and flushed. He was clutching a fork close in front of him: “He ate with this fork! Robert Redford ate with this fork!” Giddy and overcome, he was. We were pleased for him to have bagged such a souvenir.
I’ll never forget that evening.
My favorite work of Mr. Redford’s was a film he directed but didn’t take an acting part in: The Milagro Beanfield War. It charmed me down to my toes, and I can never pass it by if I happen to see it on a channel.
Rest in peace, Mr. Redford. You were a good 'un and you made a difference.
Robert Redford: The Environmental Movement Has Lost a Giant
“For five decades, Redford was an Natural Resources Defense Council trustee, selflessly working to elevate its issues and support the organization”
Remember the foot chase scene in The Sting? The guy who was chasing him had no chance because he could run….fast.
He died before he could see Sundance finally launch in Boulder, Colorado, where he first wanted it to be. After doing a year of college here, he came back in the mid 70s to try and sell the state and university on hosting a film festival, but they weren’t interested.
In this area he’ll always be remembered as a janitor at a pizza restaurant.
Through adversities to the stars. His legacy is boundless.