Robert Redford, the actor and director who became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars with roles in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men, died on September 16, 2025. He was 89.
His publicist, Cindi Berger, confirmed that the acting legend passed away in his sleep at his home at Sundance in the Utah mountains, surrounded by family. “He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy,” Berger said in a statement.
Born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before turning to stage work.
He made his Broadway debut in 1959 with Tall Story and gained further attention, playing a newlywed husband in Neil Simon’s 1963 stage play Barefoot in the Park. He also reprised the role in the 1967 film version alongside Jane Fonda.
His early television work in the 1960s included appearances on Tate, The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Untouchables. His breakthrough came in 1969 when the actor starred as the Sundance Kid opposite Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Over the years, Redford balanced acting with directing and producing, winning critical acclaim for films such as Ordinary People (1980) and A River Runs Through It (1992).
In addition to his screen works, the multifaceted entertainment legend founded the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, which gave new life to independent cinema. His honors include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and five Golden Globes.
At the time of his death, Redford was married to Sibylle Szaggars. He is also survived by his daughters, Shauna and Amy, as well as several grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Two of his children, Scott Anthony and James, died before him.
When Is Robert Redford’s Funeral?
No funeral plans have been publicly announced yet. When details are shared, the service is expected to be held in Utah, the place Redford long called home.
Robert Redford’s Last Words
There are no records of Redford’s final words before his death. What remains instead is the last interview the late Hollywood star gave in November 2024 to Orion Magazine, where he reflected on what he believed mattered most for the next generation of filmmakers.
He urged young artists to slow down and connect deeply with their work rather than rush from one project to another. That connection, he explained, is what gives a creator the strength to stay with an idea until it sparks real change. He also encouraged them not to be shaken by rejection, reminding them that belief in their own vision has to be stronger than the doubts of others.
For Redford, the future of storytelling rested with younger voices. He told them to craft stories that would speak directly to their peers, insisting that they had the power to shape culture if they trusted their voice. To close, he borrowed the words of T. S. Eliot: “For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.”
Last Appearance
Redford’s final on-screen moment came six months before his death. On March 9, 2025, he appeared in the season three premiere of AMC’s Dark Winds, making a brief cameo with fellow executive producer George R. R. Martin.
In that scene, he delivered a line that wasn’t in the script, making it the last unscripted moment of his career.
