Oscar-Winning Actor Robert Redford, Best Known for ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,’ Dies at 89
The Oscar-winning director and actor passed away at his Utah mountain home, capping a legacy that influenced the development of contemporary cinema.
On September 16, 2025, Robert Redford passed away. He lent passion, style, and subdued defiance to some of the most iconic performances in movie history. He was eighty-nine. His death signifies the end of a period for both the highly inventive independent film industry and popular blockbusters.
Rogers & Cowen PMK CEO Cindi Berger made the announcement in a somber statement on Tuesday. The cause of the actor’s death has not yet been disclosed, but it was stated that he passed away while sleeping.
From Frontrunner to Sector Leader
In addition to being a well-liked actor, Redford was a cultural influence whose films changed the definition of what American filmmaking could be. Although he never shied away from fame, making movies that would do more than just amuse him was his true ambition.
As the endearing outlaw in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) and the eerily motivated character in the political thriller “All the President’s Men” (1976), he left a lasting impression.
However, his list of legendary roles didn’t end there. “Three Days of the Condor,” “The Sting,” “Barefoot in the Park,” “The Way We Were,” and the romantic drama “Out of Africa” with Meryl Streep are among his other well-known films.
A Director with a Mission and No Proof
Redford was not satisfied with simply controlling the screen by the time he reached forty. He demonstrated his ability to be an expert in every aspect of the art by stepping behind the camera.
He released “Ordinary People,” a heartbreaking family drama that astounded both audiences and reviewers, in 1980. Redford’s reputation as a true auteur with a knack for emotionally unvarnished storytelling was cemented when the film won three Academy Awards, including the coveted Best Picture.
“The Milagro Beanfield War,” which debuted a few years later, was a daring artistic move despite being less popular at the box office. Nevertheless, he never made a decision he didn’t support, and his ethics guided every decision he made behind the camera.
His incisive, politically charged “Quiz Show” (1994), which garnered four Oscar nominations, and the stunningly beautiful “A River Runs Through It” (1992) followed, demonstrating that his intuition was always correct, even when the subject matter was difficult or uncommercial.
Redford’s final, subtle appearance on television occurred in the series “Dark Winds,” when he co-starred with author George RR Martin. In the first episode, they play chess with two prisoners. Redford also produced the show’s 20 episodes.
A Tradition That Revolutionized Film
However, his most significant impact was probably behind the scenes, where he used vision, tenacity, and mentoring to help create the future of film.
Redford established the nonprofit Sundance Institute in 1981 with the goal of finding and fostering fresh talent and ideas in the film industry. Three years later, he took over a struggling film festival in Utah, changed its name to Sundance, and turned it into one of the world’s most significant film festivals.
A Bare and Bittersweet Hollywood Romance
In addition to his career, Redford led a fascinating personal life. As previously said, Jane Fonda, one of his costars, disclosed some complex information about him in 2023. Together, Redford and Fonda starred in the motion pictures “The Electric Horseman” and “Barefoot in the Park.”
Fonda claimed that although she was in love with Redford during their time together, he never maintained a cheerful demeanor when filming and disliked giving hugs on-screen. She said:
“He disliked sharing a kiss. I remained silent. Additionally, he’s constantly in a foul temper, and I’ve always blamed myself.”
Fonda, however, claimed that Redford was a decent man and that they always enjoyed each other’s company. The actor’s only fault, she said, was that he had problems with women.
Years Later, A Reunion, and A Fresh View
In later years, Fonda and Redford collaborated once more. In the 2017 movie “Our Souls at Night,” they both made appearances.
Fonda claimed that this time she finally understood that his moods were unrelated to her. She disclosed that she was no longer worried by Redford’s habit of arriving at the set three hours late and in a foul temper.
His Second Marriage
Redford had two marriages and was a family man in addition to being an actor. In 1996, he met Sibylle Szaggars, his second wife. Before getting married in July 2009 in Szaggars’ native Germany, the couple had been dating for years.
For more than 25 years, the actor and Szaggars were together. Redford claimed, “She’s a very special person,” that he was always in love with his wife. It’s a completely new life because she’s younger than me and European, which I adore.”
Like Redford, Szaggars is a creative, but she has adopted a different strategy. The wife of the actor is a visual artist who creates art in a variety of forms. According to her website, her primary goal in oil painting and photography is to raise awareness of environmental issues.
The visual artist disclosed on her website that she creates art to address a deep universal awareness that is interconnected and reliant on the earth and its surroundings.
An Initial Marriage That Ended in Pain
Redford was married to historian Lola Van Wagenen from 1958 to 1985 before he wed Szaggars. Wagenen graduated from New York University with a Ph.D. in American history.
When they were relatively young adults, the couple were married. Over the course of their partnership, they were lucky to have four children, but they also tragically lost two.
On September 1, 1959, they welcomed Scott, their first child. Unfortunately, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) claimed his life in infancy.
Redford acknowledged that the loss of his child at such a young age left a scar that would never go away since parents tend to blame themselves:
“We were rather young. The first theater job I had was low-paying. Since we were ignorant about SIDS, your only thought is that you did something incorrectly.
Three more children were born to the ex-couple. Their youngest child, a daughter named Amy, was born on October 22, 1970. Their second child, Shauna, was born on November 15, 1960, followed by James in 1962.
The children of Redford and Wagenen went on to become prosperous adults who worked in the arts. James went on to become a film director, but he passed away in mid-October 2022 at the age of 58 from liver cancer.
After his son passed away, Redford’s lawyer, Berger, issued a statement on his behalf. According to the statement:
“The loss of a child causes unfathomable sadness. Jamie was a devoted father, husband, and son. His children, artwork, films, and unwavering commitment to environmental preservation and conservation all carry on his legacy.
James was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a rare autoimmune illness that affects the liver, after he had health problems when he was a young child. In 1993, he was given two liver transplants.
The director went on to establish the “James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness,” a nonprofit organization that raised awareness of organ and tissue donation.
A New Generation and the Silence of a Grandfather Shauna, Joy Redford’s first daughter, is a successful painter despite not pursuing her father’s Hollywood profession. Conor and Mica, the artist’s two children, are the result of her marriage to Eric Schlosser.
Amy, his youngest daughter, works as a producer, director, and actor. When she appeared in “Dellaventura” in 1998, it was her acting debut. Other films in which Amy has starred include “Cry Funny Happy” and “When I Find The Ocean.”
From 2000 till 2004, she was married to Mark Mann. She and her partner, Matt August, have a daughter named Eden.
Redford loved being present for his grandchildren, but he lost both of his sons. As a celebrity, the actor once informed his grandson Dylan that his position as a grandparent was more important than anything else.
