Robert Redford, the iconic actor, director, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, has died at the age of 89. His publicist, Cindi Berger, confirmed that he passed away on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by loved ones. While no specific cause of death was given, Berger stated that he died in his sleep.

Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford's career spanned seven decades. He rose to stardom in the 1960s and became one of the biggest stars of the 1970s, known for his striking good looks and captivating performances. Redford's early roles included appearances in television shows like The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. His film breakthrough came in 1967 with Barefoot in the Park, but it was his role as the Sundance Kid in the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, alongside Paul Newman, that catapulted him to international fame. The film's success led Redford to name his film institute and festival after the character.

Redford starred in a string of successful films throughout the 1970s, including Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Way We Were (1973), The Sting (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Three Days of the Condor (1975), and All the President's Men (1976). He received his only Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role in The Sting. In 1980, Redford made his directorial debut with Ordinary People, which won him the Academy Award for Best Director. He continued to direct films, including A River Runs Through It (1992) and Quiz Show (1994), earning another Best Director nomination for the latter. In 2002, he received an honorary Oscar for his contributions to the film industry.

Beyond his acting and directing career, Redford was a champion of independent cinema. In 1981, he co-founded the Sundance Institute, which launched the Sundance Film Festival, now the largest independent film festival in the United States. The festival provided a platform for emerging filmmakers and helped launch the careers of prominent directors such as Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, and Kevin Smith. According to a statement by the Sundance Institute, Redford's vision "launched a movement that, over four decades later, has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema in the U.S. and around the world".

Redford was also known for his political activism, particularly his commitment to environmental causes. He served as a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council and founded the Redford Center with his son James in 2005 to promote environmental filmmaking. He spoke out against the Keystone XL pipeline and advocated for action on climate change.

Redford scaled back his filmmaking activities in the mid-2010s and announced his retirement from acting in 2018. His last on-screen appearance was in Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Robert Redford's death has been met with tributes from across the entertainment industry. Jane Fonda, a frequent co-star, said, "He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way". Meryl Streep wrote, "One of the lions has passed".

Redford is survived by his wife, Sibylle Szaggars, and his daughters Shauna and Amy. He was preceded in death by his sons Scott and James. His legacy as a Hollywood icon, a champion of independent cinema, and an environmental activist will continue to inspire generations to come.