“A Genius Has Passed”: Tributes Pour in for Robert Redford After His Death
Tributes are pouring in for Hollywood icon Robert Redford, who has died at the age of 89. The Oscar winner and Sundance Film Festival founder, star of movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,The Way We WereandAll the President’s Men, died early Tuesday. Redford’s long-time publicist Cindi Berger told The Hollywood Reporter he…
Tributes are pouring in for Hollywood icon Robert Redford, who has died at the age of 89.
The Oscar winner and Sundance Film Festival founder, star of movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,The Way We WereandAll the President’s Men, died early Tuesday. Redford’s long-time publicist Cindi Berger told The Hollywood Reporter he died at his home in the mountains of Utah, “the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved.” Redford leaves behind his wife of 16 years, Sibylle Szaggars, and is survived by two daughters, Shauna and Amy.
As the news broke Tuesday morning, an outpouring of admiration for Redford —a skillful actor who later honed his talent in directing —swept social media.
To honor the Sundance Film Festival founder, Sundance said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and friend Robert Redford. Bob’s vision of a space and a platform for independent voices launched a movement that, over four decades later, has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema in the U.S. and around the world. Beyond his enormous contributions to culture at large, we will miss his generosity, clarity of purpose, curiosity, rebellious spirit, and his love for the creative process. We are humbled to be among the stewards of his remarkable legacy, which will continue to guide the Institute in perpetuity.”
Sony CEO Tom Rothman said in a statement, “In addition to being a titanic acting and directing talent, as an early board member of the Sundance Institute, I saw first-hand the Sundance Kid’s passionate commitment to indie film and young artists. Robert Redford truly gave back. The entire scope of American film would have been much poorer without him. An amazing legacy of an amazing man.”
Barbra Streisand, who starred alongside Redford in the 1973 film, The Way We Were shared a tribute to her Instagram. “Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense and pure joy. We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie,” she wrote. “Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting — and one of the finest actors ever. The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
Leonardo DiCaprio, who shares the same passion for environmentalism as Redford, also took to Instagram to pay his respects. “Actor, activist, passionate environmentalist, and champion of the arts. His unwavering commitment to protecting our planet and inspiring change matched his immense talent,” DiCaprio wrote. “His impact will endure for generations to come.”
Star of the Oscar-winning Coda, Marlee Matlin said her film “came to the attention of everyone because of Sundance.” She continued on X: “And Sundance happened because of Robert Redford. A genius has passed. RIP Robert.”
Stephen King described Redford as “part of a new and exciting Hollywood in the ’70s and ’80s,” adding: “Hard to believe he was 89.”
Rosie O’Donnell posted a photo of Redford and The Way We Were co-star Barbra Streisand to Instagram with the caption: “Oh hubbell – we will never be the same – goodnight bob – what a legacy.”
Author Marianne Williamson wrote on X that “few people did more in their lifetime to contribute to American society than Robert Redford.” She said: “In areas ranging from film to environmentalism to politics, he used his enormous power to help create a better world. May he rest in unending bliss.”
Oscar nominee Colman Domingo thanked Redford for “your everlasting impact. “With love and admiration. Thank you Mr. Redford,” Domingo wrote on X. “Will be felt for generations. R.I.P.”
Ron Howard said: “#RIP & thank you RobertRedford, a tremendously influential cultural figure for the creative choices made as an actor/producer/director & for launching the Sundance Film Festival which supercharged America’s Independent Film movement.” The filmmaker added: “Artistic Gamechanger.”
Star Trek legend William Shatner sent his condolences to Redford’s family.
See more tributes below.
