Robert Redford has died, the icon of American cinema leaves us at the age of 89

Robert Redford, the great actor, director, activist and icon of American cinema, died on September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah, at the age of 89. His career, spanning more than fifty years, left an indelible mark both on the silver screen and in the world of volunteer work and environmental protection.

A legendary film career

Redford made a name for himself in the 1960s and 70s playing characters that remain etched in the collective memory: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidOut of Africa, The Sting, All the President’s Men. These films revealed his charming acting, his dramatic depth and his taste for tales of investigation or personal revolution.

In the 80s, Redford also established himself as a director. His first film behind the camera, Ordinary People (1980), won him an Oscar for Best Director. He went on to direct such seminal works as A River Runs Through It and Quiz Show, which question morality, identity and loneliness. His career as an actor continued until 2018’s The Old Man & the Gun, a film that embodied a kind of handover, a gentle retirement, without relinquishing the magnetic presence that was once his.

A strong social and environmental commitment

Beyond his roles, Robert Redford was a long-time activist for the environment. He was involved in causes linked to the preservation of natural spaces, the fight against water pollution and the defense of indigenous peoples.

In 1981, he founded the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, which went on to become major hubs for independent cinema. These platforms have made it possible to support directors such as Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers, offering a new path for cinema sometimes neglected by the major studios.

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