Robert Redford, the beloved actor and Oscar-winning director, has died at 89. Known to millions as “The Sundance Kid,” he passed away in his sleep at his home in Utah, according to his longtime publicist Cindi Berger. She confirmed he was surrounded by family but did not disclose a cause of death.
Redford’s legendary career spanned six decades, with acclaimed performances in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All the President’s Men, and Out of Africa. In 1981, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People, further cementing his dual legacy as both actor and filmmaker.
“Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah—the place he loved—surrounded by those he loved,” Berger said in a statement. “He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”
Tributes poured in from Hollywood and beyond. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters en route to the U.K., praised Redford: “He had a series of years where there was nobody better. There was a period of time when he was the hottest. I thought he was great.”
The two men shared a complicated public history. Redford w as a sharp critic of Trump, despite a brief 2015 interview in which his comments were misinterpreted as supportive. Trump even thanked him on social media, though Redford’s team later clarified he was not endorsing the candidate.
In 2019, Redford wrote in The Washington Post that Trump “degrades everything he touches” and urged voters to reject him at the ballot box rather than rely on impeachment. That same year, he warned in an NBC op-ed of “a dictator-like attack” on democracy under Trump.
Redford remained outspoken about politics, but he will be most remembered for his artistry and influence on American film. His roles and direction left an indelible mark, while the Sundance Institute and Festival he founded nurtured generations of storytellers.
As tributes continue, Redford’s passing marks the end of an era. His blend of rugged charm, candor, and commitment to culture leaves a legacy that will endure for decades.
