American cinema legend’ Robert Redford passes away

American director and actor Robert Redford – famous for the film “Butch Cassidy” – has died at the age of 89.

In a statement sent to the New York Times on September 15 local time (September 16 evening Hanoi time), Redford’s representative said he died at his home in Utah.

Robert Redford in Time magazine in 2016. Photo: Marc Hom

Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw described Redford as a “titan of American cinema” who helped shape Hollywood in the 1970s. The artist played a key role in promoting American independent cinema by co-founding the Sundance Film Festival – a launching pad for many famous films such as Reservoir Dogs , The Blair Witch Project , Donnie Darko , Fruitvale Station and CODA .

He was born Charles Robert Redford in Los Angeles, USA, in 1936. As a teenager, he was expelled from the University of Colorado before studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA). After appearing in a few small roles on stage, television and film, he came to the attention of audiences in the early 1960s.

Robert Redford in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”. The actor plays Alexander Pierce, secretary of the World Security Council and covert leader of HYDRA. Video: Marvel

In 1962, Redford was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor for The Voice of Charlie Pont , and made his Broadway debut in Barefoot in the Park (1963). Two years later, he starred opposite Natalie Wood in Inside Daisy Clover (1965), earning him a Golden Globe nomination.

In 1969, Redford found success with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid , alongside Paul Newman and Katharine Ross. The film was nominated for seven Oscars, becoming a major milestone in his career. In the 1970s, Redford continuously appeared in many famous works such as Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Way We Were (1973) with Barbra Streisand, The Sting (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Three Days of the Condor (1975) and All the President’s Men (1976).

In the late 1970s, Redford took a break from acting to try his hand at directing. His debut film, Ordinary People (1980), won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, making Redford one of the few artists to have achieved success in both roles.

In the 1980s and 1990s, he balanced acting and directing. On screen, Redford made his mark with The Natural (1984), Out of Africa (1985) with Meryl Streep, and Indecent Proposal (1993). He later directed Quiz Show (1994) and The Horse Whisperer (1998).

The Sundance Film Festival, which he founded in 1978, has been a breeding ground for a new generation of American directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith over the decades. The event has also been a launching pad for many independent works.

In the 21st century, Redford continued to contribute through many projects, including Lions for Lambs (2007), All Is Lost (2013). He joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and made a brief appearance in Avengers: Endgame (2019).

In the mid-2010s, Redford scaled back his filmmaking activities, handing over the reins of the Sundance Film Festival. His last leading role was in The Old Man & the Gun (2018).

Trailer “The Old Man & the Gun” (2018). Video: Searchlight Pictures

In addition to individual awards, Redford has been honored many times at major film events, including an honorary Oscar in 2002, a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the 2017 Venice Film Festival, an honorary César Award in 2019, the French Legion of Honor (2010), and the US Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Barack Obama in 2016.

In addition to his film career, Redford is known for his environmental activism. He served as a board member of the Natural Resources Defense Council and opposed the Keystone XL pipeline .

In his personal life, Redford was married to historian Lola Van Wagenen from 1958 to 1985, with whom he had four children. In 2009, he married artist Sibylle Szaggars.