‘One of the Finest Actors Ever’

Barbra Streisand is sharing her misty watercolor memories of “The Way We Were” co-star Robert Redford.

“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,” Streisand wrote in a tribute post on Instagram. “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.”

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Redford, the iconic actor and Oscar-winning director who went on to found the Sundance Film Institute, died on Tuesday at 89 years old. His rep confirmed the news to Variety with a statement: “Robert Redford passed away on Sept. 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”

Streisand and Redford broke hearts together in Sydney Pollack’s 1973 romantic drama “The Way We Were,” which followed the tumultuous relationship of two immensely different people who fall in love. Streisand played Katie Morosky, a strong-minded anti-war activist, while Redford portrayed Hubbell Gardiner, a privileged aspiring writer. After meeting in college, Katie and Hubbell continue to cross paths over the years, eventually getting married before their differing opinions and lifestyles get in the way.

The film was a box office success and went on to win the Oscars for best original score and original song for Streisand’s theme “The Way We Were.” It’s now considered one of the greatest love stories in American cinema.

In her memoir “My Name Is Barbra,” Streisand revealed that she had to convince Redford to take on the role of Hubbell after he initially turned it down. “The negotiations went down to the wire. I was in the middle of filming ‘Up the Sandbox’ in Africa, and one day I got a telegram from [agent] Sue Mengers that simply said: ‘Barbra Redford!’” Streisand recalled. “That’s when I knew he’d finally said yes… and I was so thrilled! The courtship had been tough, but Bob’s reluctance had a big influence on the script and ultimately resulted in a richer, more interesting character.”

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