Robert Redford had a career that spanned six decades before his death — but what was his life like out of the spotlight after he left Hollywood?
The actor achieved tons of success in the career for projects such as The Sting, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for best actor. After he moved behind the camera, he won an Oscar for directing 1980’s Ordinary People and scored Best Picture and Best Director nods for 1994’s Quiz Show.
“I’ve spent most of my life just focused on the road ahead, not looking back,” Redford said in his 2002 honorary Oscar acceptance speech. “But now tonight, I’m seeing in the rearview mirror that there is something I’ve not thought about much, called history.”
In his speech, Redford noted it was “important” to “make sure the freedom of artistic expression is nurtured and kept alive, because I believe that in keeping diversity alive it will help keep our industry alive.”
“To be able to be part of a freedom of expression that allows us as artists to tell our stories in our own way about the human condition, the complexities of life, the world around us, is a gift and not one to be taken lightly,” he added. “And I think the glory of art is that it can not only survive change, it can lead it. As an artist, I just can’t think of a better life than the one that I’ve been blessed with.”
Redford died on Tuesday, September 16, at age 89.
“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,” his publicist, Cindi Berger, said in a statement. “He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”
Keep scrolling for a glimpse of Redford’s life ahead of his death:
How Did Robert Redford Get His Start?
Redford stepped in front of the camera in the ’60s with small TV roles before pivoting to the big screen for films like Barefoot in the Park with Jane Fonda. He went on to appear in classic movies including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were, Out of Africa, All the President’s Men and Three Days of the Condor. The Sting, which was released in 1973, earned Redford his first and only acting Oscar nomination.
What Were Robert Redford’s Other Accomplishments?
Redford transitioned into directing in the ’80s, winning an Academy Award for his directorial debut, Ordinary People. He was also an activist and was known for founding the nonprofit Sundance Institute, which went on to become the Sundance Film Festival. Redford also cofounded The Redford Center in 2005, a nonprofit focusing on producing films and providing grants to filmmakers whose projects center around climate change and the environment.
Off screen, Redford married Lola Van Wagenen in 1958, and they expanded their family four times with son Scott in 1959, daughter Shauna in 1960, son David in 1962 and daughter Amy in 1970. (Their son James died of cancer in October 2020 at age 58, while son Scott died of SIDS in 1959 when he was 2 months old.)
After Redford and Van Wagenen called it quits, the Natural actor found love with Sibylle Szaggars, whom he married in 2009. Redford, who had seven grandchildren, resided in Sundance, Utah, with his family ahead of his death.
What Led to Robert Redford’s Departure From Hollywood?
After starring in 2018’s The Old Man & the Gun, Redford hinted that the film would likely be his final onscreen appearance.
“Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting, and [I’ll] move towards retirement after this ’cause I’ve been doing it since I was 21,” Redford told Entertainment Weekly at the time. “I thought, ‘Well, that’s enough.’ And why not go out with something that’s very upbeat and positive?”
Redford changed his mind later that year, telling Variety it “was a mistake” to announce a possible retirement.
“I should never have said that,” he said. “If I’m going to retire, I should just slip quietly away from acting, but I shouldn’t be talking about it because I think it draws too much attention in the wrong way. I want to be focused on this film and the cast.”
Redford went on to reprise his role as Alexander Pierce from Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and had a 2025 cameo in Dark Winds. He still remained largely out of the spotlight in Utah ahead of his death.
When Was Robert’s Last Public Appearance?
Redford, his wife and Prince Albert II of Monaco attended a foundation award ceremony in 2021, which marked the actor’s final public appearance. His publicist confirmed his death in September 2025 after he died in his sleep.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usmagazine.com ’
