<\/p>\n
Hollywood is collectively heartbroken by Tuesday\u2019s death of Robert Redford, the leading man-turned-stalwart of independent film.<\/p>\n
The 89-year-old actor, director and activist died \u201cat his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah \u2014 the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved,\u201d his publicist, Cindi Berger, said in a statement to the Daily News.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend,\u201d said Meryl Streep, Redford\u2019s co-star in the epic romance \u201cOut of Africa,\u201d<\/a> which won best picture at the 1986 Academy Awards.<\/p>\n The film icons reunited on-screen for the 2007 political thriller \u201cLions for Lambs,\u201d which Redford also directed.<\/p>\n Morgan Freeman, in a message on Instagram, said he and Redford \u201cinstantly became friends\u201d<\/a> when co-starring in the 1980 prison drama \u201cBrubaker.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are certain people you know that you\u2019re going to click with,\u201d Freeman wrote. \u201cWorking with him again in \u2018An Unfinished Life\u2019 was a dream come true. Rest peacefully, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n Redford\u2019s \u201cBarefoot in the Park\u201d<\/a> co-star Jane Fonda said in a statement that news of his death hit her \u201chard\u201d and she \u201ccan\u2019t stop crying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way,\u201d said Fonda, who also co-starred with Redford in the Netflix romance \u201cOur Souls at Night\u201d in 2017. \u201cHe stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.\u201d<\/p>\n Ethan Hawke hailed Redford as an \u201cultimate champion of independent film<\/a>, relentless advocate for authentic storytelling and fiercely passionate environmentalist.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRobert\u2019s legacy remains ingrained in our culture, transformed by his artistry, activism and the founding of Sundance Institute and Film Festival,\u201d Hawke wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n Redford was featured in Hawke\u2019s 2022 docuseries \u201cThe Last Movie Stars,\u201d<\/a> an intimate exploration of the love story and legacy of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Redford, who maintained a decades-long friendship with Newman, starred alongside him in \u201cButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid\u201d<\/a> and later in \u201cThe Sting.\u201d<\/p>\n Ralph Fiennes and Rob Morrow \u2014 who starred in \u201cQuiz Show,\u201d for which Redford earned Oscar nominations for best picture and best director \u2014 also paid tribute to the late multihyphenate.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember his patience and kindness. \u2026 I loved his droll sense of humour. \u2026 His maverick spirit was readily apparent and he made clear his wariness regarding Hollywood clich\u00e9s and practice,\u201d Fiennes said in a statement shared with The News.<\/p>\n \u201cI treasure my experience of working with him, which was also an introduction to a great filmmaker with a true artistic vision of an American cinema that could be intelligent, original and politically provocative,\u201d Fiennes continued. \u201cThe filmmaking world is smaller without him.\u201d<\/p>\n Morrow, meanwhile, thanked Redford for the \u201clessons and inspiration\u201d he bestowed throughout the years.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a life. What a man. What a career!<\/a>\u201d Morrow wrote on social media. \u201cYou will live on.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n