Robert Redford, Hollywood icon and Sundance pioneer, dies at 89

Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning director, actor and founder of the Sundance Institute, has died at 89, according to Reuters.

Redford became one of the most popular film stars of the late 20th century. He starred in romantic films like «Out of Africa,» political dramas such as «The Candidate» and classics including «Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid» and «The Sting.» His work helped define an era of American cinema.

While he never won an Academy Award for acting, his directorial debut, «Ordinary People» (1980), earned him Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. Beyond the screen, Redford reshaped the industry by championing independent filmmaking through the Sundance Film Festival, which has grown into a global showcase for emerging talent.

Born in Santa Monica in 1937, Redford once dreamed of being a painter before turning to acting. His long career spanned stage, television and film, and he remained a working artist into his later years, reuniting with Jane Fonda in Netflix’s «Our Souls at Night» in 2017.

Redford supported environmental causes and liberal politics throughout his life. He was known for his activism, his preference for privacy and his Hollywood career. Even with his fame, he often said he did not feel comfortable with celebrity. Redford is survived by his wife, artist Sibylle Szaggars, and leaves behind a legacy as both a screen legend and a tireless supporter of creative freedom.