RIP to Robert Redford, a Star Who Knew How to Play the Game

Robert Redford was a man of the Left until the end and a patron saint of independent cinema. He will be missed.

'All The President's Men' Publicity Still

Because of the longevity of his stardom over many decades and the multifaceted nature of his pursuits, there’s a different Robert Redford for everyone. (Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images)


The death of Robert Redford has brought forth a tidal wave of praise beyond even the usual gushing torrents that attend the deaths of celebrities. Because of the extraordinary longevity of his stardom over many decades and the multifaceted nature of his pursuits, there’s a different Robert Redford for everyone.

You can consider his vast contribution to independent film with the Sundance Film Festival he founded, as well as his commitment to developing upcoming cinematic talent with the Sundance Institute. You can appreciate his wide-ranging filmography. He was a thoughtful producer, and as an accomplished director, he started with Ordinary People (1980), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and got him a Best Director Oscar as well, right out of the gate.

You can pick a favorite phase from his storied acting career. Young and irresistible (The Chase, Barefoot in the Park, The Hot Rock, The Sting)? Political thriller (Three Days of the Condor, All the President’s Men)? Romance (The Way We Were, Out of Africa, Up Close and Personal)? Neo-Western (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Jeremiah Johnson, Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, The Electric Horseman, The Horse Whisperer)? Sports drama (Downhill Racer, The Natural)? Mature but still sexy, stealing focus from younger male stars (Indecent Proposal, Spy Game)? Venerable sage of filmdom (A Walk in the Woods, The Old Man and the Gun)?

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