(August 18, 1936 – September 16, 2025)
A Tribute to Robert Redford
Hollywood icon Robert Redford died at age 89 on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah, USA.
Robert Redford has been one of cinema’s most admired figures for over six decades. For many of us, his films were not just stories on a screen but events we remember clearly, watched with friends in bustling cinema halls or later with family on television.
With his easy charm and quiet intensity, Redford had a way of holding the audience’s attention. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All the President’s Men and Out of Africa are films that defined their time and remain timeless today. He often chose roles with depth and moral conflict, which gave his characters a rare honesty.
He was never satisfied with being only an actor. As a director and the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, he created space for fresh voices and independent films. In doing so, he changed the way cinema could be imagined and made.
Indian audiences too felt his presence. In the 1970s and 80s his films ran in packed theatres from Mumbai to Madurai and his face was familiar on the covers of film magazines in India. Years later many young Indian directors looked to Sundance as the place where unconventional stories from across the world might find recognition.
Today, we see Robert Redford as more than a film star. He is a symbol of resilience, artistic courage and the belief that stories matter. For those of us who have grown older with his films he remains a companion on the journey, and his work will continue to shine for generations to come.
Robert Redford Top 10
Here’s a list of Robert Redford’s Top 10 must-see films, chosen for their impact, popularity and the variety of roles he played:
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969):
The film that cemented his stardom, pairing him with Paul Newman in an unforgettable Western. - The Sting (1973):
Another classic with Newman, full of charm and clever twists, which won the Oscar for Best Picture. - All the President’s Men (1976):
A gripping political drama where Redford played journalist Bob Woodward, chronicling the Watergate investigation. - Out of Africa (1985):
A sweeping romance opposite Meryl Streep, set against the stunning backdrop of Kenya. - The Great Gatsby (1974):
His turn as Jay Gatsby gave F. Scott Fitzgerald’s character a brooding elegance. - The Natural (1984):
A much-loved sports drama in which he played a baseball player with a near-mythical aura. - The Candidate (1972):
A sharp political satire where he portrayed a young lawyer reluctantly drawn into politics. - Three Days of the Condor (1975):
A taut spy thriller that captured Cold War anxieties and showcased Redford’s ability to carry suspense. - Jeremiah Johnson (1972):
A rugged tale of survival in the American wilderness, with Redford almost alone on screen for long stretches. - All Is Lost (2013):
A late-career triumph with virtually no dialogue, where he played a lone sailor battling the sea.
