Hollywood star Robert Redford, the legendary actor, director, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, has died at the age of 89.
The Oscar-winner passed away in his sleep on Tuesday morning.
Redford died at his home outside Provo, Utah, according to The New York Times.
The announcement was made by Cindi Berger, chief executive of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK.
In a statement, Berger said he was “surrounded by those he loved,” at home in “the place he loved,” Sundance, in the mountains of Utah.
“He will be missed greatly,” she added.
His cause of death has not been made public.
Redford rose to fame as one of Hollywood’s leading men in the late 1960s and 1970s.
He starred in classics such as “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” and “All the President’s Men.”
Redford won his first Oscar for his acting performance in “The Sting.”
Later in his career, he turned to directing.
As a director, he earned an Academy Award for “Ordinary People” in 1980.
In a career spanning six decades, he also received three Golden Globe Awards, including the Cecil B DeMille lifetime achievement honor in 1994.
Beyond the big screen, Redford left a permanent mark on independent film.
In 1981, he founded the Sundance Institute.
This was followed three years later by the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Under his leadership, the event became a launching pad for groundbreaking filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, Ava DuVernay, James Wan, and Darren Aronofsky.
However, Sundance also became a showcase for politically charged documentaries on “climate change,” abortion, and other left-leaning causes.
Over time, Redford expressed frustration at what he saw as the festival’s commercialization.
He blasted “ambush marketers” and celebrity culture for overshadowing his vision and the original mission of Sundance.
In 2012, Redford told The New York Times:
“I want the ambush marketers — the vodka brands and the gift-bag people and the Paris Hiltons — to go away forever.”
Redford remained active in film well into his later years, both as an actor and mentor to younger talent.
His legacy spans not only award-winning performances and acclaimed direction but also his role in shaping American independent cinema.
This is a developing story.
Check back for updates.
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