Hollywood's Golden Boy: Actor and director Robert Redford dies

The famous actor and director Robert Redford died in the USA on September 16, he was 89 years old. He died in his sleep at his ranch in the mountains of Utah due to complications of a heart condition he had been battling since 2019. He is best known for the iconic films "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Con," "Three Days of the Condor," "All the President's Men." Izvestia recalled the biography of the film legend.

Biography of Robert Redford

Robert Charles Redford Jr. was born on August 18, 1936 in Santa Monica, California.

His father, Charles Robert Redford Sr., worked as an accountant, and his mother, Martha Hart, was a homemaker.

As a child, Redford was more influenced by his mother: she instilled in him a love of nature, art, and storytelling. At school, the future actor was interested in drawing, literature and sports.

He had the opportunity to study at several educational institutions: the University of Colorado (University of Colorado Boulder), the Pratt Institute and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

The death of his mother in 1955 was a heavy blow for 19-year-old Robert. After that, he went to Europe for a while, where he wandered and lived as a freelance artist, trying to find himself. As a result, he returned to the United States, where he decided to become an actor.

Robert Redford in Hollywood

Redford took the first steps of his acting career in the theater and on TV shows in the late 1950s ‑ early work, small roles, but gradually he gained attention due to his appearance, charisma and ability to convey emotions.

The breakthrough came in the late 1960s, when the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" was released. The role of Sundance brought him wide fame. With the performer of the second title role, Paul Newman, they remained friends for life.

Among Redford's most famous paintings are the films "Scam", "The Great Gatsby", "Three Days of the Condor", "All the President's Men", "Out of Africa".

Redford won his first Oscar in the Best Director category in 1981 for the psychological drama Ordinary People. In 2002, he was awarded an honorary Oscar in recognition of his many acting works that were well remembered by the audience.

Back in the 80s, together with a group of like-minded people, Redford founded the Sundance Independent Film Festival, which was named after the Sundance Kid character he played. This festival is considered one of Redford's key achievements, as it provided an opportunity for young directors and films that might not find support from major studios.

He became a symbol of the golden era of American cinema, but he managed to avoid star disease. He was called "America's most handsome man," but he hated that title and noisy companies. Instead, Redford bought a ranch in Utah and tried to spend as much time there as possible. In his roles, Redford emphasized an interest in kindness and the inner world of the characters.

The personal life of Robert Redford

The actor was married twice. He married his classmate Lola Van Wagenen for the first time at the age of 22. They had four children, one of whom died in infancy. Wagenen and Redford divorced in the mid-80s, and after the division of property, the actor turned out to be one of the largest landowners in Utah.

His son James was engaged in documentary films. He died in 2020 at the age of 58 from cancer. The daughters also went into art: Amy Hart became an actress and director, and Shauna Jean became an artist.

In 2009, Redford married for the second time, to his assistant Sybille Shaggars, with whom he had been in a civil marriage for many years.

Redford has said more than once in interviews that losses have taught him to appreciate loved ones, their creativity and all the art that remains after a person.