One of the best-known performers in Hollywood has died. Robert Redford, an actor and director who won an Oscar, was an environmentalist, and started the Sundance Film Festival. He died quietly in his sleep on Tuesday morning at his home outside Provo, Utah. He was 89 years old.
A Life of Strength
Redford was born on August 18, 1936. He did a lot of things well in life, but he also had a lot of trouble with his emotions. As a child, he had polio, and his teenage years were rough. He drank too much and had trouble in school, which cost him his scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder. He even obtained a job cleaning at The Sink, Boulder’s oldest restaurant, even though it didn’t pay much. He donned its symbol to the 2018 Sundance Film Festival to remember where he came from years later.
When
Redford’s private life was one of both great happiness and great sadness. He married Lola Van Wagenen, who he said “saved his life,” and they had four kids together. The couple had to deal with the terrible loss of their first son, Scott, who died as a baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). James “Jamie” Redford’s son died of bile duct cancer in 2020 when he was 58 years old. He made movies and tried to convince people to give their organs. He passed away, and the pain he inflicted is too much to put into words. Even when things were bad for him, Redford kept making movies, changing Hollywood, and affecting people.
Robert Redford and his ex-wife Lola attended to the 53rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, in 1981.
A legacy that will last long beyond the movie
Redford helped movies a lot. He was one of the first people to convey stories and support independent filmmaking. He was the director and actor in several famous movies, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He started the Sundance Film Festival, which provided a forum for new filmmakers to display their work to the world. This showed how much he liked new ideas.
Even when he was successful, Redford was always honest about how hard it was to balance work and family. “The worst part is when your kids have issues.” He has said before, “Our family has been hit so many times that no one knows about them.” He could see it clearly since he was honest and strong, and his famous job was based on real life.
Lola is still Redford’s wife. They have seven grandchildren and two daughters, Amy Redford and Shauna Schlosser Redford. He was brave, kind, and very loyal to his family and his work.
Thinking about Robert Redford
Robert Redford has done a number of things that aren’t acting that have had an impact. He was a terrific director, a caring father who dealt with his personal sadness with grace, and a staunch supporter of the arts and the environment. People will remember him for a long time because of his movies, culture, and how he made them feel.
What Robert Redford movies have had the biggest impact on you? To honor his incredible life, please post your best memories and experiences in the comments below.
