Hollywood has lost one of its most beloved icons. Robert Redford — renowned actor, Oscar-winning director, environmental champion, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival — peacefully passed away in his sleep Tuesday morning at his home near Provo, Utah. He was 89.
A Life Defined by Resilience
Born August 18, 1936, Redford’s life was a blend of remarkable success and personal struggles. As a child, he fought polio, and his teenage years were difficult, including academic challenges and a period of heavy drinking that cost him his scholarship at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Even then, he worked humble jobs, including cleaning at Boulder’s oldest eatery, The Sink—a place he honored decades later by wearing its logo at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival as a nod to his beginnings.
Throughout it all, one steady source of strength was his mother, Martha Hart. Redford often spoke of her unwavering belief in him as crucial to his persistence. Tragically, Martha died young, at just 40, from a rare blood disorder, leaving a lasting impact on him.
In his personal life, Redford experienced both great joy and profound loss. He married Lola Van Wagenen, who he credited with “saving his life,” and they had four children together. But the family endured heartbreaking tragedies: their first son, Scott, died in infancy from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and later, his son James “Jamie” Redford—filmmaker and organ donation advocate—passed away in 2020 at age 58 from bile-duct cancer. Despite these painful losses, Redford’s creative spirit remained unbroken, and he continued to inspire and shape the film industry.
