One of the most well-known performers in Hollywood has passed away. Robert Redford, an actor and filmmaker who won an Oscar, was an environmentalist, and started the Sundance Film Festival, died quietly in his sleep on Tuesday morning at his home near Provo, Utah. He was 89 years old.
A Tough Life
On August 18, 1936, Redford was born. He was quite successful in life, but he had a lot of trouble with his emotions. He had polio when he was a kid, and his adolescent years were awful. He had trouble in school and drank too much, which caused him to lose 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 logo to the 2018 Sundance Film Festival to remember where he came from many years later.
His mother, Martha Hart, was always there for him when things went wrong. Redford said that one of the key reasons he kept going was that she had faith in him. Redford’s heart was broken when Martha died of a rare blood ailment at the age of 40.
Redford’s personal life was one of both great happiness and terrible 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 died, and the pain he caused is too much to put into words. Even when things were bad for Redford, he kept making movies, changing Hollywood, and having an impact on others.
Robert Redford and his ex-wife Lola attended to the 53rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, in 1981.
A Legacy That Will Last After the Movie
Redford helped movies a lot. He was one of the first people to convey stories and support independent filmmaking. He directed and acted in many famous movies, including 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.
Redford was always honest about how hard it was to balance work and family, even when he was doing well. “The worst part is when your kids have problems.” He has said before, “Our family has been hit so many times that no one knows about them.” Because he was honest and strong, and his famous job was based on real life, he could see it easily.
Redford is still married to Lola. They have two daughters, Amy Redford and Shauna Schlosser Redford, and seven grandkids. He was brave, kind, and very loyal to his family and his work.
Thinking about Robert Redford
Robert Redford has had an impact on many things than acting. He was a terrific director, a loving 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 in movies, culture, and their hearts.
Which Robert Redford movies have had the biggest impact on you? To honor his remarkable life, please write your best memories and thoughts in the comments below.