Robert Redford
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Notes
"Bob is a minimalist, he withholds, he never seduces his audience but makes them come to him."---film director Sydney Pollack to Los Angeles Times December 9, 1990
Redford on his transition from sports to art while in college: "It had to do with defining a lot of emotional stuff that was never formed right. For some people it's therapy. Maybe it is for all of us. For me it was anger and finding a place to put my disappointment and frustration with a lot of things. I was a mess. I was somewhat in trouble socially. I lost my (basketball) scholarship pretty quick after I discovered drinking. When I left (college) and got into art, that got me out ... finding my place in the world had a lot to do with acting."---Redford quoted in Los Angeles Times December 9, 1990
Biography
One of the most iconic actors of his generation, Robert Redford is perhaps best known for his role as the Sundance Kid in the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969), the namesake for the now famous Sundance Film Festival which Redford helped found. Born in Santa Monica, California in 1936, Redford tried his hand at sketching and painting before discovering his love of acting. He found initial success on stage, making his Broadway debut in "Tall Story" in 1959. He would earn tremendous acclaim starring in the Broadway production of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" in 1963, by which point he was also pursuing roles on screen, appearing on TV series like "Maverick" (ABC, 1957-1962) and "Perry Mason" (CBS, 1957-1966). After appearing alongside Marlon Brando in "The Chase" 1965, Redford reprised his role in "Barefoot in the Park" (1967) for the movie adaptation, with Jane Fonda in the female lead. The movie was a hit and Redford quickly became a major star. He would go on to star in memorable films like "The Candidate" (1972), "Jeremiah Johnson" (1972), "The Way We Were" (1973), and "All the President's Men" (1976). In 1978, Redford's business partner Sterling Van Wagenen was inspired to launch an independent film festival, leading to the pair collaborating on the Sundance Film Festival, which has since become one of the most relevant and respected film festivals in the world. Around this same time, Redford also took a keen interest in directing, stepping behind the camera to helm the acclaimed family drama "Ordinary People" (1980). His directorial efforts would remain successful with "A River Runs Through It" (1983), "Quiz Show" (1994), and the political drama "Lions for Lambs" (2007). He would remain a successful actor however, appearing in everything from the landmark, one-man film "All is Lost" (2013) to "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014). In 2017, Redford re-teamed with one of his first major screen partners, co-starring with Jane Fonda in "Our Souls at Night." This was followed by what he claimed would be his farewell performance, starring in "The Old Man and the Gun" (2018) opposite Sissy Spacek.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Special Thanks (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Producer (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Producer (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1958
Made TV debut on legal drama "Perry Mason" (CBS)
1959
Made his Broadway debut in "Tall Story."
1960
Landed breakthrough TV role playing a Nazi soldier opposite Charles Laughton in "In the Presence of Mine Enemies," the final installment of "Playhouse 90" (CBS)
1960
Made his TV debut on an episode of "Maverick," and went on to appear on "Playhouse 90," "Moment of Fear," and "Tate" that same year.
1961
Landed first major role on Broadway in "Sunday in New York"
1962
Made film acting debut in "War Hunt"; Sydney Pollack co-starred
1963
Received Emmy nomination for supporting role in "The Voice of Charlie Pont"; aired on "Alcoa Premiere" (ABC)
1963
Co-starred on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park."
1965
Portrayed a bisexual movie star in "Inside Daisy Clover" opposite Natalie Wood
1965
Appeared in the movie "The Chase."
1966
Reteamed with Natalie Wood in "This Property Is Condemned," directed by Sydney Pollack
1967
Recreated stage role of uptight newlywed Paul Bratter in film version of "Barefoot in the Park" opposite Jane Fonda
1968
Formed production company Wildwood International (later renamed Wildwood Enterprises)
1969
Produced first film under Wildwood banner, "Downhill Racer"
1969
Landed breakthrough screen role as Harry Longbaugh aka The Sundance Kid in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," co-starring Paul Newman
1972
Played a jewel thief in comedy "The Hot Rock," scripted by William Goldman
1972
Cast as a Kennedy-esque politician in "The Candidate," scripted by Oscar-winner Jeremy Larner
1972
Starred as frontiersman "Jeremiah Johnson"; directed by Sydney Pollack
1973
Starred opposite Barbra Streisand in romantic drama "The Way We Were," directed by Sydney Pollack
1973
Reteamed with Paul Newman and director George Roy Hill for period caper comedy "The Sting"
1974
Starred as F. Scott Fitzgerald's anti-hero Jay Gatsby in lavish film remake "The Great Gatsby"
1975
Reunited with director George Roy Hill and screenwriter William Goldman for period comedy-drama "The Great Waldo Pepper"; played a barnstorming pilot
1976
Portrayed <i>Washington Post</i> journalist Bob Woodward (to Dustin Hoffman's Carl Bernstein) in political drama "All the President's Men," written by William Goldman
1979
Reteamed with Jane Fonda in romantic comedy "The Electric Horseman"
1980
Made directorial debut with "Ordinary People"; film won four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director
1980
Founded Sundance Institute and its film and theater development lab
1983
Founded environmental organization Institute for Resource Management
1984
Starred as baseball player Roy Hobbs in screen adaptation of "The Natural"
1985
Portrayed Denys Finch Hatton, a British adventurer who romances author Isak Dinesen (Meryl Streep) in the Oscar-winning Best Picture "Out of Africa"; Sydney Pollack directed
1986
Returned to screen comedy as a lawyer in "Legal Eagles"
1987
Formed second production company South Fork Films to produce modestly-budgeted films
1987
Served as executive producer on "Promised Land," which was fostered by Sundance Institute
1988
Helmed second film "The Milagro Beanfield War"
1989
Assumed control of U.S. Film Festival and renamed it Sundance Film Festival
1990
Experienced box office failure with big-budget romance "Havana," helmed by Pollack
1992
Executive produced and narrated documentary "Incident at Ogala," directed by Michael Apted
1992
Directed third feature, an adaptation of Norman MacLean's autobiographical novella "A River Runs Through It"; also produced and gave uncredited narration
1993
Starred in "Indecent Proposal" as a wealthy man who offers $1 million to a couple (Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson) for one night with the wife
1993
Executive produced Steven Soderbergh's "King of the Hill"
1994
Helmed period drama "Quiz Show," about the 1950s TV quiz show scandals
1995
Signed with Showtime Networks to form The Sundance Film Channel, a 24-hour pay cable station featuring independent films
1996
Played a veteran newsman who mentors and romances Michelle Pfeiffer in "Up Close and Personal"
1996
Served as executive producer of Edward Burns' second film "She's the One"
1997
Announced formation of Sundance Cinemas, a chain of movie theaters showing independent films; venture was a joint effort with GC Companies, which operated the General Cinema movie theaters
1998
Served as producer on "A Civil Action"
1998
Executive produced Edward Burns' "No Looking Back"
1998
Directed himself for the first time in "The Horse Whisperer"; also produced
2000
Directed sixth motion picture "The Legend of Bagger Vance," a period drama about a Southern golfer and his mysterious caddy; starred Will Smith and Matt Damon
2000
Executive produced well-received "How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog"
2001
Played leading role in "The Last Castle"
2001
Co-starred with Brad Pitt in "Spy Game"
2004
Cast opposite Helen Mirren in thriller "The Clearing"
2005
Co-starred with Jennifer Lopez and Morgan Freeman in Lasse Hallström drama "An Unfinished Life"
2006
Voiced Ike the Horse in feature adaptation of E.B. White's classic novel "Charlotte's Web"
2007
Directed first film in seven years "Lions for Lambs," about America's role in Afghanistan; also acted opposite Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep
2010
Directed historical drama "The Conspirator," starring James McAvoy and Robin Wright
2012
Produced, directed, and starred in thriller "The Company You Keep"
2013
Was the only on-screen presence in J.C. Chandor's "All Is Lost," the story of an unnamed sailor's fight against the elements
2014
Appeared as Alexander Pierce in Marvel Cinematic Universe film "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
2015
Starred as author Bill Bryson opposite Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson in "A Walk in the Woods"
2017
Paired with Jane Fonda again in "Our Souls at Night"
2018
Starred in what he claimed would be his final movie, "The Old Man with the Gun"
Photo Collections
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Promo
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
"Bob is a minimalist, he withholds, he never seduces his audience but makes them come to him."---film director Sydney Pollack to Los Angeles Times December 9, 1990
Redford on his transition from sports to art while in college: "It had to do with defining a lot of emotional stuff that was never formed right. For some people it's therapy. Maybe it is for all of us. For me it was anger and finding a place to put my disappointment and frustration with a lot of things. I was a mess. I was somewhat in trouble socially. I lost my (basketball) scholarship pretty quick after I discovered drinking. When I left (college) and got into art, that got me out ... finding my place in the world had a lot to do with acting."---Redford quoted in Los Angeles Times December 9, 1990
He received an honorary LHD from the University of Colorado (1987).
He was honored with the 1996 National Medal of Freedom from the National Endowment for the Arts.
"Hollywood is a formula industry. It's all about business and profit, and that's why they're always looking at a formula for guaranteed success. You can't make $100 million on a small black-and-white love story or anything that tells about our lives and the diversity out there."---Robert Redford quoted in USA Today, May 8, 1995
"It's become harder and harder each year to maintain our course, because of the overpowering force -- what I would call the more external factors -- like celebrity, fashion, and the media's obsessions with who is there and whether people are wearing black," Redford on Sundance indieWIRE January 26, 2001
"Everyone in Tinseltown is getting pinched, lifted and pulled. For many it's become a sick obsession. They lose some of their soul when they go under the knife and end up looking body snatched. People should preserve their time in history. I'm happy to make the best of what I've got."---Redford to US January 2002
"Celebrity is a big part of the American social system. I'm certainly grateful for what it's done for me, but I do think that celebrity is overdone in our society. I think it's got a dangerous side to it. I think that people should be paying a lot more attention to other issues, rather than who's the top 10 this or... who's the sexiest or the most beautiful."---Redford to NPR September 9, 2003
