Robert Redford

ROBERT REDFORD

What a life……adventurous, insightful, inspiring, unpretentious, and purposeful.

Like so many, I grew up with Robert Redford films — both which he starred in and directed. It would be hard to pick a favorite, especially considering the indelible impact on movies and culture left by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were, The Sting, Jeremiah Johnson, The Candidate, All the President’s Men, Ordinary People, and so many others.

I think my favorite Redford role though, was 1978’s Three Days of the Condor. Most under-appreciated film: 1972’s The Hot Rock.

I’m not sure any actor in history was so lightning in a bottle as to make five films within a two-year stretch that were so extraordinary as 1972-73 when Redford did in succession…. The Way We Were, The Hot Rock, The Candidate all in the same year and then followed that up with Jeremiah Johnson and The Sting the next year.

Just as with many memorable movie roles, his work behind the camera and off screen on behalf of environmental conservation, justice, progress, immigrant workers, and encouragement of smaller up-and-coming film productions through his founding of Sundance will also live on.

A great man. A meaningful legacy beyond the self. An amazing life.