Hollywood Icon Robert Redford Passes Away at 89, Bollywood Mourns the Loss of a Legend

From Butch Cassidy to Ordinary People, Redford’s legacy shaped generations of cinema; Indian film fraternity pays heartfelt tributes

Mumbai, September 17 — The world of cinema is in mourning as legendary actor, director, and producer Robert Redford passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 89 at his home in Utah. Known for redefining American cinema with timeless classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), All the President’s Men (1976), and the Oscar-winning Ordinary People (1980), Redford leaves behind a legacy that transcends borders and generations.

The news, confirmed by Cindi Berger, chief executive of Rogers & Cowan PMK, to The New York Times and Variety, has sent ripples of grief through Hollywood and beyond. In India, Bollywood celebrities poured out heartfelt tributes to the star who influenced global cinema for over six decades.

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a Redford quote on her Instagram story — “Storytelling is important. Part of human continuity” — adding a moving caption: “In Power Legend.”
Veteran actor Soni Razdan posted his picture with a broken heart emoji, while Priyanka Chopra remembered him simply as an “Icon”, paired with folded hands and a sad face emoji.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and actress Nargis Fakhri also posted pictures of the actor-director, expressing their sorrow. Actor Anil Kapoor, who grew up watching Redford’s classics, penned a heartfelt note:

“Rest in peace, Robert Redford. From Barefoot in the Park to The Great Gatsby, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and all the films in between — he was one of the most beautiful, captivating men ever. His personality, that legendary jawline, that smile… beyond compare.”

A career etched in cinematic history

Starting his career in the late 1950s, Redford appeared in television staples like Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. His Broadway success with Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park (1963) opened doors to Hollywood, where he reprised the role in the 1967 film opposite Jane Fonda.

His breakout came as the Sundance Kid alongside Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), which became the highest-grossing film of its year. Redford’s collaborations with director Sydney Pollack — including The Electric Horseman and Out of Africa — cemented his place as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.

In 1980, he stepped behind the camera, making his directorial debut with Ordinary People, which won four Academy Awards, including Best Director for Redford. Beyond acting and directing, he founded the Sundance Film Festival, nurturing generations of independent filmmakers.

Redford’s later appearances included A Walk in the Woods (2015), The Old Man & the Gun (2018), and a cameo in Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame (2019) as Secretary Alexander Pierce.

A personal journey marked by triumphs and tragedies

Born in Santa Monica in 1936, Redford endured personal tragedy early in life, losing his mother during his teenage years and his firstborn son, Scott, to sudden infant death syndrome. He later had three more children — Shauna, James, and Amy — with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen. In 2009, Redford married Sibylle Szaggars, with whom he shared his later years.

Today, Hollywood, Bollywood, and fans worldwide remember not just an actor but a visionary who shaped modern cinema and gave independent filmmakers a platform to thrive.

As Kareena Kapoor aptly quoted him, “Storytelling is part of human continuity” — and Robert Redford’s story will continue to inspire generations to come.