Robert Redford is an American actor, director, producer, and businessman who has been a revered actor and a true Hollywood icon for many decades. He is known for starring in some of the best classics in the movie history. His pursuits always lied in the arts and he found success behind the camera as a director as well. Apart from his career in Hollywood, he is well-known for single-handedly generating interest in independent movies by giving newly talented directors a global platform through the Sundance Film Festival.
Sun Sign
Leo
Residence
Sundance, Utah, United States
Nationality
Education
Robert attended the Van Nuys High School, alongside baseball pitcher Don Drysdale, and graduated in 1954. Later, he studied at the University of Colorado Boulder but was kicked out only a year and a half later due to his drinking addiction. He also lost his college baseball scholarship as a result of it.
Additionally, he learned painting at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and also took classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Manager
Robert Redford is represented by Sundance Institute.
Girlfriend / Spouse
Robert Redford has dated –
- Lola Van Wagenen (1958-1985) – Redford married Lola Van Wagenen, who had dropped out of college to marry him, on September 12, 1958. Together, they had 4 children – Scott Anthony Redford (b. 1959) (passed away at the age of 2½ months from sudden infant death syndrome and is buried at the Provo City Cemetery in Utah), Shauna Jean Redford (b. November 15, 1960) (their first daughter; a painter), David James Redford (b. May 5, 1962, d. October 2020) (writer and producer), and Amy Hart Redford (b. October 22, 1970) (actress, director, and producer). The couple was married for 27 years before filing for a divorce in 1985.
- Sônia Braga (1987-1988) – After his marriage to his first wife collapsed in 1985, Robert began dating Brazilian actress Sônia Braga in 1987. They were together for a brief period of time until 1988. She had also worked with Redford in his directorial venture, The Milagro Beanfield War (1988).
- (1989-1990) – Swedish actress Lena Olin and Robert were in a relationship from 1989 to 1990. They worked together in the film, Havana, in 1990.
- Kathy O’Rear (1990-1995) – Redford and costume designer Kathy O’Rear dated in the 90s from 1990 to 1995.
- Sibylle Szaggars (1996-Present) – German artist Sibylle Szaggars and Redford started dating in 1996 after meeting at the Sundance Film Festival. Although the couple shares an age difference of 19 years, they dated for over a decade before officiating their relationship by getting married in July 2009. Their wedding took place at Louis C. Jacob Hotel in Hamburg, Germany. The couple has been living together in a 5,500-acre eco-friendly ranch in Sundance, Utah since the 1990s.
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Wide smile
- Charismatic personality
Brand Endorsements
Redford has done endorsement work for the following brands –
- Make A Hero
- Fathom Events (2016)
- Esquire Magazine (2013)
- Xfinity
- Honda CR-V (2017)
- Burger King
- Stop Pebble Mine (Voice-over)
- United Airlines (Voice-over)
- Natural Resources Defense Council
Best Known For
- Becoming one of Hollywood’s original icons after delivering splendid performances in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Sting (1973), and All the President’s Men (1976), all of which were hallmark films in his career
- His successful career as a director as his first venture Ordinary People (1980) won him his first Academy Award in the Best Director category
- Being the founder of the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, named after his famous movie character, Sundance Kid
First Film
Robert made his theatrical film debut in 1960 as a basketball player in the romantic comedy film, Tall Story. However, his role was uncredited.
He made his first credited theatrical film appearance in 1962 in the movie, War Hunt, in which he played the character of Private Roy Loomis.
First TV Show
He made his first TV show appearance as Jimmy Coleman in the Iron Hand episode of the comedy series, Maverick, in 1960.
Robert Redford Favorite Things
- Movie Role – “Sundance Kid” in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- Phrase – There’s only the trying. (by T.S. Eliot)
- Film – Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
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Robert Redford Facts
- According to Redford, he was a bad student in school and used to steal hubcaps. He was more interested in arts and sports than in studies.
- He used to hit tennis balls with one of the best tennis players in history, Pancho Gonzales, at the Los Angeles Tennis Club to warm him up.
- While studying at the University of Colorado Boulder, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
- While studying at the university, he worked at the restaurant /bar, The Sink. The place has maintained a painting of his likeness in the bar’s murals.
- Redford used his earnings to purchase a ski area in Utah, originally called Timp Haven, and renamed it Sundance, after his famous movie character. The place has served as his residence since 1963.
- His love for independent films led him to establish the Sundance Institute for aspiring filmmakers. Over the years, the annual film festival has emerged as one of the most awaited and influential film festivals in the world.
- He also premiered the Sundance Channel, which is a 24-hour cable television channel aimed at airing independent films, on February 29, 1996.
- Redford received a Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian award of the United States, in 2016.
- In April 2014, he was included in Time magazine’s annual Time 100 list as one of the “Most Influential People in the World”. He was also declared as the “Godfather of Indie Film”.
- He had a long-standing friendship with actor Paul Newman, whom he met on the sets of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969. Their camaraderie lasted till Newman died of cancer in 2008.
- Redford had suffered from a mild case of Polio as a child.
- He announced his retirement from acting in 2018 by stating that The Old Man & The Gun would likely be his last acting job.
- Irish novelist Michael Feeney Callan penned down Robert Redford: The Biography which was released in May 2011. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, the book took 15 years to complete and collected inputs from his personal papers and diaries.
- He is also the owner of Wildwood Enterprises Inc., which has produced films like A River Runs Through It, The Motorcycle Diaries, and Lions for Lambs.
- Robert has used his stardom to back many social causes which include LGBT rights, environmental causes, Native American rights as well as the arts.
- Robert Redford doesn’t have any verified page on any of the social media channels.
Featured Image by Jim / / CC BY-SA 2.0
Facts of Charles Robert Redford Jr.
- Gender Male
- full nameCharles Robert Redford Jr.
- nicknamesBob
- birthplaceSanta Monica, California, United States
- Date of Birth August 18, 1936
- Age 88 years 2 months
- Horoscope Leo
- Lucky Number 9
- Lucky Stone Ruby
- Lucky Color Gold
- Best Match for Marriage Sagittarius, Gemini, Aries
- ethnicity / ethnic backgroundEnglish, Scottish, Irish, Cornish, and Scots-Irish ancestry
- nationalityAmerican
- net worth$200 Million
- professionActor, Director, Producer, Businessman
- weight77 kg77 kg or 169.5 lbs
- height5 ft 10½ in or 179 cm
- hair colorBlonde
- eye colorBlue
- body type / buildAverage
- high schoolVan Nuys High School
- collegeUniversity of Colorado Boulder
- motherMartha W.
- fatherCharles Robert Redford Sr.
- favorite moviesJeremiah Johnson (1972)