Robert Redford

Robert Redford
John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Robert Redford
Birth date	August 18, 1936
Birth place	Santa Monica, California
Occupation	Actor, director, environmentalist

Robert Redford is a renowned American actor, director, and environmentalist, known for his iconic roles in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and All the President's Men. He has worked with esteemed directors like George Roy Hill, Sydney Pollack, and Alan J. Pakula, and has been associated with the Sundance Film Festival, which he founded in Park City, Utah. Redford's career has been marked by collaborations with notable actors, including Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, and Meryl Streep. He has also been involved with organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund.

● Early Life and Education

Redford was born in Santa Monica, California, to Martha W. and Charles Robert Redford, and spent his childhood in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. He attended Van Nuys High School and later enrolled in the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Redford's interest in acting led him to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, alongside fellow actors like Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. He also worked with the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts and appeared in several Off-Broadway productions, including Tall Story and Sunday in New York.

● Career

Redford's career in film and television began in the late 1950s, with appearances in shows like Maverick, Perry Mason, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He gained recognition for his role in the ABC series The Untouchables and later starred in films like The Chase and Inside Daisy Clover, directed by Robert Mulligan and Tony Richardson, respectively. Redford's breakthrough role came with the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which co-starred Paul Newman and was directed by George Roy Hill. He went on to work with notable directors like Sydney Pollack on Jeremiah Johnson and The Way We Were, and Alan J. Pakula on All the President's Men and The Pelican Brief.

● Filmography

Redford's filmography includes a wide range of genres, from westerns like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Electric Horseman to dramas like Ordinary People and Lions for Lambs. He has worked with actors like Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, and has been directed by acclaimed filmmakers like Warren Beatty and Barry Levinson. Some of his notable films include The Sting, The Great Gatsby, and Three Days of the Condor, which co-starred Faye Dunaway and was directed by Sydney Pollack. Redford has also appeared in films like Sneakers and Spy Game, alongside actors like Denzel Washington and Brad Pitt.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Redford has received numerous awards and honors, including an Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People. He has been nominated for several Golden Globe Awards and has won awards from the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild. Redford has also been recognized for his environmental activism, receiving awards from organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund. He has been honored with a Kennedy Center Honor and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.

● Environmental Activism

Redford has been an outspoken advocate for environmental causes, particularly in the areas of climate change and conservation. He has worked with organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund to promote sustainability and protect natural resources. Redford has also been involved in initiatives like the Sundance Institute and the Redford Center, which aim to promote environmental awareness and support innovative solutions to environmental challenges. He has spoken at events like the United Nations Climate Change Conference and has worked with leaders like Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio to raise awareness about environmental issues.

● Personal Life

Redford has been married twice, first to Lola Van Wagenen and then to Sibylle Szaggars. He has four children, including Scott Redford and Shauna Redford, and has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including the Sundance Institute and the Redford Center. Redford has also been a long-time supporter of the Democratic Party and has been involved in various political campaigns, including those of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. He has lived in Utah for many years and has been involved in local conservation efforts, including the protection of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon.