Jennifer Lopez opened up about grief after the loss of her An Unfinished Life costar Robert Redford.
Lopez, 56, shared stills from the set of the film in her Instagram Stories after news of Redford’s death was announced on Tuesday, September 16. She added a white heart emoji to the photos. A few hours later, Lopez shared a touching statement about working with Redford, aged 89.
“Heartbroken to hear of Robert Wagner’s passing,” she penned. “Working with him on ‘An Unfinished Life’ was such a gift … his kindness, wisdom, and artistry touched everyone around him and will for generations to come.”
Lopez and Redford starred in the 2005 Lasse Hallström-directed drama alongside Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas, Camryn Manheim, Damian Lewis and Becca Gardner. In the film, Redford played Wyoming rancher Einer Gylikson, who repaired his relationship with his daughter-in-law, played by Lopez, after his son’s death.
Redford opened up about how he tapped a new side of himself to channel the anger and frustration the character was feeling.
“You have to go someplace and get in touch with it,” he said during a September 2005 appearance on The Early Show. “You can’t put those kinds of words on the screen without some kind of reference. It would be impossible. It wouldn’t make any sense. I know that territory, by association, not necessarily personal experience, but by association.”
Of playing the rugged character, Redford continued, “It was great. I know those guys in the west, and they’re not exclusive to the west. You can find them other places in the country, who are embittered by some experience they couldn’t get beyond. And the issue above everything was forgiveness. And the idea of playing a crusty guy who’d gone to seed after having played a rancher, who was healthy and took care of horses, good guy, and solid, was very appealing.”
Redford’s death was announced by his publicist, Cindi Berger, who told The New York Times that the actor died in his sleep. His place of death was his home in Utah, “the place he loved surrounded by those he loved.”
Several of his former Hollywood costars mourned the actor in tributes, including his The Horse Whisperer costar Scarlett Johansson.
“Every day before each scene, he would take the time to sit with me and walk me through all of the beats that led my character up until that particular point in the story,” Johansson, 40, told People on Tuesday. “No matter the reality of the day’s rush, I always felt he had all the time in the world for our work. Bob created an environment on set that was calm and precious; a place where actors could make discoveries. He was patient and warm and kind.”
Her statement continued, “Bob taught me what acting could be, and it was from his generosity and patience that I was inspired to pursue the possibilities of the craft. That same generosity and love of the art inspired Bob’s creation of Sundance, a place where filmmakers learn from one another, inspire one another, and discover one another’s talent.”