By Tom Murray , Inga Parkel

Copyright independent

The actor, director and activist was regarded as the godfather of independent cinema.

Barbra Streisand, who starred opposite Redford in Sydney Pollack’s 1973 Oscar-winning romantic drama, The Way We Were, said he was “one of the finest actors ever” in a moving tribute.

“Every day on the set of ‘The Way We Were’ was exciting, intense and pure joy,” Streisand wrote in a tribute post on Instagram.

“We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie,”

“Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting— and one of the finest actors ever.

“The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”

Meryl Streep starred opposite him in the 1985 romantic drama Out Of Africa and the 2007 war film Lions For Lambs, which Redford also directed, and paid tribute.

She said in a statement: “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”

“It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone,” Jane Fonda said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”

Fonda and Redford acted alongside each other in Barefoot in the Park.

The iconic actor is best known for his acclaimed performance in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The Hollywood leading man turned producer and influential supporter of independent films through his Sundance Institute, is also known for his roles in Indecent Proposal, The Great Gatsby and All The President’s Men.

Redford first came to prominence in the late 1960s, establishing himself as one of Hollywood’s pre-eminent leading men.

He had high-profile roles in All the President’s Men, playing journalist Bob Woodward reporting on the Watergate scandal under Richard Nixon, and The Sting, for which he was nominated for an Oscar.

Today’s News in 90 Seconds – September 16th

Redford died this morning at his home in Utah.

A statement from his publicist Cindi Berger, chairman and chief executive of talent agency Rogers and Cowan PMK, said: “Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah–the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved.

“He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”

Actress Marlee Matlin, one of the stars of Oscar-winning film Coda, which first premiered at Redford’s Sundance film festival, wrote on X: “Our film, Coda, came to the attention of everyone because of Sundance.

“And Sundance happened because of Robert Redford. A genius has passed.

Spencer Cox, the governor of Utah, the US state when Redford lived and established the festival, wrote: “Decades ago, Robert Redford came to Utah and fell in love with this place.

“He cherished our landscapes and built a legacy that made Utah a home for storytelling and creativity.

“Through Sundance and his devotion to conservation, he shared Utah with the world. Today we honor his life, his vision, and his lasting contribution to our state.”