Roy Hobbs left a cinematic legacy with “The Natural” that transcended film, touching fans and MLB athletes. Now, at the age of 89, Robert Redford, that legendary Hollywood icon, has left us. His masterful depiction of a baseball player’s rise, fall, and redemption remains one of cinema’s most compelling sports narratives that many consider the greatest baseball tragedy ever on screen.
Tuesday. The devastating news about the demise of this cinematic icon broke the internet after his publicist, Cindi Berger, released the official statement.
“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.” He was cemented as the definitive voice of America’s pastime in cinema.
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Redford’s portrayal of Roy Hobbs—a naturally gifted player whose career was derailed by tragedy before his miraculous comeback—created one of the most emotionally resonant baseball stories ever captured on film. And that legacy is making the void even deeper. Fans and celebrities, everywhere, are sharing their memories about the much-loved actor.
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Michael Rosenbaum expressed his emotions on X. “So freaking bummed. I truly loved Robert Redford. He was one of the greatest movie stars of all time . Period. He will certainly be missed. The Natural will always be one of my favorite films. RIP sir.” Ex-MLB player Jeff Frye, also identified as Fryedaddy/Frito, shared similar sentiments. “We lose an American Icon today. Robert Redford led an amazing life, and I shall never forget him. RIP.” Even authors extended their condolences.
Kimberley Tait wrote on X, “In ‘The Natural’ (1984), Robert Redford shaped my earliest understanding of how a man can be quietly but deeply emotional, unfailingly elegant, and insanely handsome all at once.” And then, one baseball fan summed up what many feel about the movie. “RIP Robert Redford, whose portrayal of Roy Hobbs in ‘The Natural’ remains one of the greatest performances in the history of baseball movies. Full. Body. Chills. Every. Time.”
Each one of these messages speaks about how Redford’s baseball character left an everlasting mark. It wasn’t just another movie role on TV- it affected so many hearts and later changed our view of sports.
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Roy Hobbs and the New York Knights’ MLB legacy lives on
Robert Redford, in a blossoming career lasting over 30 years, had presented fine acting in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” and “All the President’s Men.” Roy Hobbs, however, has touched the viewers in a different way. The character was more than just another role; it became Redford’s personal brand.
Imagine a naturally gifted ballplayer with a dream that, as they say, was shot down, only to come back years later with the New York Knights. Hobbs does not simply play baseball – the man OWNS it. Every swing and hit turns him into a player that every fan dreams of seeing. And so comes Redford’s secret. The ability to portray a character so masterfully that it strikes a chord with people even half a century later.
Even today, the climax gives goosebumps to the viewers.
Bottom of the ninth, the team trailing, and Hobbs going up for what could have been his last at-bat. Far gone into his last strike, he fired on the immortal home run that takes down the stadium lights spectacularly. That moment didn’t just mark the film; it became a landmark of sports in cinema.
Here’s the kicker, though: The original book tells a completely different story.
Author Bernard Malamud’s Hobbs strikes out and accepts a bribe, creating a much darker ending. Critics questioned this Hollywood makeover, but audiences didn’t care. Now, clearly, it shows that often the heart wins over the head, and Redford’s version gave us that light-shattering moment burned into the history of film forever.