Robert Redford's enduring legacy: from Hollywood star to environmental champion

This week, Hollywood lost one of its brightest stars.

Robert Redford passed away on September 16, just a month after he celebrated his 89th birthday.

A statement by Rogers & Cowan PMK, confirmed that the actor died "at his home in Sundance in the mountains of Utah - the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved."

Much like the first part of his surname, Redford was one of Hollywood's most colourful figures. His career spanned over six decades. 

During this time, Redford walked away with top honours, which included countless Golden Globes and Academy Awards for his work in front of and behind the camera. 

As one of the leading figures in the film industry, Redford entertained his fans around the globe by starring in over 50 films, and inspired many young filmmakers through his work at the Sundance Film Festival, which he founded to promote independent films.

But Redford's success didn't come easy.

At the start, he took on many small roles on stage and in TV shows like "The Untouchables" and "Perry Mason". And even when he made his big screen debut in 1960 in "Tall Story", alongside Jane Fonda, it was a flop, with critics at the time saying, "nothing can save this picture".

It was not until 1965 that he earned a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer for his role in "Inside Daisy Clover", alongside Natalie Wood.

Despite this, he faced a setback that same year, when he was turned down for the role of Benjamin Braddock in "The Graduate" because director Mike Nichols thought he was "too good-looking".

The experience made Redford cautious of being pigeonholed by his looks.

In 1967, Redford reunited with Fonda in Neil Simon's romantic comedy "Barefoot in the Park", but true global fame arrived only in 1969 with "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", where Redford played the charming outlaw alongside Paul Newman. 

Their dynamic pairing became one of the most iconic in film history, capturing hearts and earning Redford an Oscar nomination for his role as Johnny Hooker in "The Sting". The film captured seven Academy Awards. 

The 70s saw Redford's career grow with various roles, including his version of Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby" and his co-starring role with Barbra Streisand in "The Way We Were".

With his success, Redford became wealthy and used part of his earnings to buy a ski resort in Utah, which he renamed Sundance after his famous movie role.

He also founded the Sundance Institute in 1981 to uplift independent filmmakers, leading to the annual Sundance Film Festival, which has now become one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. 

It was also around this time that he immersed himself in the emerging environmental movement, famously stating, "Ours is a sick planet because of our behaviour on it". 

He successfully opposed a power plant being built in Utah and lobbied for the landmark bills, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

He also joined the board of the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council, where he remained a guiding force up to his death.

By the 80s, Redford decided to step behind the camera and made his directorial debut with the film "Ordinary People," which earned him an Oscar for Best Director. 

In 2013, Redford joined forces with politician, author and diplomat Bill Richardson to create the Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife.

The following year, the foundation reached an agreement with the Navajo Nation to manage thousands of wild horses on the reservation and keep the animals from being sent to slaughterhouses.

Redford's activism extended to some of his film projects, whether the probes of the political system in "All the President's Men" and "The Candidate" or the drama "The Milagro Beanfield War", in which a resident fights a real estate mogul for control of his land.

Back to the big screen, in 2018, Redford finally announced that he would be retiring, saying that he was "tired of acting" and felt it was time to retire after a career spanning over 60 years.

However, 2019 saw him back on the big screen in "Avengers: Endgame", and again in 2022 with the psychological thriller series "Dark Winds", which is based on the Navajo community.

Redford's passing marks the end of an era for Hollywood, but his legacy as an actor, director, filmmaker and environmental activist will continue to inspire the world. 

In the words of Redford: "I want to thank my fans (who have) been with me through every step, from 'Butch Cassidy' to 'Ordinary People' ... Your love for my work keeps me grounded and grateful ... Your support makes it all worthwhile, thank you for being part of my journey".