- Born: August 18, 1936 (age 78), Santa Monica, California, United States
- Height: 1.79 m
- Spouse: Sibylle Szaggars (m. 2009), Lola Van Wagenen (m. 1958–1985)
Mini Bio (1)
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. was born on August 18, 1936, in
Santa Monica, California, to Martha (Hart), from Texas, and Charles
Robert Redford, an accountant for Standard Oil, who was originally from
Connecticut. He is of English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Robert's
mother died in 1955, the year after he graduated from high school.
Robert was a scrappy kid who stole hubcaps in school and lost his
college baseball scholarship at the University of Colorado because of
drunkenness.
After leaving UoC, he spent some time drifting across America, spending a time working in the California oil fields. Having saved enough he moved to Europe studying art in Paris and Florence.Back in the States he decided on a career as a theatrical designer in New York. Enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Art he turned to acting making his stage debut in 'Tall Story'. In 1962 he was signed for the stage production of 'Barefoot in the Park' which was a smash hit but it wasn't until 5 years later when it was filmed that he became an important star.
Television and stage experience coupled with all-American good looks led to movies and television roles. His breakthrough role was "The Sundance Kid" in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), when the actor was 32. The Way We Were (1973) and The Sting (1973), both in 1973, made Redford the number one box office star for the next three years. Redford used his clout to advance environmental causes and his riches to acquire Utah property, which he transformed into a ranch and the Sundance ski resort. In 1980, he established the Sundance Institute for aspiring filmmakers. Its annual film festival has become one of the world's most influential. Redford's directorial debut, Ordinary People (1980), won him the Academy Award as Best Director in 1981. He waited eight years before getting behind the camera again, this time for the screen version of John Nichols' acclaimed novel of the Southwest, The Milagro Beanfield War (1988). He scored with critics and fans in 1992 with the Brad Pitt film A River Runs Through It (1992), and again, in 1994, with Quiz Show (1994), which earned him yet another Best Director nomination.
Lola Van Wagenen (consumer activist), born in 1940, dropped out of college to marry Redford on September 12, 1958. They divorced in 1985 after having four children, one of whom died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Daughter Shauna Redford, born November 15, 1960, is a painter who married Eric Schlosser on October 5, 1985, in Provo, UT. Her first child, born in January 1991, made Redford a grandfather. Son James Redford (aka Jamie Redford), a screenwriter, was born May 5, 1962. Daughter Amy Redford, an actress; was born October 22, 1970. Redford also has a brother named William.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gustaf Molin <gumo@hem2.passagen.se> and tonyman 5
After leaving UoC, he spent some time drifting across America, spending a time working in the California oil fields. Having saved enough he moved to Europe studying art in Paris and Florence.Back in the States he decided on a career as a theatrical designer in New York. Enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Art he turned to acting making his stage debut in 'Tall Story'. In 1962 he was signed for the stage production of 'Barefoot in the Park' which was a smash hit but it wasn't until 5 years later when it was filmed that he became an important star.
Television and stage experience coupled with all-American good looks led to movies and television roles. His breakthrough role was "The Sundance Kid" in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), when the actor was 32. The Way We Were (1973) and The Sting (1973), both in 1973, made Redford the number one box office star for the next three years. Redford used his clout to advance environmental causes and his riches to acquire Utah property, which he transformed into a ranch and the Sundance ski resort. In 1980, he established the Sundance Institute for aspiring filmmakers. Its annual film festival has become one of the world's most influential. Redford's directorial debut, Ordinary People (1980), won him the Academy Award as Best Director in 1981. He waited eight years before getting behind the camera again, this time for the screen version of John Nichols' acclaimed novel of the Southwest, The Milagro Beanfield War (1988). He scored with critics and fans in 1992 with the Brad Pitt film A River Runs Through It (1992), and again, in 1994, with Quiz Show (1994), which earned him yet another Best Director nomination.
Lola Van Wagenen (consumer activist), born in 1940, dropped out of college to marry Redford on September 12, 1958. They divorced in 1985 after having four children, one of whom died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Daughter Shauna Redford, born November 15, 1960, is a painter who married Eric Schlosser on October 5, 1985, in Provo, UT. Her first child, born in January 1991, made Redford a grandfather. Son James Redford (aka Jamie Redford), a screenwriter, was born May 5, 1962. Daughter Amy Redford, an actress; was born October 22, 1970. Redford also has a brother named William.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gustaf Molin <gumo@hem2.passagen.se> and tonyman 5
Spouse (2)
| Sibylle Szaggars | (11 July 2009 - present) |
| Lola Van Wagenen | (12 September 1958 - 12 November 1985) (divorced) (4 children) |
Trade Mark (2)
Films often reflect his liberal political views
Often worked with Sydney Pollack
Trivia (53)
10/97: Ranked #29 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
1995: Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#4).
Father of Shauna Redford (born on 15 November 1960), James Redford (born on 15 May 1962) and Amy Redford (born on 22 October 1970). His oldest son Scott was born in 1959 and died shortly after from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
German painter Sibylle Szaggars has been his longtime companion since 1996.
Was considered for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972).
Named an Officer of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Mentioned in the theme song of the 1980s TV hit The Fall Guy (1981).
Lost out on the role of Ben Braddock in The Graduate (1967) because director Mike Nichols didn't think anyone would believe Redford would have trouble getting "the girl".
In the early 1970s Paramount had plans to remake Double Indemnity (1944) with Redford in the Fred MacMurray role. The project never got off the ground.
Is a national member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Mid-1950s: Was a pitcher on the University of Colorado baseball team.
Has done 11 period pieces, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), The Natural (1984) and Out of Africa (1985).
He is the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, which he named after his character from the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).
He and famed Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale were in the same high school graduating class (Van Nuys High School, Class of 1954).
Has appeared in seven movies dealing with adultery in some form or another: The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Out of Africa (1985), Havana (1990), Indecent Proposal (1993), The Horse Whisperer (1998), and The Clearing (2004).
2004: In addition to being the graduation speaker for Bard
College's 144th Commencement, he also received an honorary Doctor of
Humane Letters degree from the college.
Was given a fishing rod in lieu of the agreed $75 payment for his first professional acting appearance, on a TV game show.
He was voted the 30th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
Alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA).
Is of Irish, Scottish and English descent.
Was originally attached to The Verdict
(1982), but dropped out prior to production because he didn't want the
character to be "such a loser". Director Sidney Lumet was dismayed by
Redford's demands to change the script. The role of Frank Galvin was
taken over by his friend Paul Newman, who won an Oscar nomination.
After his suggestions of Warren Beatty, Alain Delon and Burt Reynolds to play the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972) were rejected by Francis Ford Coppola, Paramount production chief Robert Evans suggested Redford. When Coppola demurred, preferring his first choice of Tony Awar-winning Broadway actor Al Pacino,
Evans explained that Redford could fit the role as he could be
perceived as "northern Italian." Evans lost the struggle, Pacino was
cast and a star was born.
Dislikes watching his own films. The only film in which he was completely satisfied with his own performance was The Sting (1973).
2005: Premiere Magazine ranked him as #17 on a list of the
Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation
feature.
He is an environmental conservationist and often advocates and supports natural causes.
Along with Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, Richard Attenborough and Kevin Costner one of six people to win and Academy Award for Best Director, though they are mainly known as actors.
During his senior year at Van Nuys High School, he met 15-year old sophomore Natalie Wood, who was already a star. Later in life, they starred together in Inside Daisy Clover (1965) and This Property Is Condemned (1966) and became good friends.
2005: Recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors. Other recipients were Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, Suzanne Farrell and Julie Harris.
1996: Awarded the American National Medal of the Arts by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington, DC.
His performance as the Sundance Kid in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) is ranked #20 on the American Film Institute's 100 Heroes & Villains. This is a ranking he shares with Paul Newman, who portrayed Butch Cassidy.
His performance as Bob Woodward in All the President's Men (1976) is ranked #27 on the American Film Institute's 100 Heroes & Villains. This is a ranking he shares with Dustin Hoffman, who portrayed Carl Bernstein.
1970s: Considered running for the U.S. Senate seat in his home state of Utah.
He often did his own stunts in action sequences but made sure the
stunt men who were hired for it were paid, so as not to put anyone out
of work.
Turned down the leading roles in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), The Graduate (1967), Rosemary's Baby (1968), Love Story (1970) and The Day of the Jackal (1973).
He set up the Sundance Film Institute in Utah for independent
filmmakers and in 1997 announced the creation of Sundance Cinemas, a
venture with a major distributer to set up a chain of theaters for the
screening of independent films. As of 2011, at least two are open.
2002: Awarded an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement
as the creator of Sundance, an inspiration to independent and innovative
filmmakers everywhere.
Lifelong friends with Sydney Pollack both men having made their feature film acting debuts in War Hunt (1962).
1960: He spent his last $500 on two acres of land in Utah, an
investment that would ultimately grow to 5,000 acres becoming home to
his Sundance Institute. Redford purchase Timp Haven (ski resort) in 1969
and changed the name to Sundance Ski Resort which began operating under
Redford's environmentally friendly policies. Sundance is located at the
base of Utah's picturesque Mt. Timpanogos and in 1981 Redford formed
the Sundance Institute and later the Sundance Film Festival which became
too large for Sundance Ski Resort and was moved primarily to Park City,
Utah.
Turned down the role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969).
Born to Charles Robert Redford Sr., an accountant, and his wife Martha W. Hart.
Ranked #53 in Empire Magazines 100 Sexiest Movie Stars of all time.
Appeared in 7 movies that were directed by Sydney Pollack: This Property Is Condemned (1966), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Way We Were (1973), Three Days of the Condor (1975), The Electric Horseman (1979), Out of Africa (1985) and Havana (1990). They also both appeared in War Hunt (1962).
Directed 4 actors in Oscar nominated performances: Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, and Donald Sutherland. Hutton won for his performance in Ordinary People (1980).
Married his longtime girlfriend, 51-year-old Sibylle Szaggars in Germany on July 11, 2009 at Louis C. Jacob hotel.
Father-in-law of Eric Schlosser.
As a guest on Inside the Actors Studio (1994) (30 Jan. 2005), Redford confessed to host James Lipton that his favorite and least favorite words were, respectively, "Possible" and "Whatever".
Robert Young,
who was a star at MGM in the 1930s and starred in the TV series "Father
Knows Best" and "Marcus Welby MD", was a cousin of his mother.
Like his dear friend Paul Newman, both men had firstborn sons named Scott who predeceased their fathers.
Grandfather of Anna Michaela Schlosser (born 1991) and Conor James
Schlosser (born July 29, 1992) (children of daughter Shauna Redford and
Eric Schlosser), Dylan Larson Redford (born 1991) and Lena Redford (born 1996) (children of son James Redford and Kyle Smith) and Eden Hart August (born 2008) (daughter of daughter Amy Redford and Matt August).
As of 2014, has appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), All the President's Men (1976) and Out of Africa (1985). Of those, The Sting (1973) and Out of Africa (1985) are winners in the category. And in addition, directed two more films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Quiz Show (1994) and the winner Ordinary People (1980).
One of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. [April 2014].
Personal Quotes (28)
[on his appearance in Havana
(1990)] All everyone talked about was aging. It took me by surprise
because I have not thought of myself that way. I assumed I would age
naturally, as time went on.
As a director, I wouldn't like me as an actor. As an actor, I wouldn't like me as a director.
I am perhaps the best-looking grandfather around, apart from Marlon Brando, of course!
Some people have analysis. I have Utah.
[on refusing the role of Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate (1967), the role that made Dustin Hoffman
a star seven years before Redford obtained super-star status himself] I
never did look like a 21-year-old just out of college who'd never been
laid.
by Robert Osborne,
"Academy Awards 1974 Oscar Annual"] I used to feel competitive about a
career, but now the only things I'm really passionate about are my
family, the environment and Indians.
I learned early that you'd better know what you're talking about.
You'd better realize that certain issues are going to be so hot - no
matter what reason, what logic you apply to it - you're going to be met
with an opposition just because their viewpoint is different, and
there's no way they're going to accept your reasoning. Furthermore,
they're going to attack you because you will be portrayed as not being
credible: "You're an actor. What do you know?"
You should prepare when you go to a public event to be public.
That's when I will sign autographs. But not when you're going about your
normal business.
I have to be human, of course, to be flattered by attention from
the public. How could you not be? But it gets pretty intense when people
are going after your clothes, and mobbing you in the streets, and you
have to hide. That's kind of amusing, and kind of mind-boggling when it
happens - you kind of go with it and have fun with it. Then it gets
tiring, and then it gets worse when you realize you're being robbed of a
vital part of your life, which is your privacy. And you also know
what's coming your way is artificial, because those people are reacting
to something they saw on the screen, not you as a person.
[on his relationship with Paul Newman]
When we made the movies nobody used the word "chemistry". Nobody used
the word "bonding". It was just: "Get up there and do your job!"
[on his friendship with Paul Newman] There are certain friendships that are sometimes too good and too strong to talk about.
I got a review when I was starting in live television. This guy
Jack O'Brian called me "hammy and overwrought". Now I'm looking back on
it, I'd like to hold on to those reviews. It keeps you in perspective.
It really does. Part of you says, "You know, I never ever really got
over that." And what I think you learn very early on is not to believe
your own press clippings, one way or another, just do your work. Because
you're your own tough critic. If you focus on doing the work, you'll
get to a place of refinement where those reviews which are often hyped
up too much to the negative or the positive fall away.
I've bought hundreds of acres around my home. That's why I moved
here from the coast. There's plenty of room to roam and be alone with
nature. That's living. The city life is merely existing.
I often feel I'll just opt out of this rat race and buy another hunk of Utah.
A lot of what acting is, is paying attention.
All my life I've been dogged by guilt because I feel there is this
difference between the way I look and the way I feel inside.
[during his opening-night address at the Sundance Film Festival,
claiming U.S. politicians exploited public support of invasions] We put
all our concerns on hold to let the leaders lead. I think we're owed a
big, massive apology.
[1972 comment on Paul Newman] Paul is the most generous man with whom I've ever worked. We had a fantastic rapport shooting [Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)]. It was one of the happiest experiences of my life.
[on working with Dustin Hoffman on All the President's Men
(1976)] One of the joys of the movie was working with Dustin; he has
one of the most wonderful acting minds I've ever worked with.
They throw that word "star" at you loosely, and they take it away
equally loosely. You take the responsibility for their crappy movie,
that's what that means.
[on the death of longtime friend Paul Newman] I have lost a real friend. My life--and this country--is better for his being in it.
[on the Sundance Film Festival] Political activism has been a part
of my life and part of the films I try to make. But we don't focus on
any one theme or another. We don't take any ideological stance. I'm
anti-ideology. Our work tries to transcend politics. Whatever side
you're on, we try to show stories from every part of the country, and so
'red state, blue state' doesn't mean a whole lot to us.
I am passionate. I am political about my country, about what it
is, how strong it is, how strong it remains. 'Lions for Lambs' got rough
treatment, and I think it was because - and I don't want to sound
defensive - but I think it was misperceived. I am not a left-wing
person. I'm just a person interested in the sustainability of my
country.
Storytellers broaden our minds: engage, provoke, inspire, and ultimately, connect us.
President Obama has just rejected a permit for the Keystone XL tar
sands pipeline - a project that promised riches for the oil giants and
an environmental disaster for the rest of us. His decision represents a
victory of historic proportions for people from throughout the pipeline
path and all across America.
I believe history has a habit of repeating itself, that's for
sure, but one of things I'm critical of my country on is that we don't
seem to take note of the lessons that history teaches us. My country is
pretty prone to everything wanting to be black and white, or red, white
and blue. And in my experience of life, nothing was ever that simple. No
one was dealing with the grey areas. So I decided to become a filmmaker
so I could deal with that.
[on choosing Jackie Evancho to play his daughter in The Company You Keep (2012)] I have a big thing about child actors who 'act' as opposed to child actors who can be natural, who can be real. Scarlett Johansson was a kid when we did The Horse Whisperer
(1998), and I was concerned if a child looked like they were acting it
would be like fingernails on a blackboard. So I'm depressed and I go
back to my room and I do something I don't usually do and that's surf.
And suddenly I'm skipping across these channels and there's this angelic
face..singing. And there's a close-up and I think: 'Who's that?' and
she was singing Puccini's opera.
[on filming 'All is Lost'] It was a bold and pure cinematic
experience. It was stripped to the bone and I found that very
appealing.. Being wet all day was the hardest thing. You get depressed
being wet all the time.
Salary (6)
| War Hunt (1962) | $500 .00 |
| The Sting (1973) | $500,000 |
| A Bridge Too Far (1977) | $2,000,000 |
| The Electric Horseman (1979) | $3,500,000 |
| Indecent Proposal (1993) | $4,000,000 |
| The Last Castle (2001) | $11,000,000 |
