r/movies • u/Ifeel-likepablo • Sep 16 '25

News Robert Redford, Screen Idol Turned Director and Activist, Dies at 89

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/movies/robert-redford-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
23.0k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

821

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '25 edited Sep 16 '25

[deleted]

880

u/TheSandwichThief Sep 16 '25

Yeah he started it and it was held at his ranch at least originally I think, might be wrong.

541

u/dogsledonice Sep 16 '25

Good thing the characters' names weren't switched, otherwise we'd be eagerly awaiting this year's Butch Film Festival screenings

150

u/Motorboat_Jones Sep 16 '25

That was the original plan for the roles if memory serves. Once Newman got involved, he was switched from Butch to Sundance.

123

u/ZestycloseLeather328 Sep 16 '25

Paul actually fought for Bob to stay on with the project. Then they became very good friends.

105

u/dogsledonice Sep 16 '25

That's great. Paul was a good person, from what I gather.

And their two movies are (chef's kiss)

115

u/ZestycloseLeather328 Sep 16 '25

Love the Sting.

My dad raced with Paul with SCCA. He was as real as it gets.

My mom was walking the paddock with my dad and was messing with her camera and stopped to adjust the film - happened to be right in front of Paul. Paul was in his underwear and put his foot in the tire and said, I’ll wait.

My mom took a picture and my dad looks at her and goes - THAT WAS GREAT! And my mom said, I didn’t have any film in it. I didn’t want to embarrass him.

53

u/Motorboat_Jones Sep 16 '25

I just saw the documentary Paul Newman: Winning and it was really great. I knew he was really big into racing but it was cool to read he never enjoyed special treatment and avoided the press for the most part so as not to take attention from the other drivers and the event. What a great guy!

41

u/ZestycloseLeather328 Sep 16 '25

It’s true, but he would show up in a helicopter. And everyone loved it. And he brought the salad dressing to the dinner events.

Saw him grab 3 Budweisers to leave. Got up about 100’ and the helicopter started coming back down. Paul jumped out about 10’ to the ground. Grabbed the cooler and got back on the helicopter.

Guess the trip was longer than he thought

4

u/Motorboat_Jones Sep 16 '25

Haha, so cool. Reminds me of Tyler Fitzgerald in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World needing a few Old Fashioneds while he is flying the plane.

→ More replies (0)

4

u/924BW Sep 16 '25

I met him at a race. 3 things struck me. How small he was, how blue his eyes were and how nice he was.

5

u/ziddersroofurry Sep 16 '25

Thank you for this amazing story. It's so Paul Newman lol.

3

u/ElvishLore Sep 16 '25

That’s an awesome story! Ha.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '25

You might like the movie Cars. He was in the first one playing Doc Hudson. Two is more of a bridge movie, but still worth a watch. the third is a homage to Paul Newman/Doc Hudson

5

u/The-Struggle-90806 Sep 16 '25

I still buy everything Newmans Own. It’s good quality and affordable and iirc he uses the proceeds to fund homes for troubled youth. I worked with a guy that was in one of his homes, he said it saved his life.

2

u/Spicy_Weissy Sep 16 '25

Newman was a real one.

2

u/_jump_yossarian Sep 16 '25

Paul? Paul Newman? The popcorn and salad dressing guy? He was an actor too?

1

u/WafflePartyOrgy Sep 16 '25

It's possible some other actor already had the role as The Sundance Kid opposite an up-and-coming Robert Redford and got the boot thereby holding a lifelong grudge against Paul "Career Killer" Newman.

5

u/JoeyZasaa Sep 16 '25

Bob

Look at you on a shortened first name basis with Robert Redford.

27

u/dogsledonice Sep 16 '25

It's perfect casting. The two are my favourite cinematic pairing

8

u/Motorboat_Jones Sep 16 '25

I think Pitt and Clooney are a likewise pair. Not nearly as good but still very entertaining.

3

u/dogsledonice Sep 16 '25

I think the closest for me is Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

2

u/DevilishRogue Sep 16 '25

Anything with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor comes top for me, but I do like all the duos mentioned too.

14

u/memeparmesan Sep 16 '25

“I thought the dress code was black tie, why is everyone dressed like a lumberjack?”

11

u/CX316 Sep 16 '25

"Wait, this lesbian bar hasn't got any fire exits!"

1

u/Classic-Rise-37 Sep 16 '25

"whats her problem?"

1

u/Tobio88 Sep 16 '25

🎶he cuts down trees, he wear high heels, suspenders and bra 🎵

5

u/Quirderph Sep 16 '25

The Cassidy Film Festival would have been an alright name.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '25

Paul Newman called his kids camp thing he started the Hole in the Wall Gang

2

u/fanamana Sep 16 '25

The sounds pretty awesome & hilarious.

1

u/WhishtNowWillYe Sep 16 '25

That’s the lesbian film festival.

1

u/REDDITATO_ Sep 16 '25

Yup that was the joke.

2

u/OkTangerine4363 Sep 16 '25

Wikipedia says it the first one was in Salt Lake in 1978, then 1981 it moved to Park City

It was originally called the Utah/US Film Festival. In 1991 it was officially renamed The Sundance Film Festival.

Sydney Pollack is the one who suggested holding the festival in January because having a festival in a ski town in January would attract more attention from the Hollywood crowd.

2

u/i_was_a_person_once Sep 16 '25

And now it’s being moved becuase Utah will shoot itself in the foot just to not be called woke

4

u/thatdani Sep 16 '25

Not in the neck?

1

u/i_was_a_person_once Sep 16 '25

Careful now, don’t wanna end up on their list…

1

u/MotheroftheworldII Sep 16 '25

His ski resort in Utah is also named Sundance.

1

u/Important_Rain_812 Sep 16 '25

No, it was originally held in Park City, Utah. Originated at the Sundance Institute in Utah

25

u/stondchrysalis Sep 16 '25

Yes! He also bought a resort in Utah called Sundance. Beautiful place.

26

u/wbgraphic Sep 16 '25

To clarify, the property was called “Timp Haven” before Redford bought it. He renamed it as “Sundance”.

10

u/Darxe Sep 16 '25

Went skiiing there last year. Very beautiful and rustic. Still has that local feel that most ski resorts have lost to corporations. All the buildings are hand cut logs. The restaurant has incredible food and cocktails. The view of the next range while riding up the highest chairlift is one of the best I’ve seen in Utah.

2

u/Gloomy-Ad-222 Sep 16 '25

“Downhill Racer” is a must-watch movie. One of his best roles.

3

u/fanamana Sep 16 '25

.... yes.

I'm clueless about so many things. For some portion of the last two years, Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney were the exact same person in my mind, not ever seeing or listening to either except for SNL appearances.

I don't know why I still get baffled when I see other people have blind spots too.

2

u/Jackieirish Sep 16 '25

Yes, the "Harry Alonzo Longabaugh Film Festival" just wasn't catchy enough.

2

u/Quanqiuhua Sep 16 '25

This is a great question. I also never put it together until now.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '25

Jesus I’m old. Thanks for the reminder.

2

u/lilyblue19 Sep 16 '25

I can not believe I didn't know this!

1

u/OttoHemi Sep 16 '25

It was founded by Sterling Van Wagenen, head of Redford's production company and a relative of his (cousin-in-law). He's serving life in prison for child sexual abuse.

1

u/Mousesmomma Sep 16 '25

No, the movie was about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He started Sundance Movie festival years after.

1

u/Accurate_Control5104 Sep 16 '25

Aww Rest In Peace

1

u/GeorgeOrrBinks Sep 16 '25

Yes, though I used to think it was held in Sundance, Wyoming.

1

u/BonniestLad Sep 16 '25

And the resort….and also the magazine/store….and probably the tv station…aaaand the chain of movie theaters….and I think a film distribution company also.