Robert Redford appeared in more than 70 films in his illustrious acting career spanning six decades.
The Santa Monica, California native has starred in dozens of films across a variety of genres. Some of his most memorable romantic dramas include the way we were And out of Africa. Redford also starred in acclaimed political thrillers such as all the president’s men And three days of the condor.
He even graced the Marvel Cinematic Universe as SHIELD Secretary Alexander Pierce Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Redford didn’t do very many Westerns, but one of his most iconic films was the 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidWhich is based on the characters of two of the most notorious dacoits in history.
Redford found great success as the Sundance Kid, an expert gunslinger. Another iconic actor Paul Newman played the role of Butch Cassidy. The film follows a criminal duo as they flee Bolivia after a series of train robberies.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid It held a special place in Radford’s heart. In an interview on CNN in 2011 piers morgan liveHe called it his favorite film.
“I think butch cassidy Because it was so much fun,” He said. “In other words, I love to ride, I love to stunt, you know? And Paul and I had a great relationship that developed during the making of the movie.
“But it was a lot of fun. It was being in a country I love, getting on a horse, being an outlaw, which is what I felt like most of my life.
“It was a wonderful screenplay by Will Goldman, and beautifully directed by George Roy Hill.”
robert redford’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Became the highest-grossing Western of all time
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Dominated the box office. Made on a budget of $6 million, the film was released in 1969. It became the highest grossing film of the year, $102 million worldwide.
Today, the highest-grossing Western film of all time is Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 film Django UnchainedWith an estimated worldwide box office gross of $449.9 million. However, according to American Film Institute, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid If adjusted for today’s numbers this would bring in “more than half a billion dollars”.
In 1981, Radford founded the Sundance Film Festival in Utah for independent filmmakers. He named it after an iconic character from his favorite film.
Radford died on September 16, 2025, at the age of 89. He left behind a true legacy, but it’s clear that one particular film meant more to him than the rest.
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