Hollywood legend, Robert Redford, has announced that his upcoming role in David Lowrey’s The Old Man and the Gun will be his last, as he plans to retire from acting to focus solely on directing.
Now, while this means Redford’s presence in Hollywood will still be strong for years to come, the announcement still brings an end to an iconic acting career that has spanned 78 projects across 58 years, touching generation after generation. Appearing in countless classics such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All The President’s Men, The Great Gatsby and A Bridge Too Far, it is difficult to imagine a time when Redford hasn’t been in our lives. More recently, he has made a variety of intriguing choices, appearing in the epic superhero adventure Captain America: The Winter Soldier as the sinister Alexander Pierce, where he was given the opportunity to flex his villainous muscles; something he has rarely done throughout his career, while also appearing in the beautiful and heart-felt reimagining of the family favourite Pete’s Dragon; a film about a young orphan boy who befriends an adorable dragon after a heart-breaking tragedy leaves him alone in the woods. As well as appearing in big-budget blockbusters, Redford also dedicated time to much smaller, more intimate projects such as All Is Lost – a one-man show with minimal dialogue about a man lost alone at sea after his boat collides with a shipping container. All Is Lost is an under-appreciated gem and proof that, even in the twilight of his career, Redford was still prepared to challenge himself as an artist and push the boundaries of what audiences expected of him. Then, there is the wonderful Our Souls at Night, A Netflix Original Movie that tells the story of Louis Waters (Robert Redford) and Addie Moore (Jane Fonda), two aging widows who begin to form a connection in an attempt to make the most of the life they have left. It is a gorgeous, low-key Romantic-Drama featuring two acting giants exploring a story that Hollywood so often reserves for much younger performers.
Aside from his glowing acting career, Robert Redford also founded the Sundance Institute; a non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery, inspiration, support and development of independent filmmakers and theatre artists. Redford truly has dedicated his life to the world of cinema, both professionally and personally, excelling in his own career while helping others find their voice so they can start building their own. While Redford will always remain a Hollywood juggernaut, his diminished presence will be a big loss for fans everywhere.
The screen will miss you, Mr. Redford.
Catch Robert Redford’s final performance on December 7th, 2018 in The Old Man and the Gun – based on the true story of Forrest Tucker and his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public.
