Cinema legend Robert Redford, whose career as both actor and director spanned six decades, died early on Tuesday morning at his home in Utah, US media reported. He was 89.
Redford passed away in his sleep, with no specific cause of death disclosed, according to a statement from Cindi Berger, chief executive of publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, cited by The New York Times.
The tousle-haired, freckled star made his breakthrough in 1969, playing alongside Paul Newman in the classic Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
After two decades in front of the camera, Redford turned to directing. He went on to win an Academy Award and later co-founded the Sundance Film Festival, which became a global launchpad for independent cinema.
Beyond Hollywood, Redford was a committed environmental activist. He championed the preservation of Utah’s natural landscapes and resources, where he made his home.
Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on 18 August 1936 in Santa Monica, California, he was the son of an accountant.