A Week of Goodbyes: Robert Redford Dies at 89 as Sundance Living Closes

By Liviu Ghiuzan

Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, director, producer, and founder of the Sundance Institute, died today at his home in Utah. He was 89. Redford’s work shaped modern cinema. He starred in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), All the President’s Men (1976), and Out of Africa (1985). He later moved behind the camera and won the Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People (1980). He also built a home for independent filmmakers through the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival.

A week of goodbyes

In a striking coincidence, Sundance Living the retail brand that grew from Redford’s original Sundance Catalog stopped taking new orders earlier this week, on September 13, 2025. The company is in liquidation after months of financial trouble. The timing feels like a double farewell. Although he sold it years ago, the brand continued his line in look and feel.

The actor who defined an era

Redford’s screen presence mixed charm, intelligence, and quiet strength. In The Candidate (1972) he showed how ideals can collide with ambition. In All the President’s Men (1976) he helped bring the Watergate story to life and turned investigative journalism into gripping drama. In Out of Africa (1985) his chemistry with Meryl Streep gave the film its emotional core. Late in his career, All Is Lost (2013) showed that he could still hold the screen almost without words.

The American style icon

Beyond film, Redford became a reference point for men’s style around the world. His look was simple and timeless. Think soft-shouldered blazers, cable knit sweaters, peacoats, chambray shirts, jeans, and boots. His wardrobe in Three Days of the Condor is still a guide for smart casual dressing today.

In The Great Gatsby (1974), Ralph Lauren provided key menswear for Redford and the male cast, including the famous pale pink suit. The overall costume design was by Theoni V. Aldredge, who won the 1975 Oscar for the film’s costumes. This collaboration helped cement Redford’s image as an American style icon.

Legacy

Robert Redford leaves more than a filmography. He built institutions, gave new voices a platform, and showed how classic style can feel modern decade after decade. His passing, arriving just as Sundance Living closed its doors, feels like the end of a chapter. The films, the festival, and the enduring, easy elegance he modeled will keep inspiring people around the world.