Once Robert Redford, according to screenwriter William Goldman, was called "just another California blond -- throw a stick at Malibu, you'll hit six of him." It is unlikely, however, that any of the six would combine Redford's charm, intelligence, talent and looks. Redford attended the University of Colorado on a baseball scholarship but dropped out in 1957 to spend a year traveling and painting in Europe. Back in the States, he studied theatrical design and acting in New York.
Redford appeared in many television series during the early 1960s, and he enjoyed his first Broadway success in 1963 in Barefoot in the Park (he had made his movie debut a year earlier in WAR HUNT, an anti-war film set during the Korean conflict). The success of the play led to four more films of varying quality, but in none did Redford make a strong impression. His career took a major leap when he reprised his stage role in the film version of BAREFOOT (1967) opposite Jane Fonda. The phenomenal success of his pairing with Paul Newman in BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) (scripted by Goldman) made him a bankable star and cemented his screen image as an intelligent, reliable, sometimes sardonic good guy.
Redford's career saw no major milestones for the next four years, though DOWNHILL RACER (1969), on which he served as executive producer, was an interesting look at the world of competitive skiing. JEREMIAH JOHNSON and THE CANDIDATE (both 1972) were admirable, but it was his next two films, THE WAY WE WERE (1973) and THE STING (1973) that solidified his box-office appeal. About the first film he joked: "Nice Jewish girl (Barbra Streisand) gets nice blond WASP." Of the second: "Nice Jewish boy (Paul Newman) gets nice blond WASP."
During the three years from 1974 to 1976, when exhibitors voted Redford Hollywood's top box office name, his hits including THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER and THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR (both 1975). Another popular and acclaimed film, ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976) was a landmark film for Redford. Again, he was executive producer, and the film's serious subject matter, the Watergate scandal, reflected the actor's offscreen concerns for political and environmental causes. In 1980, his first outing as a director won him an Oscar for ORDINARY PEOPLE, a drama about the slow disintegration of a middle-class family. His second outing behind the camera would not be for another eight years, with THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR (1988), a screen version of John Nichols's acclaimed novel of the Southwest.
Redford also made a fine romantic lead opposite Meryl Streep in OUT OF AFRICA (1985), although many critics complained that his portrayal of Isak Dinesen's lover wasn't particularly realistic, Redford's characterization was more substantial than the ghostly figure of Dinesen's book. After the box-office disaster of HAVANA (1990), both his acting and directing careers needed a boost. He turned in an amiable lead performance in the popular computer caper SNEAKERS (1992) and the even more popular INDECENT PROPOSAL (1993), and directed a thoughtful adaptation of Norman McLean's novella A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT which found success with critics and public alike. Shot on a modest budget and featuring no big-name stars, the film grossed an impressive $35 million.
Redford's directing career reached a new plateau of acceptance with the release of QUIZ SHOW (1994), based on the sensationalized quiz show scandals of the 1950s which led to a Congressional investigation and the end of TV's age of innocence. Working with noted cinematographer Michael Ballhaus and a strong cast that featured John Turturro and Ralph Fiennes, Redford's directorial finesse had critics talking. In the autumn of a spectacular career before and behind the camera, it seemed Hollywood's golden boy could do no wrong.
Later acting credits include THE HORSE WHISPERER (1998, also producer & director), THE LAST CASTLE and SPY GAME (both 2001), THE CLEARING (2004), AN UNFINISHED LIFE (2005), LIONS FOR LAMBS (2007, also producer) and an UNTITLED JACKIE ROBINSON PROJECT (announced for 2008). He's acted as producer or executive producer for A CIVIL ACTION (1998), THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE (2000, also director), PEOPLE I KNOW (2002), THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES (2004), and THE UNFORESEEN (2007).
Since founding the non-profit Sundance Institute in Park City, Utah, in 1981, Redford has been actively involved in every aspect of that organization. Through its various workshop programs and the popular United States Film Festival, Sundance has provided much-needed support for independent film production.
Nominated for Actor 1973: THE STING
Directing 1980: ORDINARY PEOPLE
Nominated for Best Picture of the Year 1994: QUIZ SHOW - Producer at Hollywood (w. Michael Jacobs, Julian Krainin & Michael Nozik)
Nominated for Best Achievement in Directing 1994: QUIZ SHOW
Honorary Award 2001 - for Lifetime Achievement
4 nominations, 1 Award, 1 Honorary Award