Robert Redford is a renowned filmmaker, philanthropist, and environmentalist. He was born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, to Charles Redford Sr., an accountant, and Martha (Hart) Redford.
Early Life and Career
Redford attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, Pratt Institute of Art, Brooklyn, New York, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York. He had polio as a child and later worked in the California oil fields before moving to Europe to study painting.
Redford’s acting career began on Broadway in 1959 with the play ‘Tall Story.’ His first credited movie, ‘War Hunt,’ was released in 1962. He gained fame with his role in the film ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ in 1969.
Awards and Legacy
Redford won an Academy Award for Best Director for ‘Ordinary People’ in 1981. He also received an honorary Academy Award in 2002 for his contributions to the film industry. Redford founded the Sundance Institute, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Redford Center.
As an environmentalist, Redford fought to preserve over 1.7 million acres of Utah wilderness from development. He was also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
