By Anders Lorenzen
When he was a teenager, one of his first jobs was working in an oil field. Little did Robert Redford know that this would lead him to environmental and climate action advocacy and campaigns spanning the rest of his life.
This week, the Hollywood legend, veteran actor, director, and lifelong environmentalist died at 89.
Redford’s cinematic breakthrough
Redford, who was born in Santa Monica, California, on the 18th of August 1936, first made his name on Broadway before he, at the age of 33, got his cinematic breakthrough with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He would later use the ‘Sundance’ name when he founded the indie film festival, the Sundance Festival, in 1978
Eleven years later, in 1980, he made his directorial debut with Ordinary People, for which he also won his only Academy Award in 1981 as Best Director.
Redford the environmentalist
His early experience of working in the oil industry and how it impacts the environment is said to have shaped his passion for environmentalism.
He was vocal and engaged in local and national politics regarding the environment, climate change, and indigenous rights.
He opposed environmentally destructive projects such as a coal power plant in his home state of Utah.
In 2013, he showed he was not afraid to get his hands dirty by participating in a protest against the construction of the Keystone XL project, a controversial project the Biden Administration effectively killed in 2021.
He served as a trustee for the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), and in 2003, their Santa Monica office was named in his honour.
He often used his public profile and fame to speak up for the environment and call for action on climate change.
The launch of the Robert Redford Centre
With his son James, he founded the Robert Redford Centre in 2005 to advance environmental and climate change storytelling. According to the organisation, it is the only nonprofit in the US solely dedicated to environmental impact filmmaking. “Bob believed, with unwavering optimism, that we can build a better world. And he proved this with his actions. His vision and determination seeded countless movements that continue to protect our planet,” the organisation said in a statement.
Leonardo DiCaprio: Redford’s legacy and impact will last for generations
Fellow Hollywood environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio led the tribute to Redford: “Actor, activist, passionate environmentalist, and champion of the arts. His unwavering commitment to protecting our planet and inspiring change matched his immense talent. His impact will endure for generations to come.”
In their tribute to Redford, NRDC highlighted his early experience in the oil industry as a catalyst: “Redford often pointed to his early experiences working on rigs in California’s oil fields as pushing him down the path of environmentalism. After witnessing the impact of the wells on the landscape, he worked tirelessly for a better future.”
Charles Robert Redford Jr. was pronounced dead on the 16th of September 2025 – may he rest in peace.
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