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The cinematic icon, whose life ended in his late 80s, featured in more than fifty films, earned an Academy Award for directing, and became a strong supporter of indie directors by establishing the annual Sundance Film Festival.

Professional accomplishments enabled him to select projects that reflected his progressive values, and he additionally an advocate for planet conservation and indigenous peoples’ causes.

His timeless heartland features made a lasting impression: An observer once said he resembled “a chunk of Mount Rushmore clad in blue jeans.”

A different critic stated he exhibited “an effortless poise and a glow that appeared as if he was lit from within.”

However Redford himself felt his looks were more of an obstacle than a benefit in Hollywood, and remarked that karma had caused sorrow in his personal life as punishment for his blessed looks.

Charles Robert Redford Jr entered the world in California in the late 1930s, the offspring of a milkman who subsequently became a numbers man with a major corporation.

During school, he was part of a local group and was arrested for “using a vehicle that contained hot items inside.”

He received a sports-based opportunity to the University of Colorado, but dismissed not long after due to alcohol-related issues. Simultaneously, his mother died in her forties.

Feeling grief, he traveled for a time, working in California oilfields then journeying to the Old World, where he pursued painting.

His time abroad offered fresh insight about the United States: “I began to view my country from another angle,” he commented.

After returning, he signed up at the American Academy of Dramatic Art with plans to become a stage designer—however soon switched to performance.

Similar to other aspiring actors in late 1950s New York, he secured minor parts on Broadway and on television, such as appearances in classic dramas including Dr. Kildare.

His cinematic debut occurred in 1960 via a minor role in a motion picture, in which he acted alongside a fellow performer.

It was not an auspicious start to his film career. The film failed—and a critic writing that “no one could save the film.”

But, it signaled the foundation of a enduring connection between them, who later admitted to falling in love every time they collaborated.

“There was constantly an enigma because he kept private everything,” Fonda commented. “He possesses an aura surrounding him.”

His first major theatrical hit came as pompous lawyer a character in Neil Simon’s romantic comedy the show. Eventually played the character in the film release, once more with Fonda.

In 1965, he received a award for upcoming star for his role in Inside Daisy Clover with an actress.

However he not chosen for the role of Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate since the director believed he appeared excessively good-looking—and this led Redford wary of pigeonholing due to his looks.

Global fame came that year with the western classic.

The 33-year-old’s portrayal of the easygoing character, alongside his partner’s fast-talking Butch, proved to be among Hollywood’s great collaborations.

Amusingly, Redford nearly missing out the opportunity when a producer said: “He is only another typical star. Throw a rock out of an opening there, and you’ll strike many similar.”

The studio attempted not to hiring Redford, until Paul—a major talent—intervened and required that he join.

Both performers realized they shared a love of the stage, and remained allies until Newman’s passing in that year.