History of Robert Redford in Timeline
Robert Redford is a highly acclaimed American actor and filmmaker recognized with prestigious awards including an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globes. His significant contributions have earned him accolades such as the Cecil B. DeMille Award, Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, an Honorary Academy Award, Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and an Honorary César. Time magazine acknowledged his influence by naming him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014.
August 9, 1958: Marriage to Lola Van Wagenen
On August 9, 1958, Robert Redford married Lola Van Wagenen in Las Vegas.
September 1, 1959: Birth of Scott Anthony Redford
On September 1, 1959, Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen's first child, Scott Anthony Redford, was born.
November 17, 1959: Death of Scott Anthony Redford
On November 17, 1959, Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen's son, Scott Anthony Redford, passed away.
November 15, 1960: Birth of Shauna Jean Redford
On November 15, 1960, Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen's daughter, Shauna Jean Redford, was born.
May 5, 1962: Birth of David James Redford
On May 5, 1962, Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen's son, David James Redford, was born.
1963: Builds home in Utah
In 1963, Redford and his ex-wife Lola, who was from Utah, built a home in the Utah area.
1969: Nominated for Downhill Racer
In 1969, Robert Redford was nominated for Downhill Racer.
October 22, 1970: Birth of Amy Hart Redford
On October 22, 1970, Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen's daughter, Amy Hart Redford, was born.
1972: Portions of Jeremiah Johnson filmed near Sundance ski area
In 1972, portions of the movie Jeremiah Johnson, a film which heavily influenced Redford, were shot near the ski area he would later name Sundance.
1980: Wins Academy Award for Best Director
In 1980, Redford won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film Ordinary People.
1981: Founds the Sundance Institute
In 1981, Redford founded the nonprofit Sundance Institute in Park City, Utah.
1982: Reported Separation from Lola Van Wagenen
In 1982, entertainment columnist Shirley Eder reported that Robert Redford and his wife, Lola Van Wagenen, had been separated for several years.
1988: Directs The Milagro Beanfield War
In 1988, Redford directed The Milagro Beanfield War, a screen version of John Nichols's novel. Although well-crafted, it wasn't commercially successful.
1988: Receives honorary degree from the University of Colorado
In 1988, Redford received an honorary degree from the University of Colorado.
1989: Awarded the Audubon Medal
In 1989, the National Audubon Society awarded Redford its highest honor, the Audubon Medal.
1990: Stars in Havana
In 1990, Redford starred in Havana, playing Jack Weil, a professional gambler in 1959 Cuba during the Revolution.
1990: Support for Brent Cornell Morris
In 1990, Robert Redford supported Republican Brent Cornell Morris in his unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination for Utah's 3rd congressional district.
1991: Unclear Divorce Status
In 1991, Parade magazine reported that it was unclear whether Robert Redford's divorce from Lola Van Wagenen had been finalized.
1992: Directs A River Runs Through It
In 1992, Redford directed A River Runs Through It, based on Norman Maclean's novella, starring Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, and Tom Skerritt. Redford was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Director for this film.
1992: Release of A River Runs Through It and starring in Sneakers
In 1992, Redford released his third film as a director, A River Runs Through It, which brought mainstream success and greater prominence to Brad Pitt. He also co-starred in Sneakers with River Phoenix and Sidney Poitier.
1993: Stars in Indecent Proposal
In 1993, Redford starred in Indecent Proposal, playing a billionaire businessman. The film became one of the year's biggest hits.
1994: Directs Quiz Show
In 1994, Redford directed Quiz Show, an exposé about the quiz show scandal of the late 1950s. The film featured Paul Scofield, John Turturro, Rob Morrow, and Ralph Fiennes.
1995: Receives honorary degree from Bard College
In 1995, Redford received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Bard College.
1995: Deal with Showtime to start Sundance Channel
In 1995, Redford signed a deal with Showtime to start a 24-hour cable television channel devoted to airing independent films, which became the Sundance Channel.
February 29, 1996: Sundance Channel Premieres
The Sundance Channel premiered on February 29, 1996 as a 24-hour cable television channel.
1996: Co-stars in Up Close & Personal
In 1996, Redford co-starred with Michelle Pfeiffer in the newsroom romance film Up Close & Personal.
1996: Awarded the National Medal of Arts
In 1996, Redford was awarded the National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton.
1996: Szaggars Moves In
In 1996, Sibylle Szaggars moved in with Robert Redford and shared his home in Sundance, Utah.
1998: Directs and stars in The Horse Whisperer
In 1998, Redford directed and starred in The Horse Whisperer, co-starring with Kristin Scott Thomas and Scarlett Johansson.
2000: Directs The Legend of Bagger Vance
In 2000, Redford directed Matt Damon and Will Smith in The Legend of Bagger Vance.
2001: Stars in The Last Castle and Spy Game
In 2001, Redford appeared as a disgraced Army general in The Last Castle and reteamed with Brad Pitt for Spy Game.
2002: Receives Academy Honorary Award
In 2002, Redford received an Academy Honorary Award at the 74th Academy Awards.
2004: Narrates Sacred Planet and stars in The Clearing
In 2004, Redford narrated the IMAX documentary Sacred Planet and starred in The Clearing with Helen Mirren.
2004: Produces The Motorcycle Diaries
In 2004, Redford produced The Motorcycle Diaries, a coming-of-age road film about Che Guevara. He spent five years working on it.
2004: Support for Gary Herbert
In 2004, Robert Redford supported Gary Herbert, a Republican, in Herbert's successful campaign to be elected Utah's Lieutenant Governor. Herbert later became Governor of Utah.
December 2005: Receives Kennedy Center Honors
In December 2005, Redford received the Kennedy Center Honors for his contributions to American culture.
2005: Stars in An Unfinished Life
In 2005, Redford starred in An Unfinished Life as a rancher alongside Jennifer Lopez.
2007: Stars in Lions for Lambs
In 2007, Redford starred in Lions for Lambs with Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise, a project that received mixed reviews.
May 25, 2008: Receives honorary degree from Brown University
On May 25, 2008, Redford received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Brown University and spoke at the commencement ceremonies.
2008: Receives The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize
In 2008, Redford received The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize for his contribution to the beauty of the world and mankind's understanding of life.
2008: Sundance Film Festival
In 2008, Sundance exhibited 125 feature-length films from 34 countries, with more than 50,000 attendees.
2009: USC announces Robert Redford Award for Engaged Artists
In 2009, the University of Southern California announced the first annual Robert Redford Award for Engaged Artists.
October 14, 2010: Appointed chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
On October 14, 2010, Redford was appointed chevalier of the Légion d'honneur by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
2010: Recipient of the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts
In 2010, Redford received the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.
2010: Releases The Conspirator
In 2010, Redford released The Conspirator, a period drama about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
May 2011: Publication of Robert Redford: The Biography
In May 2011, Robert Redford: The Biography by Michael Feeney Callan was published by Alfred A. Knopf. It was written over fifteen years with Redford's input and drawn from his personal papers and diaries.
2011: Appears in Buck
In 2011, Redford appeared in the documentary Buck, discussing his experiences with Buck Brannaman during the production of The Horse Whisperer.
November 2012: Launch of Robert Redford Conservancy
In November 2012, Pitzer College launched the Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability at Pitzer College.
2012: Directs and stars in The Company You Keep
In 2012, Redford directed and starred in The Company You Keep as a former activist. The film also starred Shia LaBeouf and Julie Christie.
2012: Endorsement of Barack Obama
In 2012, Robert Redford endorsed Democratic President Barack Obama for re-election.
2013: Stars in All Is Lost
In 2013, Redford starred in All Is Lost, a film with almost no dialogue, and received critical acclaim for his performance. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
2013: Identified as Leading Anti-Pipeline Protest
In 2013, Robert Redford was identified by TransCanada Corporation's CEO, Russ Girling, for leading the anti-Keystone Pipeline protest movement.
April 2014: Plays Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier
In April 2014, Redford played Alexander Pierce, the main antagonist, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
April 2014: Pitzer College Divests Fossil Fuel Stocks
In April 2014, Robert Redford, a Pitzer College Trustee, and Pitzer College President Laura Skandera Trombley announced that Pitzer College would divest fossil fuel stocks from its endowment. At the time, it was the higher education institution with the largest endowment in the US to make this commitment. The press conference was held at the LA Press Club.
May 24, 2015: Receives honorary degree from Colby College
On May 24, 2015, Redford delivered the commencement address and received an honorary degree from Colby College in Maine.
2015: Acts in and co-produces A Walk in the Woods
In 2015, Redford co-produced and acted in A Walk in the Woods, based on Bill Bryson's book, with Emma Thompson and Nick Nolte.
2015: Quote in Donald Trump's Book
In 2015, Robert Redford's quote appeared on the back cover of Donald Trump's book Crippled America. Redford's statement, taken from a longer conversation with Larry King, was later clarified as not an endorsement of Trump for president.
November 22, 2016: Honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
On November 22, 2016, President Barack Obama honored Redford with a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2016: Plays Dan Rather in Truth and Mr. Meacham in Pete's Dragon
In 2016, Redford played news anchor Dan Rather in Truth and took the supporting role of Mr. Meacham in the Disney remake Pete's Dragon.
May 2017: Zoom restaurant closes
In May 2017, Robert Redford's Park City restaurant, Zoom, closed.
2017: Stars in The Discovery and Our Souls at Night
In 2017, Redford starred in The Discovery and Our Souls at Night, both released on Netflix. The latter reunited him with Jane Fonda.
2017: Awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement
In 2017, Redford was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 74th Venice Film Festival.
2017: Reprises Alexander Pierce in Avengers: Endgame
In 2017, Robert Redford reprised his role as Alexander Pierce for a cameo appearance in Avengers: Endgame, prior to the completion of The Old Man & the Gun.
August 2018: Announces Retirement from Acting
In August 2018, Redford announced his retirement from acting after completing The Old Man & the Gun, though he later expressed regret.
September 2018: Release of The Old Man & the Gun
In September 2018, the drama film The Old Man & the Gun, directed by David Lowery, was released, starring Redford as bank robber Forrest Tucker, a role for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
February 22, 2019: Receives Honorary César
On February 22, 2019, Robert Redford received the Honorary César at the 44th César Awards in Paris.
2019: Op-Ed Criticizing Trump
In 2019, Robert Redford wrote an op-ed in which he referred to Donald Trump's administration as a "monarchy in disguise" and stated "[i]t's time for Trump to go".
July 2020: Op-Ed Supporting Joe Biden
In July 2020, Robert Redford wrote an op-ed in which he stated President Donald Trump lacks a "moral compass" and announced that he would be voting for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
October 16, 2020: Death of David James Redford
On October 16, 2020, Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen's son, David James Redford, passed away.
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