Utahns honor Robert Redford for his artistic vision and for inspiring future generations of filmmakers
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- Honoree Robert Redford arrives at the 42nd annual Chaplin Award Gala on April 27, 2015, in New York.
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- Robert Redford is pictured in an undated photo.
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- Robert Redford is shown in an undated photo.
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- Robert Redford is pictured in an undated photo.
The passing of actor and Oscar-winning director Robert Redford has sparked an outpouring of tributes from Utah leaders and film-industry buffs remembering his work that spans more than six decades.
Redford died Tuesday at the age of 89 in his Sundance home — nestled in the mountains of Provo Canyon, according to the Associated Press.
While Redford’s legacy is cemented in Hollywood, his impact in the beehive state has been just as significant.
For Marshall Moore, owner of Orem-based Zions Indie Film Festival, the news hit hard.
“I cried,” he told the Daily Herald.
Moore said the loss felt like a piece of his childhood had died, as he recalled watching many of Redford’s movies like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “Jeremiah Johnson” or “The Natural.”
“It felt heavy this morning when I woke up,” said Moore, who got the news in a text message from his sons who knew of their father’s appreciation of Redford.
Through his movies, love for the outdoors and the Sundance Film Institute, Redford inspired a bright international spotlight on Utah.
Gov. Spencer Cox took to social media platform ‘X’ to reflect on Redford’s love for Utah.
“Decades ago, Robert Redford came to Utah and fell in love with this place,” Cox said. “He cherished our landscapes and built a legacy that made Utah a home for storytelling and creativity. Through Sundance and his devotion to conservation, he shared Utah with the world.”
Redford founded the Sundance Institute in 1981 in efforts to foster and empower emerging independent filmmakers and to introduce new talent to the industry, according to the organization’s website.
In a statement sent to the Daily Herald, the Sundance Institute said it is heartbroken over the loss of its founder and friend.
“Bob’s vision of a space and a platform for independent voices launched a movement that, over four decades later, has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema in the U.S. and around the world,” the statement read. “Beyond his enormous contributions to culture at large, we will miss his generosity, clarity of purpose, curiosity, rebellious spirit, and his love for the creative process. We are humbled to be among the stewards of his remarkable legacy, which will continue to guide the Institute in perpetuity.”
In 1984, the Sundance Institute assumed control of what would become known as the Sundance Film Festival, according to its website.
The annual event — held each year in January, mostly in Park City — exposes audiences from Utah and around the world to new filmmakers and movies. Earlier this year, the Sundance Institute announced the film festival will move to Colorado beginning in 2027.
Redford and newlywed Lola Van Wagenen moved to Utah in 1961, where he purchased 2 acres of land in Provo Canyon for $500, CNN reported. Almost a decade later, in 1969, he purchased the entire land that would eventually become Sundance Mountain Resort, its website noted.
Though Redford sold the property in 2020, according to a KSL.com report, leaders at Sundance Mountain Resort say his vision for the area will forever be cherished.
“With his generous spirit, kind nature, and artistic vision, Bob created something no one else could have built,” said Chad Linebaugh, president and general manager of Sundance Mountain Resort, in a statement. “Always looking ahead, his commitment to this canyon was a calling that went beyond love. The Sundance brand he built – rooted in this place – has touched so many lives and will continue to benefit generations who love this preserved land.”
To honor Redford’s memory, Sundance Mountain Resort says it has created a temporary memorial in the Resort Village at the Rehearsal Hall Pond, where guests and fans of Redford can visit and pay their respects.
Moore — who has 30 years of film experience, including his time as commissioner for the Utah Film Commission and his current leadership for the Utah Film Studios — said he not only admired Redford’s talent but also his support for up-and-coming filmmakers.
“He was all about nurturing the young filmmakers and helping them achieve their goals,” Moore said. “And (he) gave them a platform to do that like nobody else ever had before.”
Moore recounted a time in 2004 after joining the Utah Film Commission when he had a pleasant but surprising one-on-one encounter with Redford during a Sundance Institute event.
He asked the then director of the film commission to introduce him to Redford, who was also at the event. Moore said he was optimistic that he’d get the opportunity but also didn’t want to get his hopes up.
“So I’m sitting there having a conversation, and I feel a tap on my shoulder, and I turn around, and there I am…face to face with Robert Redford,” he recounted.
Moore remembered Redford saying ‘I heard you wanted to meet me,’ to which he was speechless, but he managed to tell him how much he loved his work.
“He was so gracious; (we) did not get a picture together, but we had a moment,” Moore said.
As the nation bids farewell to “the Sundance Kid” Moore and many others will likely remember Redford for his passion for storytelling and championing future filmmakers.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Redford’s cause of death was not revealed.
