Redford’s favorite movie is ‘Jeremiah Johnson’, a western by Sydney Pollack based, in part, on the titular legendary mountain man, played by Redford. The film opened at Cannes Film Festival in 1972. Though ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ was his favorite role to play, Redford considers ‘The Sting’ to be his best performance.
When asked what his favorite film by any moviemaker is, he lists John Huston’s ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’. Hands down, no contest.
A Friend to the Environment
Before most people heard of global warming, Redford was talking about the ramifications. By 1989, he was already voicing his concern about the effects on the environment. As a trustee for the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), he went on television with an ad that asked for President Obama’s help with reducing carbon pollution from power plants.
Redford has been an advocate for the environment and a leader of the cause longer than most Hollywood activists have been saving the world.
The Roots of an Environmentalist
His love of nature started at age 11 when his mother took him to a national park as a reward for surviving a two-week bout with polio. Living in the L.A. area, he loved the ocean and surfing. To escape the freeways and skyscrapers of Los Angeles, he “went into the mountains, into the Sierras and worked at Yosemite National Park and fell in love with nature.”
When he met and fell in love with his first wife Lola, whose family was from Utah, he fell in love with the area too. After purchasing land near Salt Lake City, he saved the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and he helped save old-growth redwood in California.
Last Words
With a role in the crime thriller 'The Old Man & the Gun', Redford announced his retirement. The movie was released in September 2018. At the time, he told Entertainment Weekly it was his last project. “Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting, and [I will] move towards retirement after this ’cause I’ve been doing it since I was 21.” But in 2019, he showed up in Marvel Studios’ 'Avengers: Endgame', revisiting superhero junction with a cameo appearance of Alexander Pierce.
He also commented about art and society. Redford said, “Art criticizes society, that’s its role, it draws attention to what the truth is. It keeps us honest. Art is a critic of society.” Redford’s contribution to film and independent filmmaking is incredible. The Sundance Institute, a nonprofit he founded that dedicates itself to supporting independent filmmakers, is world-renowned. After six decades of commitment to his craft, the actor-director not only built a stellar reputation in the industry but also a net worth of $170 million. For many years to come, his immense influence and contribution to film will continue to live on.
He Is Always Late
Ann Hornaday a journalist for The Washington Post was asked back in 2005, what would be the best adjective, to sum up, Redford's personality. With no hesitation, she said, late. He is always late. He was once late for an interview by almost an hour, however, she was told that he has been late all of his life.
Redford was once confronted with his reputation for tardiness. He jokingly said that it was all rumors and a myth. He obviously later on admitted to living by his own clock and has never been able to keep track of time.