Barbra Streisand is paying heartfelt tribute to Robert Redford, her co-star in the 1973 classic The Way We Were, following his death at 89.
Redford’s publicist confirmed he passed away at his beloved Sundance home in Utah, surrounded by family and friends. The news has prompted an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood legends, political figures, and those whose lives he influenced through film and activism.
Barbra Streisand Remembers Robert Redford as “One of the Finest Actors Ever” In Heartfelt Tribute
Streisand shared her memories of working with Redford on Instagram, describing their on-set chemistry as unforgettable. “Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense, and pure joy,” she wrote. “We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie. Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting—and one of the finest actors ever.”
She also recalled their final meeting over lunch, where they discussed art and exchanged their first drawings. “He was one of a kind,” Streisand said. “I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
The Way We Were went on to become both a box office success and a cultural touchstone, with Streisand’s theme song cemented as one of her signature performances.
Others who worked closely with Redford also expressed their grief. Meryl Streep, his Out of Africa co-star, called him “one of the lions” and praised his enduring presence. Jane Fonda, who starred with him in four films, admitted she was devastated by his passing: “I can’t stop crying. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”
Tributes extended beyond Hollywood. Hillary Clinton highlighted Redford’s lifelong commitment to environmental protection and expanding access to the arts, calling him “a true American icon.” Scarlett Johansson, who acted alongside him in The Horse Whisperer, credited him with inspiring her approach to acting and praised his vision for Sundance as a haven for new talent.
Director Ron Howard described him as an “artistic game changer,” while the Sundance Institute itself issued a statement honoring its founder, noting that his dream of a platform for independent voices “launched a movement that has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema.”
Robert Redford leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his roles in The Sting, All the President’s Men, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Through Sundance, he nurtured independent film and gave countless artists a platform. For Streisand and so many others, he wasn’t just a co-star or collaborator—he was a force of nature, both on screen and off.
