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Barbra Streisand has paid tribute to Robert Redford, calling him “one of the finest actors ever”.
The entertainer shared a statement after her co-star in The Way We Were died at the age of 89 on Tuesday. His publicist wrote that he died “at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved”.
On Instagram, Streisand reminisced about their time together while making the 1973 hit.
“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. The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
Romantic drama The Way We Were was a critical and commercial hit with Streisand’s theme song also becoming a chart hit and receiving an Oscar nomination.
Streisand’s tribute joins a long list from Hollywood and beyond after Redford’s death. Meryl Streep, who starred with him in Out of Africa and Lions for Lambs, wrote: “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”
Jane Fonda, who starred with him in four movies including Barefoot in the Park, said in a statement: “It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”
Hillary Clinton shared a picture of her with Redford, writing: “He championed progressive values like protecting the environment and access to the arts while creating opportunities for new generations of activists and filmmakers. A true American icon.”
Scarlett Johansson, who starred in The Horse Whisperer, a drama directed by and starring Redford looked back on their time together. “He was patient and warm and kind,” she said. “Bob taught me what acting could be, and it was from his generosity and patience that I was inspired to pursue the possibilities of the craft. That same generosity and love of the art inspired Bob’s creation of Sundance, a place where film-makers learn from one another, inspire one another, and discover one another’s talent. Bob, thank you for your belief in me and for your grace and guidance.”
He was also described by Ron Howard as an “artistic game changer”.
Redford was known for his many films as an actor, including The Sting, All the President’s Men and Spy Game, but also played a key role in the Sundance film festival, with many seeing him as a pioneer of US independent cinema.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and friend Robert Redford,” a Sundance statement read. “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 US and around the world.”
