Robert Redford: "Conspirator " Director Talks: Movies, How He Got Into Acting, His Favorite Films and His Thoughts on Paul Newman

 

Robert Redford at the premiere of The Conspirator

Robert Redford was born Charles Robert Redford Jr on August 18, 1936 in Santa Monica, California.  He graduated from Van Nuys High School in L.A.. California where he was a classmate of Don Drysdale where two had played baseball together. Robert graduated from High School in 1954 and received a baseball scholarship to the University of Colorado.  Redford did not graduate from college, but he moved to New York City and had attended Pratt school of Art in Brooklyn and also attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  His first debut in  acting was in "Tall Story" on Broadway in 1959.  His screen debut was in 1962 in the feature film, "War Hunt."  It was the first time that Sydney Pollack was in a major film too.  Robert Redford has acted, directed and created the Sundance film festival.  His latest film, the Conspirator was featured at the Toronto film festival and picked up by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions. The film is a historical political story starring; Robin Wright, and James McAvoy and Kevin Klein. Redford stated that he knew that Robin Wright and James McAvoy were perfect for their roles.  They were his first choice for the film roles that they played.   Redford was interviewed by Piers Morgan on CNN and was asked about Paul Newman. Mr. Redford described "Newman was an actor who got better with time and who was extremely generous.  He had a short attention span, but he was an activist in the best sense of the word."  Some of his favorite films are; Ordinary People since it was the first film in 1980 that he had ever directed  and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid because he liked the outdoors. He admitted that he just saw the Sting for the first time 3 years ago. Robert Redford created the Sundance Film festival in Idaho. He had purchased the entire ski area on the east side of Mount Impanagos that is northeast of Provo.  Robert Redford was married to Lola van Wagenen who he has had 4 children.  Sadly, his first child  had died from SIDS at the at the age of just 2.5 months. He has received an honorary degree from the University of Colorado in 1983 and received 2 Oscar awards.  In 1981 he won an Academy award for directing Ordinary People and in 2002 he won a a Lifetime Achievement Award.