Does anyone else remember that episode of Oprah’s talk show, where it was basically a tribute to Barbra Streisand? At first, Barbra spoke to Oprah one-on-one, then Robert Redford came out and basically Oprah and her entire audience squealed with delight. Barbra was thrilled as well, obviously. What struck me about that interview was that Redford was truly embarrassed by the attention, but Barbra absolutely loved that he showed up and reminisced about The Way We Were. He was such a gentleman, and you could tell that Barbra still had an enormous crush on him after all of those years. Oh, I found the interview – go here to see. Well, following Redford’s passing, many of his leading ladies gave emotional tributes. I’m including the statements from Barbra, Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda and more.
Barbra Streisand: “Every day on the set of ‘The Way We Were’ was exciting, intense and pure joy. 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.”
Meryl Streep: “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”
Demi Moore: “The world has lost an incredible actor, director, husband, father, friend… Robert’s legacy will live on forever in so many ways and I will carry the many memories we share close to my heart. What I would do for just one more dance.”
Jane Fonda: “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.”
I love Barbra, she just had to mention “when he came to lunch”!!! She loved that man with all her heart. Meryl did as well, and Jane adored him. He really was an American classic, and one of the biggest cultural icons and movie stars of the past century. I’m also adding a great tribute from Bob Woodward (Redford played him in All The President’s Men) and an amazing story from Mike Nichols.
Robert Redford's supernatural charisma perfectly summed up in this anecdote from Sam Kashner's Vanity Fair story about Mike Nichols casting The Graduate. https://t.co/BbSLuBegAm pic.twitter.com/H2MQ8ZQuAV
— Alan Siegel (@AlanSiegelLA) September 16, 2025
Robert Redford. I loved him, and admired him—for his friendship, his fiery independence, and the way he used any platform he had to help make the world better, fairer, brighter for others. pic.twitter.com/Omg433DA3y
— Bob Woodward (@realBobWoodward) September 16, 2025
Photos courtesy of Photoshot/Avalon, IMAGO/Zoonar.com/Lumeimages.com/Avalon, uppa.co.uk/Avalon, STARSTOCK/Photoshot/Avalon, Avalon Red.
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- Jane Fonda and Robert Redford during Our Souls At Night red carpet – 74th Venice Film Festival, Italy – 01 Sep 2017,Image: 512076350, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Maria Laura Antonelli/AGF Foto/Avalon
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- Robert Redford and Jane Fonda during the photocall of the film Our Souls at Night. 74th Venice Film Festival. Venice. Italy 01/09/2017,Image: 512093737, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Maria Laura Antonelli/AGF Foto/Avalon
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- Robert Redford and Jane Fonda during the photocall of the film Our Souls at Night. 74th Venice Film Festival. Venice. Italy 01/09/2017,Image: 512093775, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Maria Laura Antonelli/AGF Foto/Avalon
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- Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford in The Way We Were,Image: 532799268, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: STARSTOCK/Photoshot/Avalon
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- Meryl Streep as Karen Blixen and Robert Redford as Denys Finch Hatton in ‘Out of Africa’,Image: 559718717, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries call Photoshot Global HQ – London + 44 (0)20 7421 6000 , also New York Office Tel : + 1 646-429-8731 and Hamburg Office Tel +49 (0)40 530 240 5959, Model Release: no, Credit line: Photoshot/Avalon
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- ROBERT REDFORD American Actor and Director with BARBRA STREISAND American Singer and Actress Attending the 74th Academy Awards in Hollywood,Image: 809039554, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: For queries call UPPA + 44 (0)20 7421 6000, Model Release: no, Credit line: © uppa.co.uk/Avalon
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- AFI FEST 2007 Opening Night Gala Premiere of Lions for Lambs Robert Redford and Meryl Streep at the AFI Fest Opening Night Gala Premiere of Lions for Lambs held at the ArcLight Theater in Hollywood, California, United States on November 1, 2007. Copyright: xZoonar.com/Lumeimages.comx 19778779,Image: 816243578, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Zoonar.com/Lumeimages.com/Avalon
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- Photocall for 'Our Souls at Night' during the 74th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy.,Image: 1037823010, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Only available for publication in UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, USA, Model Release: no, Pictured: Jane Fonda,Robert Redford, Credit line: KIKA/Wenn/Avalon
Redford was also a dear friend to the late Natalie wood. They were in the same high school and she was his co star in two films and she did a brief appearance in the candidate.
I’m going through His Back catalogue so this morning I watched legal eagles fun movie. Three of his movies I watched he seemed to have a similar theme, I will have to go back and watch some Jane Fonda films, I love up close and personal mainly for the Celine Dion song, Out of Africa, and The Way we were (this one breaks my heart) After the trials and tribulations ends up leaving either through death of just their time is done. I think I was relieved in the horse whisperer when she left and he rode out on the beautiful mountains to watch her leave. I always wondered what was it about his life that made him chose such movies. I think I get it now after seeing the Nichole’s story about the graduate casting he needed to prove a point
I’m dating myself but I saw both Legal Eagles and Out of Africa in the theater. What a great, handsome man!
Ok I’m going to brag. When I was a baby my sat next to him flying to Aspen, yes yes I know, and since I was so little I was in her lap.
According to my mom he spent most of the flight from NY playing with me and holding me so my mom could rest and said I was one of the most beautiful babies he’d ever seen. Please note this was late 80’s early 90’s and they were flying first class, so though I have no memories I believe it haha.
My mom said he was the epitome of a gentleman and forever loves him. She still has the autograph from that flight.
Absolutely brag-worthy. What an amazing story. My dad randomly rode up a ski lift with him many years ago. But because of all the ski gear it took him a minute to figure out who he was, But he said the guy had the whitest teeth so he knew it had to be somebody.
That’s a brilliant story and you need to tell anyone who will listen!
Absolutely bragworthy!
Especially if you describe it as
“Did I ever tell you about the time Robert Redford held me in his arms, for hours?”
And
“he said I was one of the most beautiful babes he’d ever seen”
The most classic American movie star there ever was.
My grandparents were extras in his film The Natural.
Jane Fonda had the BIGGEST crush on him, so much that it made him uncomfortable, and Fonda remarked how cold he could be.
Fascinating how in the pics with his leading ladies, it’s Redford your eyes are drawn towards.🤩
Jane Fonda has also said that he was the best kisser. Is there anything that he wasn’t good at?
Makes me happy that knowing the caliber of his leading ladies, if he wasn’t a gentleman we would know. You know?
Seems like he was just as wonderful and dreamy in real life.
Michelle Pfeiffer also posted a lovely picture of them from the set of my favorite Redford movie, Up Close and Personal. What a giant! He was so handsome.
That hair washing scene in Out of Africa is one of my favorite movie scenes of all time.
Mine too!
He was so sexy in Out of Africa washing Meryl’s hair and reciting poetry. Gives me the chills every time.
January 1972, Snowbird, UT
My new husband was a far better skier than I so we were on different runs & had agreed to meet mid-afternoon in the bar. Oops, power failed for the entire resort. Lifts stopped, no lights, elevators not working. I went to the little bar to wait. Only other patrons were 3 men at one of the few tables. After I sat down & adjusted to the dim lighting (no windows, only tabletop candles in red glass globes.) It took me a few minutes to realize that Robert Redford was 1 of the them. After a few minutes when 1 of the young assistants maybe? went to the bar for refills, Robert asked if they could bring me a beer. Yes, tuvm! Not much further conversation.
The next day from a lift it was easy to spot RR. He skied well, wearing a metallic silver jumpsuit & helmet with face shield. Lola was in full metallic gold, with an instructor on the bunny slope.
This was long before flashy skiwear had been developed for the masses so the Redfords were very visible.
I’m a marvel girl so I loved seeing him in my favorite MCU movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Teresa Norbraten As a marvel fan, I loved seeing him in Captain America: Winter Soldier. It had a paranoid vibe like Three Days of the Condor and other movies of the era. They pursued Redford for the villain specifically because of that and he accepted because of his grandkids which was sweet. He came out of retirement briefly to reprise the role in a quick cameo in Endgame in 2019.
When he cameoed in Endgame (second highest grossing movie ever) it was the only time he repeated a role. It was his last live action role. On Cap’s bookcase there’s a copy of All the Presidents Men too.
Chris Evans on how great it was to work with him
https://fandomwire.com/its-like-it-was-his-first-job-chris-evans-revealed-how-it-felt-working-with-robert-redford-in-the-winter-soldier-after-previous-disappointments/
Redford on taking the role
https://youtu.be/XNiGrD1Egfo?si=kF0-4y4ImfBoqdu3
Please watch Three Days of the Condor if you haven’t. I was going to watch Spy Game, but I just couldn’t get past the vapid and smirky Pitt. I have a problem with him.
He also directed The Milagro Beanfield War (I lurve that movie). One talented guy!