Robert Redford was a cinematic powerhouse. He shot to fame as a young heartthrob in the 1970s before becoming one of the most prolific actors, producers and directors in the business. Even in his advanced years, Redford kept working. In fact, just six months before he died, Redford appeared in a cameo in AMC’s Dark Winds, for which he served as an executive producer. Naturally, fans are wondering if Redford battled a disease or ran into any health issues before he died in September 2025.
Below, News47.us has a breakdown of Redford’s health history and death.
Redford was 89 when he died.
No, Redford did not reveal any illness or health setbacks in his final months. Issues tend to arise with age, so anything could have happened by the time he turned 89.
However, Redford had a mild case of polio when he was 11 years old.
“I was around when the polio epidemic was still a threat. You could get it,” the All Is Lost actor told SBS News in 2014. “I had a mild case of it myself when I was 11 years old, and fortunately, it was mild enough not to cause me any real damage. Polio was part of the picture, so when Jonas Salk invented the vaccine, it was just earth-shattering news.”
Since a cause of death was not immediately provided, it’s unclear how Redford died. Cindi Berger, chairman and CEO of Rogers & Cowan PMK, told The New York Times that he died in his sleep at home outside Provo, Utah, on September 16, 2025. The publication was the first to report the news of the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid star’s death.
