You can’t fault Robert Redford for wanting to walk into the sunset and call it a day. The legendary actor, director, and overall Hollywood icon has pretty much done it all, as it relates to the entertainment industry. Redford has collected the trophies, got the big movie roles, and even started one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. So, it should be no surprise that Redford is ready to retire.
In a new interview with EW, the actor said that his latest role in “The Old Man and the Gun” seemed like a great way to cap off his career. “Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting, and [I’ll] move towards retirement after this ’cause I’ve been doing it since I was 21. I thought, ‘Well, that’s enough.’ And why not go out with something that’s very upbeat and positive?” Redford said.
The film, which is directed by “A Ghost Story” filmmaker David Lowery, follows the true story of a man, played by Redford, who is a known bank robber and prison escape artist. For the actor, playing the role just seemed like a fitting way to end his illustrious career.
“To me, that was a wonderful character to play at this point in my life,” continued the actor. “The thing that really got me about him — which I hope the film shows — is he robbed 17 banks and he got caught 17 times and went to prison 17 times. But he also escaped 17 times. So it made me wonder: I wonder if he was not averse to getting caught so he that could enjoy the real thrill of his life, which is to escape?”
To list all of Redford’s accomplishments would take thousands of words, but in summary, he’s won numerous awards for his decades-spanning acting career, appearing in such films as “The Sting,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” and “All the President’s Men.” And if you think his most relevant films were behind him, Redford also is a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he played the villain in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
As for his filmmaking, Redford won a Best Director Oscar for his work on “Ordinary People,” and was nominated for another for 1994’s “Quiz Show.” And to top it off, he’s the man behind the Sundance Film Festival, which is of course named after one of his more famous roles.
While he’s confirming his retirement from acting, Redford has yet to say for sure if he’ll leave filmmaking, in general, behind. So, perhaps the 81-year-old has a little more gas in the filmmaking tank.
For those wanting to check out his last acting role, “The Old Man and the Gun” is scheduled for a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in theaters on September 28.