Marvel Studios is saddened to learn of the passing of Hollywood icon Robert Redford. A legendary performer and a champion of film, Redford passed away Sept. 16 at the age of 89.
Redford joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, starring as U.S. government leader and secret Hydra operative Alexander Pierce. Redford’s performance transformed Pierce into one of Marvel’s most memorable on-screen antagonists, imbuing the role with charm and gravitas as only he could. The film drew inspiration from the iconic paranoid thrillers of the 1970s, a genre that Redford anchored with his pioneering performances in films like Three Days of the Condor and All the President’s Men.
Redford later returned to the MCU and made his final on-screen film appearance in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, reprising his role as Pierce.
With his decade-spanning career, Redford helped shape modern cinema, delivering powerful performances in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Barefoot in the Park, and more. He also achieved success as a producer and director, winning an Academy Award for his directorial debut, 1980’s Ordinary People.
Off screen, Redford was a passionate environmental advocate and a crusader for independent film, founding the legendary Sundance Institute and film festival.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of the incomparable Robert Redford — a true legend whose acting and directing inspired us throughout our careers,” said Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed Redford in both The Winter Soldier and Endgame. “His legacy will live on through his extraordinary films, his incredible performances, his tireless activism, and the profound influence that Sundance has had on the trajectory of the industry, and the lives of thousands of filmmakers. There are very few people who have impacted modern storytelling as significantly as Robert … and we are deeply grateful for our time with him.”
Redford leaves an extraordinary legacy, and all of us at Marvel are honored that he shared his immense talents with us. Our condolences are with his family and friends.
