Robert Redford always has a smile handy. However, many do not realize that the actor has a million words to convey his deepest tragedies hidden behind the prized expression.
Losing two children in one’s lifetime is enough to break even the thickest man on the planet, but not Robert Redford. The award-winning actor lived through the death of two of his sons, years apart.
Rather than spend his life wallowing in self-pity, the “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” star faced his grief head-on and figured out the right way to harness his soulful loss for good.
Robert Redford Leaning on a Brick Wall [left] James Redford and Robert Redford attend The Redford Center’s Benefit at August Hall on December 6, 2018 [right] | Photo: Getty Images
Armed with his signature smile and unrelenting pursuit of his career, Redford established himself as the ideal image of a multifaceted star in Hollywood.
He starred in several hit movies and TV shows. Redford also helped establish the Sundance Film Festival, helping many actors and filmmakers reach the heights of their careers.
Decades down the line, it’s almost impossible to believe the star has endured his share of tragedy, which shaped him into the iconic figure the world has come to know.
Robert Redford and son James Redford in Hollywood, California in November 2003 | Photo: Getty Images
The legendary actor was born in Santa Monica, California, in August 1936. His father, Charles Robert Redford, was an oil company accountant and former milkman, while his mom was a literature and film enthusiast.
Redford’s parents later relocated to Los Angeles, where he completed his high school education, taking a liking to sports. He proceeded to the University of Colorado on a baseball scholarship following his mom’s death from septicemia.
The loss left the then-18-year-old emotionally damaged, so much that he became the “school drunk.” He lost his scholarship and studentship due to his questionable lifestyle after spending a year and a half in college.