Robert Redford’s Best Roles

Robert Redford is one of the last true classic Hollywood movie stars a leading man whose charisma and talent defined a generation of American cinema. With his iconic good looks and effortless charm he became a massive box office draw playing everything from romantic leads to iconic outlaws. He embodied a particular kind of cool confidence that made him one of the most popular actors of the 1970s and beyond.

Beyond his status as a handsome movie star he also built a career on complex character-driven stories and politically charged thrillers. He wasn’t afraid to take on roles that challenged his golden-boy image showing a depth and nuance that sustained his career for over six decades. His work both in front of and behind the camera as a celebrated director and as the founder of the Sundance Institute has left a permanent and powerful mark on the film industry.

‘Barefoot in the Park’ (1967)

He plays Paul Bratter a conventional and straight-laced young lawyer who is a newlywed. He and his free-spirited wife Corie move into a tiny fifth-floor walk-up apartment in New York City. The film follows the comedic ups and downs of their first week of marriage as their very different personalities begin to clash.

Paul’s character is the grounded and cautious half of the couple providing a perfect contrast to his impulsive and adventurous wife. Most of the humor comes from his exasperated reactions to their quirky apartment their eccentric neighbor and his wife’s spontaneous behavior. The role established him as a skilled romantic comedy lead early in his career.

‘All Is Lost’ (2013)

In a remarkable solo performance he portrays an unnamed man who is on a solo voyage across the Indian Ocean. His journey takes a disastrous turn when his sailboat collides with a shipping container at sea. With his navigation and radio equipment damaged he must rely on his experience and resourcefulness to survive against the overwhelming forces of nature.

The role is almost entirely silent with the character speaking only a few words throughout the entire film. His performance is a masterclass in physical acting conveying the character’s determination fear and resilience through his actions and expressions alone. He portrays a man pushed to the absolute limits of human endurance.

‘The Way We Were’ (1973)

He stars as Hubbell Gardiner a handsome and popular writer with a seemingly effortless charm. The film chronicles his long and complicated romance with a fiercely political and outspoken activist named Katie Morosky. Their story spans many years from their time together in college through the challenges of their careers and the political turmoil of the mid-20th century.

Hubbell’s character represents a more conventional and apolitical worldview which often puts him in conflict with his passionate partner. The role is that of a man who is drawn to a woman who challenges him even though their fundamental differences ultimately threaten to pull them apart. The film is remembered as a classic and tragic Hollywood romance.

‘The Candidate’ (1972)

He plays Bill McKay the charismatic and idealistic son of a former governor. He is persuaded to run for a U.S. Senate seat in California as a long-shot candidate with the promise that he can say whatever he truly believes since he has no chance of winning. As his campaign unexpectedly gains momentum he finds his message and his integrity being compromised by the political machine.

The role of McKay is a sharp look at the process of how a well-intentioned person can be corrupted by the pursuit of power. His character starts out as a genuine idealist but slowly becomes a packaged product shaped by consultants and pollsters. The film is a cynical and insightful examination of American politics.

‘Sneakers’ (1992)

He leads an ensemble cast as Martin Bishop the head of a team of security specialists who are hired to test the security systems of banks and corporations. His past as a radical computer hacker from the 1960s comes back to haunt him when government agents blackmail him into stealing a powerful and mysterious black box.

As Martin Bishop he is the cool and collected leader of a quirky team of experts. The role is that of a man who has tried to put his rebellious past behind him but gets drawn back into a world of espionage and high-tech intrigue. He brings his signature effortless charm to this clever and entertaining caper film.

‘Brubaker’ (1980)

He portrays Henry Brubaker a newly appointed prison warden who initially goes undercover as an inmate to observe the conditions at a corrupt and violent Southern prison farm. After revealing his true identity he attempts to reform the brutal and deeply corrupt system from the inside. His efforts put him in direct conflict with both the abusive guards and the powerful local officials who benefit from the prison’s corruption.

The character is a determined idealist who is willing to risk everything to fight for humane treatment and justice. Based on a true story his performance is a grounded and powerful portrayal of a man taking on an entrenched and dangerous system. He represents a moral force in a world devoid of compassion.

‘Spy Game’ (2001)

He plays Nathan Muir a veteran CIA case officer on the day of his retirement. He learns that his former protégé Tom Bishop has been captured in China and is scheduled to be executed for espionage. As his superiors look for a reason to let Bishop be sacrificed Muir must work behind the scenes using all his skills to orchestrate a rescue mission against the agency’s wishes.

The character of Nathan Muir is a brilliant and cynical old-school spy who knows how to manipulate the system he helped build. Most of the story is told through flashbacks as Muir recounts his history of recruiting and training the younger operative. His performance is that of a master strategist in a high-stakes chess match.

‘A Bridge Too Far’ (1977)

In this epic war film featuring a massive ensemble cast he plays Major Julian Cook. His character is an American paratrooper officer who leads his men in a daring and near-suicidal charge across the Waal river during Operation Market Garden in World War II. The mission was to capture a crucial bridge in the Netherlands.

Although his screen time is part of a much larger narrative his role is one of the most memorable and heroic in the film. He portrays the grit and determination of an officer leading his men under incredible fire. The sequence is a harrowing and acclaimed depiction of the bravery shown during the real-life military operation.

‘The Natural’ (1984)

He stars as Roy Hobbs a mysterious baseball player with a legendary talent who appears out of nowhere in the 1930s. As a young man his career was derailed by a tragic incident but years later he gets a second chance to play in the major leagues. He joins a struggling team and his incredible hitting ability makes him a national sensation.

The role of Roy Hobbs is that of a mythic American hero a man with a god-given gift for the national pastime. The character is a figure of quiet integrity who faces numerous temptations and obstacles on his journey to reclaim his destiny. The film is a celebrated and almost legendary piece of baseball folklore.

‘Three Days of the Condor’ (1975)

He plays Joe Turner a low-level CIA researcher whose codename is Condor. His job is to read books and newspapers looking for hidden messages and new ideas. When he returns from lunch one day he finds all of his coworkers have been assassinated. He goes on the run and must use his analytical skills to figure out who is trying to kill him and why.

The character is an ordinary desk worker and intellectual who is suddenly thrust into the dangerous world of espionage and conspiracy. He is not a trained field agent so he must rely on his wits to survive and uncover a rogue operation within the CIA. The role cemented his status as the star of the 1970s political thriller.

‘Jeremiah Johnson’ (1972)

He plays the title character a veteran of the Mexican-American War who decides to leave civilization behind and become a mountain man in the Rocky Mountains. The film follows his journey as he learns to survive in the harsh and unforgiving wilderness. He faces brutal winters dangerous animals and complex relationships with the local Native American tribes.

The role is a quiet and contemplative one with much of the story told visually. He portrays Jeremiah Johnson’s transformation from a novice to a seasoned and legendary frontiersman. It is a powerful story of survival and a man’s attempt to find peace and solitude in the American West.

‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)

In a major departure from his typical roles he plays Alexander Pierce a high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. official and a senior leader within the World Security Council. He is a charismatic and respected figure who is later revealed to be a primary antagonist and a secret leader of the evil organization Hydra.

His character is a powerful and manipulative villain who has been operating from the shadows for decades. The role allowed him to bring a sense of gravitas and authority to the superhero genre. His performance as a charming but secretly sinister bureaucrat was a key element of the film’s acclaimed conspiracy thriller plot.

‘All the President’s Men’ (1976)

He stars as Bob Woodward one of the two real-life Washington Post reporters who investigated the Watergate scandal. The film is a detailed and suspenseful account of how he and his partner Carl Bernstein followed a trail of clues that began with a minor break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Their investigation ultimately led to the resignation of a president.

He portrays Woodward as a meticulous and relentless journalist driven by the facts of the story. The film focuses on the painstaking and often frustrating process of investigative reporting. His performance alongside Dustin Hoffman created a classic cinematic pairing and a landmark film about the power of the press.

‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969)

He plays the Sundance Kid a quiet and famously fast gunslinger in this iconic western. He is the loyal partner of the charismatic outlaw leader Butch Cassidy. The film follows their adventures as leaders of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang as they rob trains and banks throughout the American West. When a relentless posse is sent after them they are forced to flee to Bolivia.

The role made him a major international star. His on-screen chemistry with Paul Newman who played Butch Cassidy is legendary and forms the heart of the entire film. He perfectly embodied the cool and reserved demeanor of the famous outlaw creating one of the most memorable characters in movie history.

‘The Sting’ (1973)

He portrays Johnny Hooker a small-time con artist in 1930s Illinois. After his partner is murdered by a ruthless crime boss Hooker seeks revenge. He travels to Chicago to find Henry Gondorff a legendary grifter and asks him for help in pulling off an elaborate con known as “the wire” to take down the powerful mobster.

The film reunited him with his co-star Paul Newman and director George Roy Hill from ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’. His character is a skilled but cocky young grifter who must learn the discipline of the long con. The role earned him his first and only Academy Award nomination for acting and the film itself was a huge critical and commercial success.

Let us know which Robert Redford role you think is his most iconic.