Robert Redford has died aged 89.

The American actor and Oscar-winning director passed away early Tuesday morning at his home in the mountains outside Provo, Utah, a statement from Cindi Berger, chief executive of the Rogers & Cowan PMK publicity firm confirmed to The New York Times.

Although Berger said Redford, best known for his role in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, had died in his sleep, she did not disclose the cause of death to the publication.

Redford made more than 50 films during his career. His breakthrough came in 1967 when he played Paul Bratter in Barefoot in the Park, opposite Jane Fonda as Corie Bratter.

In 1969, he secured the role of The Sundance Kid in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which became the most famous role of his six-decade career.

His other notable film roles include The Way We Were and The Sting, both released in 1973, 1993's Indecent Proposal, 1976's All the President's Men, and 1998's The Horse Whisperer.

In 1980, Redford made his directorial debut with the film Ordinary People, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, also winning him the Best Director prize. He also received a Best Actor nomination for The Sting, as well as Best Picture and Best Director nods for 1994's Quiz Show.

Redford also directed films including 1992's A River Runs Through It, 1998's The Legend of Bagger Vance, 2007's Lions for Lambs, 2010's The Conspirator and 2012's The Company You Keep.

The Hollywood legend also founded the Sundance Institute, which runs the film festival of the same name - a key event for independent filmmakers.

He is survived by his wife, Sybille Szaggars, whom he married in 2009, as well as his three children and seven grandchildren.