With news of his death at the age of 89, Robert Redford will be remembered as a beloved actor from the New Hollywood era. While obituaries will be correct in discussing his stunning screen presence, commitment to interesting roles, and contributions to independent cinema, they may overlook a surprising and oft-forgotten fact about Redford: he was not always respected as an actor. Audiences of the ’60s and ’70s dismissed him as too handsome, a position often taken by the famously acerbic and influential critic Pauline Kael .

Today, we recognize Redford as classical movie star who knew how to use his glowing on-screen persona to create compelling characters. His work alongside Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting is heralded as an exemplar of the late-’60s

See Full Page