Robert Redford, one of Hollywood’s pre-eminent leading men, renowned for his performances in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, The Sting and All the President’s Men has died. He was also acclaimed for launching the Sundance Film Festival, aimed at shining a light on new film-makers. It has been credited with launching the careers of directors including Quentin Tarantino and Darren Aronofsky. In 1980, he made his directorial debut with Ordinary People, which won four Academy Awards, including best picture and best director.
He was born 18 August 1936 8.02pm Santa Monica, California, with an accountant father and a Texan mother. He credited his environmentalism and love of nature to his childhood visits to Texas. Keen on art and sport, he muddled through college before settling to acting. He married Lola Van Wagenen in 1958, with whom he had four children later divorcing and latterly marrying his long-term girlfriend Sibylle Szaggars in 2009. His eldest son, died when he was two months old and his other son a writer and producer, died of cancer at 58 five years ago.
He retired from acting in 2018 although he later made a series of cameo appearances, including in White House Plumbers, a HBO television series about the team behind the Watergate break-ins that led to the collapse of Nixon’s presidency.
He had a hard-working 6th house Leo Sun conjunct Alphard, which can give artistic and musical talents as well as attract fame. His Sun was unaspected making him an independent spirit. His 6th house also had a stellium in Virgo of Venus, Neptune, Mercury, Moon opposition Saturn in Pisces square Jupiter in Sagittarius in the 9th. Highly Mutable, highly strung, fidgety, a multi-tasker and a perfectionist, keen on creating a better society (Saturn Neptune) and saved from the worst excesses of Virgo/6th house by his enthusiastic, expansive Jupiter in its own house the 9th. Handled well, such a Jupiter makes for a talented teacher and enlightened spokesman, tolerant, wholehearted and community-minded.
He also had Mars in flamboyant Leo conjunct Pluto in his entertaining 5th house so he would pack quite a punch in his performances; with his Mars square Uranus adding yet another dimension to his freedom loving and uncompromising approach.
His Sun/Moon midpoint was conjunct his Venus for happy one-to-one partnerships in life.
His late Pisces Ascendant square his final degree Sagittarius Midheaven were both being triggered by the approaching Virgo Solar Eclipse and his Venus, Neptune by the recent Lunar Eclipse.
Another huge talent gone – Neptune’s swansong in Pisces.
Ordinary People is such an incredible film. Takes place on Chicago’s affluent North Shore. I grew up near there. It’s such a unique enclave. I’m guessing it’s similar to Newport and to the Hamptons, from what I’ve seen depicted. He captured the pretense, the brittleness, the superficiality, the striving for a perfect facade —within this cluster of suburbs. Christopher Kennedy, son of RFK, lived in one of these suburbs, as an example…How was Redford able to so successfully portray this, as an outsider? Mercury? Of course, Mary Tyler Moore was just perfect in her role. Simply incredible.
Last year, Saturn had been opposing his 6th house Moon, Mercury, Neptune stellium. And, now Saturn conj. his Asc. Seemed like a really decent human being.
“Other people have analysis. I have Utah.”
Hadn’t realized he grew up – unenamoredly – near Hollywood.
Read quote in the Salt Lake Tribune online entitled Robert Redford, Sundance Founder and Hollywood Icon, Dies at 89.
Apparently he passed away at his Provo home. Might be interesting to see his astrocartography for where he left such a humble and grand mark. ( Virgo & Leo indeed.)
3 planet stellium, Sun-Venu-Neptune….”Consciousness of beauty is expressed in a
refined (idealized) manner.”
Moon-Mercury-Neptune….”Emotional sesitivity communicated from depth levels of
the self promotes a keen sense o fulfiillment.”
A truly remarkable man.
His legacy is cast in stone,
whether it is the glorious
films he made such
as “Butch Cassidy
And The Sundance
Kid”, “The Sting”, “All
The President’s Men”,
amongst others.
He was also great in
“The Winter Soldier”.
His creation of the
Sundance Festival,
remains a huge
source of importance
for independent filmmakers.
James Brown once said:-
“Go in important,
leave important.”
That’s exactly what
Robert did.
Loved so many of his films, a life well lived. RIP Robert Redford.
Me too. He was the full package. Loved his refined energy, charisma, voice and good looks. Would enjoy reading a synastry chart with Paul Newman.