The film world said goodbye to one of its enduring stars this week as Robert Redford passed away at 89. Known for his charisma on screen and dedication to independent filmmaking, the actor died today, September 16, at his cherished home in Sundance, Utah. In a statement obtained by USA TODAY, Redford’s rep, Cindi Berger, announced his passing and expressed, "He will be missed greatly."
Redford's storied career spanned over six decades, leaving a sizable imprint on the industry, evidenced even through his later works. One of his final screen appearances was in "The Old Man & the Gun," which, according to FOX19, saw production throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. In Ohio’s Tri-State region, known largely for anything but A-lister sightings, Redford breezed into town, leaving a touch of Hollywood glamour among the citizens of Bethel and Hamilton.
The commemorative influence Redford had on Cincinnati was echoed by Kristen Schlotman, President & CEO of Film Cincinnati, who told WLWT, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Robert Redford, who shaped American cinema for decades, championed independent filmmaking and left a lasting imprint right here in Ohio." This endorsement of Cincinnati as a filming location was reasserted with the city's short-list appearance for potential host venues of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival, which Redford founded in 1981.
Filming locations in Kentucky also featured in Redford's cinematic swan song. The Courier-Journal highlighted that scenes were shot in areas such as Covington and Latonia, capturing the quaint charm of these local settings on the big screen. Redford's departure from the acting realm marks a poignant closure to an era defined in part by his contributions, notably capturing Cincinnati's essence in a way the world had seldom seen before.
In the meantime, the film community in Cincinnati continues to be a hive of activity, with the Association of Film Commissioners International hosting its Cineposium 2025 in town, according to WLWT. Schlotman pointed to this momentous occasion, suggesting that Redford’s work is a reminder of how "film bridges local places to global stages." The legacy of this film giant seems to intertwine deeply with the bricks of Cincinnati's bustling streets, casting a long shadow that even Ohio's cloudy days couldn't diminish.
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