Hollywood legend Robert Redford, who died at the age of 89, revealed in a resurfaced interview that he was paid 'practically nothing' for his iconic role in the 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The actor, director, and activist passed away on Tuesday, September 16, at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by loved ones, according to his publicist.
In a 1980 interview on BBC's Talking Pictures with Michael Parkinson, Redford explained that the studio did not want him for the film because he was relatively unknown at the time. 'They were trying to have a star comparable with Paul (Newman) to be with,' he said. 'And I practically did it for nothing, that film, because I just felt comfortable playing that role.'
Despite the low pay, Redford described the film as one of the most enjoyable of his career. 'I probably had more fun making that film than any film that I did,' he added. The film, which also starred Paul Newman, became a massive success and launched Redford's career into the stratosphere.
Redford, once described as 'a chunk of Mount Rushmore levered into stonewashed denims', starred in over 50 films and won an Oscar for Best Director for his 1980 film Ordinary People. He also founded the Sundance Film Festival and was a noted environmental advocate and champion of Native American rights.
The friendship between Redford and Newman extended far beyond the screen. Newman died in 2008 at the age of 83 following a lung cancer diagnosis. Reflecting on his friend's personality, Redford once described him as a 'nervous guy' who was 'always biting his fingernails' and 'chain smoking'.
