Barbra Streisand leads tributes to co-star and friend Robert Redford: "One of the finest actors ever"
17 September 2025, 10:52
“Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense and pure joy," Streisand said of Redford.
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Barbra Streisand has led the tributes to Robert Redford, the Hollywood legend and icon of independent cinema who died yesterday at the age of 89.
The pair co-led Sydney Pollack's 1973 romantic drama The Way We Were, which was nominated for a clutch of awards, winning two Oscars.
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"Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense and pure joy," Streisand said.
"We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie."
She added: "Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting— and one of the finest actors ever.
"The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
Many of Redford's other co-stars and collaborators also paid tribute to him after news of his passing broke.
Streep, who starred with Redford in Out of Africa and Lions for Lambs, said “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”
Director Martin Scorsese, who appeared in the Redford-directed Quiz Show, said: "Bob was a unique artist, in front of and behind the camera … and he gave the world of American cinema something irreplaceable and lasting with Sundance
"It saddens me to know that I won’t be seeing him again. And I’ll never forget my time with him."
One of Redford's most acclaimed roles was real-life Watergate journalist Bob Woodward, who paid his own tribute on Instagram to the man who played him.
"Robert Redford. I loved him, and admired him—for his friendship, his fiery independence, and the way he used any platform he had to help make the world better, fairer, brighter for others," he wrote in a caption of a full length statement in Redford's honour.
Scarlett Johansson starred in 1998 moie The Horse Whisperer, which was written and directed by Redford.
"He was patient and warm and kind," Johansson said. “Bob taught me what acting could be, and it was from his generosity and patience that I was inspired to pursue the possibilities of the craft.
"That same generosity and love of the art inspired Bob’s creation of Sundance, a place where film-makers learn from one another, inspire one another, and discover one another’s talent. Bob, thank you for your belief in me and for your grace and guidance."
