Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan will pay tribute to filmmaker Rob Reiner at the Oscars.
Barbra Streisand is also in talks to honor Robert Redford.
The Academy Awards will be held on March 15.
While most late actors and filmmakers have to make do with a mention during the In Memoriam section of each year’s Academy Awards, some are considered worthy of more of a spotlight.
Rob Reiner, the director of ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ and other classics, who was murdered at his home along with his wife Michele in December, has been selected as one of those, with the movie’s stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan to be joined by others who worked with the filmmaker on stage.
(L to R) Rob Reiner and Christopher Guest in ‘This Is Spinal Tap.’ Photo: Embassy Pictures.
Following Rob and Michele’s deaths, a group of the director’s closest friends and collaborators, including Crystal, Larry David, Martin Short and Albert Brooks, released a joint statement:
“Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master storyteller. There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films. We were their friends, and we will miss them forever. Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?’ You have no idea.”
When and where can I see the Oscars this year?
The Academy Awards will air live March 15th on ABC and Hulu.
The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The ceremony will be televised live by ABC and streamed on Hulu.
Movies and TV Featuring or Directed by Rob Reiner:
Robert Redford in ‘The Old Man & the Gun’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Robert Redford is the type of actor you don’t find too often in Hollywood these days. Ruggedly handsome and confidently self-assured, there’s never a movie that isn’t improved by his presence.
In tribute to a long, successful career, here are the ten Robert Redford performances everyone needs to see.
10. Johnny Hooker in ‘The Sting’ (1973)
(L to R) Robert Redford and Paul Newman in ‘The Sting’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
A novice con man (Redford) teams up with an acknowledged master (Paul Newman) to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.
Robert Redford in ‘Jeremiah Johnson’. Photo: Warner Bros.
A mountain man (Redford) who wishes to live the life of a hermit becomes the unwilling object of a long vendetta by Indians when he proves to be the match of their warriors in one-to-one combat on the early frontier.
(L to R) Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand in ‘The Way We Were’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Opposites attract when, during their college days, Katie Morosky (Barbra Streisand), a politically active Jew, meets Hubbell Gardiner (Redford), a feckless WASP. Years later, in the wake of World War II, they meet once again and, despite their obvious differences, attempt to make their love for each other work.
Robert Redford in ‘The Natural’. Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.
An unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs (Redford) with a mysterious past appears out of nowhere to take a losing 1930s baseball team to the top of the league.
(L to R) River Phoenix, David Strathairn, Dan Aykroyd and Robert Redford in ‘Sneakers’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
When shadowy U.S. intelligence agents blackmail a reformed computer hacker (Redford) and his eccentric team of security experts into stealing a code-breaking ‘black box’ from a Soviet-funded genius, they uncover a bigger conspiracy. Now, he and his ‘sneakers’ must save themselves and the world economy by retrieving the box from their blackmailers.
Robert Redford in ‘All Is Lost’. Photo: Lionsgate.
During a solo voyage in the Indian Ocean, a veteran mariner (Redford) awakes to find his vessel taking on water after a collision with a stray shipping container. With his radio and navigation equipment disabled, he sails unknowingly into a violent storm and barely escapes with his life. With any luck, the ocean currents may carry him into a shipping lane — but, with supplies dwindling and the sharks circling, the sailor is forced to face his own mortality.
Robert Redford in ‘Three Days of the Condor’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
When bookish CIA researcher Joe Turner (Redford) finds all his co-workers dead, he, together with a woman (Faye Dunaway) he has kidnapped, must work together to outwit those responsible until he determines who he can really trust.
Robert Redford in ‘All the President’s Men’. Photo: Warner Bros.
During the 1972 elections, two reporters’ (Redford and Dustin Hoffman) investigation sheds light on the controversial Watergate scandal that compels President Nixon to resign from his post.
Robert Redford in ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’. Photo: 20th Century-Fox.
As the west rapidly becomes civilized, a pair of outlaws (Paul Newman and Redford) in 1890s Wyoming find themselves pursued by a posse and decide to flee to South America in hopes of evading the law.
Cindi Berger, chief executive of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, confirmed the news in a statement:
“Robert Redford passed away on September 16th, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”
Robert Redford: Early Life
Robert Redford in ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’. Photo: 20th Century-Fox.
Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on August 18th, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford was raised in a working-class household before attending the University of Colorado. A brief stint as a traveling artist in Europe preceded his pivot to acting, which began on stage and soon transitioned to film and television.
By the late 1960s, Redford had become a star. His good looks and thoughtful performances made him a favorite among both audiences and critics. His breakthrough came in 1969’s ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ opposite Paul Newman, a film that would cement his place in Hollywood history.
Robert Redford: Film Stardom and Directorial Acclaim
Robert Redford in ‘All the President’s Men’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Honorary Award winner Robert Redford. Photo: Powered by PhotoShelter for Brands.
In 1981, Redford founded the Sundance Institute, which would give rise to the Sundance Film Festival, now the premier showcase for independent cinema in the United States. His commitment to nurturing new voices and promoting storytelling beyond the Hollywood machine earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Robert Redford: Legacy
Robert Redford in ‘The Old Man & the Gun’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Though he officially announced his retirement from acting after 2018’s ‘The Old Man & the Gun’, (though his final role was reprising the role of Secretary Alexander Pierce for 2019’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’). Redford’s presence continued to loom large over American cinema. He occasionally lent his influence to environmental causes, political advocacy, and mentoring young filmmakers.
He leaves behind a towering legacy – not just as an actor and director, but as a steward of meaningful storytelling.
Redford is survived by his wife Sibylle Szaggars Redford, his children, and a generation of filmmakers who owe their careers to his vision and generosity.
Robert Redford in ‘The Candidate’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Poitier began his acting career on Broadway in the late 1940’s before earning his first big screen role in the 1950 film, ‘No Way Out.’ After several small roles, the actor received his first of two Academy Award nominations in 1958 for his role in ‘The Defiant Ones,’ opposite Tony Curtis. The actor would reprise his Broadway role as Walter Lee Younger in the film adaption of ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ before winning his Oscar for playing Homer Smith in 1963’s ‘Lilies in the Field.’
But it was his role as police detective Virgil Tibbs in 1967’s Best Picture winner ‘In the Heat of the Night,’ opposite Oscar-winner Rod Steiger, that made the actor a bona fide movie star. That same year, Poitier would appear in both ‘To Sir, with Love,’ and ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, before reprising his iconic role as Virgil Tibbs in both 1970’s ‘They Call Me Mr. Tibbs!’ and 1971’s ‘The Organization.’
He received an Honorary Academy Award in 2001 for “his extraordinary performances and unique presence on the screen and for representing the motion picture industry with dignity, style and intelligence throughout the world.” That was the same night Denzel Washington won his first Best Actor Oscar for ‘Training Day,’ and Halle Berry won Best Actress for her work in ‘Monster’s Ball,’ creating a groundbreaking night for the Academy. In his acceptance speech Washington said, “Forty years I’ve been chasing Sidney, they finally give it to me and what do they do? They give it to him the same night! I’ll always be chasing you Sidney. I will always be following in your footsteps. There is nothing I would rather do, sir.”
In 1995, Poitier received the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 2009 then President Barack Obama presented the actor with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After news of the iconic actor’s passing, President Obama tweeted, “Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together. He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion of fans.”
Poitier is survived by his six daughters including Beverly, Pamela, Sherri, Gina, Anika, and Sydney, who is also an actor and is best known for her role in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Death Proof.’
The MCU cast can’t be beat… including at awards shows. We’re so invested in these characters, it’s sometimes easy to forget a number of them won Oscars for other roles.
Here are all the Oscar winners, in order of their appearance in the franchise, beginning with “Iron Man” in 2008.
Sure, he’s best known as The Dude in “The Big Lebowski,” but he also made a damn good villain in “Iron Man” as Obadiah Stane, Tony Stark’s supposed mentor who was really trying to kill him. After several nominations, Bridges won Best Actor for 2009’s “Crazy Heart.”
As Pepper Potts, Paltrow went from irreplaceable right-hand woman to a fierce fighter in her own right. And if she hadn’t saved Tony’s first arc reactor (against his wishes), there would have been exactly one Iron Man movie. And the universe would pretty much be dust. Paltrow won Best Actress for 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love.”
Before he nabbed an Oscar for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Rockwell was a defense contractor intent on taking down business rival Tony Stark in “Iron Man 2.” He unwisely partnered with Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who had an even bigger grudge against Tony. We prefer his dancing villain in “Charlie’s Angels,” tbh.
Astrophysicist Jane Foster never expected her years of study to lead her to an incredibly handsome demigod, but there you go. Hurrah for science. She bowed out of the franchise after “Thor: The Dark World,” but appears briefly in “Avengers: Endgame.” Portman won Best Actress for “Black Swan.”
In “Captain America: The First Avenger,” Jones plays the superlatively grumpy Colonel who at first doesn’t see the potential in scrawny Steve Rogers. Favorite scene: He interrogates Dr. Zola while asking if arsenic gives him a “rumbly tummy.” Jones won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his similarly gruff U.S. Marshal in “The Fugitive.”
Sir Ben Kingsley, who won a Best Actor Academy Award for “Gandhi,” makes a fearsome opponent as The Mandarin in “Iron Man 3.” But there’s a twist! He’s really a washed-up actor hired to play the part. Kingsley plays both characters to perfection.
The Collector first pops up in an end-credits scene of “Thor: The Dark World.” Turns out, he has one of the Infinity Stones, which everyone in the galaxy wants. “Infinity War” would have been quite different if he’d been the one to collect them all. Del Toro won Best Supporting Actor for his role as an undercover cop in “Traffic” (2000).
9. Robert Redford, Alexander Pierce
Marvel
Since “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was inspired by such ’70s conspiracy films as “Three Days of the Condor,” it was a real coup to score “Condor” star Robert Redford as SHIELD’s Secretary of Defense. Redford (who says he’s retired now) never won an acting Oscar, but took home a Best Director for “Ordinary People” (1980) and an Honorary Oscar in 2002.
10. Michael Douglas, Hank Pym
Marvel
We wouldn’t have Ant-Man without the “Wall Street” Oscar winner’s character, who finds a way to shrink (and supersize) people and objects.
Taking over the role first played by Sam Elliott in Ang Lee’s “Hulk,” Hurt’s general is there in “Civil War” to force the Avengers to sign the Sokovia Accords after everything that went down in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” And to strongly disapprove of everything Avengers-related. Hurt won Best Actor for 1985’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” (Which, we hardly need point out, has absolutely nothing to do with Spider-Man).
The Doctor Strange character, a Tibetan man in the comics, was reworked to be an androgynous Celtic woman (a decision not without controversy). Swinton’s previously played Archangel Gabriel (in “Constantine“) and a vampire (in “Only Lovers Left Alive“), so she’s (ahem) an old hand at playing otherworldly, seemingly ageless characters. She won her Oscar for playing an unethical lawyer in “Michael Clayton.”
Tomei (who won her Oscar for “My Cousin Vinny“) was so eager to sign on, she didn’t realize that Peter Parker’s aunt is usually portrayed as a little old woman with gray hair. But we’re fine with “Hot Aunt May.” And a teenager’s aunt is just as likely be in her early 50s than her 70s. (For what it’s worth, Rosemary Harris was 64, only 12 years older than Tomei, for her first appearance as Aunt May in 2002’s “Spider-Man.”) Plus, this way we get an “Only You” reunion with Robert Downey Jr.
You may not be aware that was Jennifer Connelly as Karen, the voice of Peter Parker’s suit A.I. in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Which is nifty because, in real life, Connelly is married to Paul Bettany, the voice of Iron Man’s AI, JARVIS. And she costarred as Betty Ross in the 2003 “Hulk.” Connelly won Best Supporting Actress for “A Beautiful Mind.”
The “Good Will Hunting” star (who collected an Oscar for cowriting the film), had a hilarious cameo in “Thor: Ragnarok” as an actor reenacting the tragic death of Loki. (Who isn’t really dead after all, of course.)
Nakia is not only T’Challa’s freeze-inducing love interest in “Black Panther,” but a conscientious force for all who are exploited and underrepresented. After holding her own in battle, she helps steer Wakanda towards a more benevolent, open relationship with the rest of the world. After a number of voice-only roles, it’s good to actually see Nyong’o, who won an Oscar for “12 Years a Slave,” in action.
The “The Last King of Scotland” Oscar winner played elder Wakanda statesman Zuri, who is the keeper of the heart-shaped herb. According to director Ryan Coogler, Whitaker thinks of him as “the Wise Old Man, Black Panther’s version of Obi-Wan Kenobi.” (Speaking of… Whitaker also appeared as Rebel leader Saw Gerrera in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”)
Larson went from playing an abducted and imprisoned woman in “Room” (for which she won Best Actress) to a superhero whose realm is the entire galaxy. In the first solo film, Carol Danvers has to figure out who she is, exactly, and overcome the limitations others put on her. In “Room,” she saves herself and her son. In “Captain Marvel,” she saves a whole lot more.
After nearly six decades acting, Robert Redford is ready to close that chapter of his life.
The two-time Academy Award winner put a rough end date on his acting career in 2016, and he has now confirmed that his upcoming film “The Old Man & The Gun” is likely his last. He shared the news with Entertainment Weekly, telling the magazine that he intends to “move towards retirement.” He did say “never say never” but also that he feels it’s “enough.”
“I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting, and [I’ll] move towards retirement after this ’cause I’ve been doing it since I was 21,” Redford told EW. “I thought, ‘Well, that’s enough.’”
Fans don’t blame the actor, director, and producer for feeling that way; he is 81, after all, and has had an incredible career. We’ve all been fortunate enough to see him in acclaimed films like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” and “All Is Lost,” among many others. As a result, the fan response on Twitter is full of more gratitude than sadness, though there’s definitely both.
In honor of my hero Robert Redford’s retirement, here are my favorites of his films: Butch Cassidy, The Natural, Three Days Of The Condor, The Sting, All The President’s Men, Electric Horseman. What an unparalleled run he’s had.
He was the star of the first studio film I ever did. He was already a megastar, and I had five lines. He nonetheless treated me like an equal fellow actor and a friend. It was an early lesson in humility that guided my entire career. He’s just a remarkable man. #RobertRedfordhttps://t.co/H3SanWrrmd
Luckily for fans, there’s still “The Old Man & The Gun” on the way. The film has him playing a character he described to EW as “wonderful” and it apparently felt like the right one to conclude his iconic career. When discussing his decision to retire, he said to EW, “And why not go out with something that’s very upbeat and positive.”
We look forward to one last ride with Redford and wish him the best in retirement.
The White House announced that this year, President Barack Obama had named 21 individuals, all of whom “have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
In the official release, the White House noted that DeGeneres made TV history when her character on “Ellen” came out as a lesbian. Hanks, De Niro, and Tyson’s bios referenced their many awards accolades.
Other honorees include basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, singers Diana Ross and Bruce Springsteen.
The awards will be presented at the White House on November 22.
Film icon Robert Redford plans to retire from acting after completing his new two movie projects.
The 80-year-old actor laid out his intentions in an interview with his grandson, Dylan Redford, for the Walker Art Center. Dylan wondered if his grandfather thought about returning to painting and sketching at some point, to which Redford answered, “Yeah, a lot — and a lot lately because I’m getting tired of acting.”
Redford continued, “At this point in my life, age 80, it’d give me more satisfaction because I’m not dependent on anybody. It’s just me, just the way it used to be, and so going back to sketching — that’s sort of where my head is right now. So, I’m thinking of moving in that direction and not acting so much.”
He mentioned wanting to complete two film projects — the love story “Our Souls at Night” with Jane Fonda and “Old Man With a Gun” with Casey Affleck and Sissy Spacek.
“Once they’re done then I’m going to say, ‘Okay, that’s goodbye to all that,’ and then just focus on directing,” Redford said.
(Redford’s IMDb profile also lists upcoming movies “The Discovery” and “Come Sunday.”)
If you think you’ve heard the name Karl Urban a lot this summer, you are correct.
Not only is Urban co-starring in the August 12th Disney live-action release, “Pete’s Dragon” as Gavin, the villain trying to capture the titular friendly beast, but, earlier this summer, he reprised his role as Bones in “Star Trek: Beyond,” and was confirmed to star in “Thor: Ragnarok” as the villainous Skurge. To say he’s been busy is an understatement.
In fact, when we caught up with Urban to chat about his role in “Pete’s Dragon,” he had just wrapped the first Los Angeles press day for “Beyond,” after having flown in from New Zealand the night before. With his feet up on the coffee table, relaxing on a couch, Urban talked a bit about his role in “Thor: Ragnarok,” what it like working with director David Lowery on “Pete’s Dragon,” and what Robert Redford is really like.
Moviefone: You are a very busy man! “Star Trek” and “Pete’s Dragon,” and and you’re about to start working on Thor: Ragnarok. And, you’re also a dad! Do you find it a little bit hard to juggle everything?
Karl Urban: Yes, it’s tough. That’s the important thing is to try and find that balance and make sure that my family is included in aspects of my career as much as they can be. I just took both of my boys to Sydney to the premiere of “Star Trek” and they had a great time. They both came to the set in Dubai and one of them came to Vancouver, so it’s just about going to lengths to make sure that that balance is maintained.
Did you grow up with “Pete’s Dragon.” Does it have as big a fan base in New Zealand as it does here in the States?
I did not, actually. I never saw it as a kid and I still haven’t seen the original today. It bears no relevance to the film that I made, if it did, I would have watched it but this is a complete re-imagining.
You’ve been involved with major franchises, even in your early work, that have such huge fan followings: “Hercules,” “Xena,” “Star Trek”… What is the difference between going from those big franchise-type stories with a huge fan base to something like “Pete’s Dragon,” which has a bit of a smaller, more intimate feeling to it? How do you approach the character?
The approach is just the same, there’s no difference. Film-making is film-making, and character is character. The only difference I guess is how well that property is known before it’s released. For me, it’s about character, it’s about story and it’s about who I’m working with and where I’m working and those are the things that I concern myself with when I’m making a decision about what I’m going to do.
How different was it working with David Lowery, who comes from more of an independent movie background?
The medium is irrelevant. Every director is different. Every director has their strengths, and, for lack of a better word, their weaknesses. I found David to be a great director. He’s very specific about what he wanted and at the same time he was very willing and open to collaborate, welcoming of ideas, and he was just such a lovely positive guy. You wanted to please him and help him realize his vision for this film. He had a wonderful creative team around him; the writer Toby [Halbrooks] was constantly on set, and it was a rewarding experience.
Can you tell me also a little bit about working with Robert Redford? He’s such an icon in Hollywood.
It was incredible. To tell you the truth one of the appeals of joining this film was the prospect of getting to work with Robert Redford and indeed when I did get to work with him it was so surreal. You’d be in a scene with him and he would smile and you’d have a plethora of classic Hollywood films flashing [in front of you]. And he’s such a warm, generous guy. He shared stories about many things, from Santa Fe to his love of automobiles and bikes and horses — and it was just an incredible honor to be able to work with such an icon.
Speaking of horses, Bryce and David mentioned when they did the trailer launch that he saved a horse on the way to the set — do you have any other stories like that? They said he did plenty of stuff that made them go ‘Wow! He’s really doing that!’
Yes, I think that’s probably the one that I know the best. He was on the way to work and saw an emaciated horse in a paddock and stopped and basically saved the horse. He went and got a trailer and they rescued the horse and then he had it checked out and stabled it and put on a proper regime of feed to try and build some condition back up in this animal and that’s just a real testament to the man that he is.
What does it mean to you to become part of this whole Disney universe? I know you’ve named your son after Indiana Jones, which is part of Disney now, and now you’re in “Pete’s Dragon” and you’re going into “Thor.” So what does it mean to you, personally, to be part of that now?
Well to me … what I personally cherish the most out of any experience are the people who you get to meet and work with, and that to me is the most rewarding experience out of everything. And in both cases of “Pete’s” and “Thor” there are some really wonderful people and it’s my hope that they remain a part of my life from this point forward. I loved working with David Lowery — I’d work with him again in a heartbeat — the same obviously with Wes Bentley and a bunch of the other guys that worked on that, and Mr. Redford. On “Thor” it’s the same thing with Taika [Waititi]. I’m pretty fortunate.
We know you’re playing a villain in “Thor: Ragnarok.” Can you tell us a little bit about what’s going on? Anything we can expect from your character?
I can’t say too much under the bounds of confidentiality, and I haven’t actually started shooting yet; I’ll start in a couple of weeks. So, that being said, it’s a wonderful opportunity to work with Cate Blanchett and Chris [Hemsworth] and Tom [Hiddleston] and it’s going to be a lot of fun.
Villains are so much fun to play and you play somewhat of a villain in “Pete’s Dragon.” Do you take any extra … have a little more fun with the villainous characters as opposed to the straight ones?
The villains are always the fun characters to play because, of course, they can get away with saying and doing things that we never can in real life. My favorite villains are the villains that are fun and naughty and the character of Skurge isn’t cut-and-dry in the same way that Gavin isn’t cut-and-dry. The character has his motives and his reasons for doing what he does and I think as long as you imbue your character with that then you’ll avoid being some carbon copy 2D bad guy.
“Pete’s Dragon” opens in theaters everywhere August 12th.
Television and film luminaries 
If you think you’ve heard the name