Robert Redford

The Biography

By: Michael Feeney Callan

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

The long-anticipated biography of Robert Redford.

Among the most widely admired Hollywood stars of his generation, Redford has appeared onstage and on-screen, in front of and behind the camera, earning Academy, Golden Globe, and a multitude of other awards and nominations for acting, directing, and producing, and for his contributions to the arts. His Sundance Film Festival transformed the world of filmmaking; his films defined a generation. America has come to know him as the Sundance Kid, Bob Woodward, Johnny Hooker, Jay Gatsby, and Roy Hobbs. But only now, with this revelatory biography, do we see the surprising and complex man beneath the Hollywood façade.

From Redford’s personal papers—journals, script notes, correspondence—and hundreds of hours of taped interviews, Michael Feeney Callan brings the legendary star into focus. Here is his scattered family background and restless childhood, his rocky start in acting, the death of his son, his star-making relationship with director Sydney Pollack, the creation of Sundance, his political activism, his artistic successes and failures, his friendships and romances. This is a candid, surprising portrait of a man whose iconic roles on-screen (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President’s Men, The Natural) and directorial brilliance (Ordinary People, Quiz Show) have both defined and obscured one of the most celebrated, and, until now, least understood, public figures of our time.

Critic reviews

“Revealing . . . An unusually well-written movie-star biography . . . What emerges is a comprehensive portrait of a man beset by colliding tides of ambition and hesitation . . . Robert Redford is as fascinating . . . as its subject.”
-Scott Eyman, The Wall Street Journal

“Relentless and first-rate . . . A layered portrait of one of the most famous—and elusive—faces in pop culture.”
-Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Bracing . . . A fascinating study . . . of fame and our uneasy relationship with it.”
-Maureen Callahan, New York Post

“Deeply researched . . . Give Callan credit for letting in dissident voices and for allowing Redford’s less Galahadian qualities to shine forth: the opportunism and narcissicism, the scattershot management style, the absentee fathering. Best of all, Callan’s book begins and ends exactly where it should: with that quadrant of Utah soil christened by its owner ‘Sundance.’”
-Louis Bayard, The Washington Post

“Genuinely insightful . . . Michael Feeney Callan remains keenly aware of his subject’s larger-than-lifeness, even as he tries to chip away to reveal the person underneath.”
-Keith Staskiewicz, Entertainment Weekly

“Carefully crafted . . . Callan is clearly on his game when it comes to dissecting Redford’s film career.”
-Daniel Bubbeo, Newsday

“A candid, accessible portrait that makes for perfect summer reading . . . Callan’s meticulous research and obvious respect for the actor are evident in this crisply written book.”
-Larry Cox, King Features

“Revealing . . . Intriguing . . . An all-American beautiful jock with a brutal iron will and the soul of a visionary tyrant, Redford, under Callan’s gaze, emerges as a sui generis American figure. A gripping, intimate treatment of one of cinema’s last great iconic stars.”
-Kirkus

“Comprehensive . . . Callan reveals the complex man beneath the Hollywood persona. Absorbing and remarkably well documented; readers will enjoy losing themselves in this long-awaited biography.”
-Booklist

Lots of detail

I admire the writer for such an in depth research process on Redford’s long career. Although not sure of the need for the early family stuff at the beginning. Redford is one of those actors I would watch in anything he was involved with.

Good comprehensive biography

The book details comprehensively Redford’s film career, political and environmental activism, commitment to the arts, and support of independent film makers. Although we get glimpses of Redford the man, he still remains illusive. I listened to this after listening to Barbra Streisand’s autobiography, which blew me away by its depth. So it was a little difficult at first adjusting to the more removed nature of this book.

Very good read

Mr Robert Redford was a brilliant human being. He reminds me of my childhood. I will miss him.

Inside, Outside and Center of the KID!

Most biographies is a list of accomplishments. They review the person focusing on the highs and lows along the way. This biography does that without drawing attention to it. It relishes what happens between the accomplishments and the defeats. For those who want the "behind the scenes" of Redford they're here. However, they are NOT trivial. Very few silly meaningless stories that are often looked for in biographies.
Like a master editor, Mr. Feeney Callan cuts together only meaningful stories. The stories focus on Redford, his family, his art, his passions, his movies and his environmental activism. Along the way we get information on his partnerships with all the film greats and so much more! However, what is most impressive is how we are introduced to the complexities that make up who Robert Redford is. Even more impressive is the narration by Mark Deakins. He is a true doppelganger of Redford's voice. So much so that you think Redford is the one doing the reading (inflections, attitudes and all).
The book leaves no stone unturned, no road less traveled. In fact, there are many detours along the way that captures the essence of the lessons taught by the 50's, 60's and 70's. Each decade of Redford's life would shape who and what he would become. Ever the chameleon, the book explores the many colors of Redford's personality. The information shared on the journey of a true artist is awe inspiring. The what, the why, the when, the where and the how. This book left me so inspired and challenged on what is important in this life. Robert Redford is a true American hero, but not the one created by Hollywood. He is a thinker, a doer and a risk taker. He is the myth of America.

Biography of Redford’s personal and business transactions.

While there is a good deal of Redford’s personal experience and motivations the book boils down to ~70% business transactions and ~30% personal accounts. Still good information but would love to hear more perspectives from Redford himself.