Robert Redford Announces His Retirement From Acting At 80
Robert Redford says he is retiring from acting at age 80 to focus on directing and his art. Redford says he has to wrap up two projects, and then he will be done for good. The actor’s grandson, Dylan Redford, also an artist, interviewed his granddad on behalf of the Walker Art Center. Robert Redford says he is looking forward to getting back to painting.
It is hard to image that Robert Redford is 80. Other celebrities fans have grown up with, like Sting (now 65), are still producing great work at the conventional age of retirement and beyond, says the Inquisitr. Sting also recently gave an interview, saying that at 65, he is returning to rock music and heading out on a new tour with music that reminds fans of his old Police days. As Sting is now in the next chapter of his life, out on a rock tour, Robert Redford is deciding that he prefers to direct and paint.
Robert Redford has received many accolades, including an Oscar, for acting, but he says he is ready to wrap it up, says Page Six. In his interview with grandson Dylan Redford, an artist and gallerist, about what the future holds, Dylan asked his grandfather if he thinks about painting.
“Yeah, a lot — and a lot lately because I’m getting tired of acting. I’m an impatient person, so it’s hard for me to sit around and do take after take after take.”
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Robert Redford says he has been painting since his late teens before he was ever a known actor.
“I wanted to get out of this country and experience different ways of seeing the world. So I went to Europe, but I went as an artist. I was increasing my skill set and exploring storytelling through painting.”
Robert Redford explains that he has returned to painting at various times throughout his adult life because it is something he still loves.
“Doing that, I realized how much I loved it. Later, when I became an actor, I suffered for four or five years not being sure I wanted to be in that business because I so wanted to be an artist. I just wanted to paint and sketch and tell stories by drawing.”
Robert Redford Says He'll Retire From Acting After Next Two Films https://t.co/QrCBCZ5jCY #Film pic.twitter.com/PLAmMjvHdx
— Film Hour (@filmhour) November 11, 2016
Robert Redford got his first real taste of directing with the movie Ordinary People, starring Mary Tyler Moore and Timothy Hutton, and he found that his artistic skills came into play by creating storyboards to explain to the technical people on the crew what he was trying to do.
“I didn’t know the technical language of filmmaking, so I said, ‘OK, I’m going to do my own storyboard,’ because I had to explain to the crew and the technical people what I wanted.”
Redford obviously found the right method of communication, because the film received four Oscars. Redford finds directing more of a satisfying creative outlet, so after he wraps up two projects, he is done with acting, says the Wrap. His two current projects are noteworthy, as one is with Jane Fonda and the other is with Sissy Spacek.
“I’ve got two acting projects in the works: Our Souls at Night with Jane Fonda, a love story for older people who get a second chance in life, and Old Man with a Gun, a lighter piece 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.”
Robert Redford says that he will also continue to take part in the Sundance Film Festival, which he started.
Can you believe Robert Redford is 80? Wish him the best of luck in retirement!
[Featured Image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]
