At 87, Robert Redford, the iconic actor, director, and Sundance Film Festival founder, continues to captivate with candid reflections on his storied career and personal journey. In a heartfelt interview with his grandson Dylan, Redford announced his retirement from acting, only to later express regret over the declaration, per Fox News (2018). Coupled with revelations about his turbulent youth and concerns over Sundance’s growth, Redford’s disclosures offer a glimpse into a legend wrestling with legacy and change. This 800-word article, drawing from The New York Times (2018) and Variety (2024), explores these pivotal moments.

A Bittersweet Farewell to Acting

Redford’s announcement to retire after Our Souls at Night (2017) with Jane Fonda and The Old Man & the Gun (2018) with Casey Affleck stunned fans, per The Guardian (2018). “I’m getting tired of acting,” he told Dylan, citing impatience with repetitive film production and a yearning to return to painting and directing, per People (2018). Sketching, he explained, offered creative freedom: “It gives me more satisfaction because I’m not dependent on anybody.” His directorial triumphs, like the Oscar-winning Ordinary People (1980), underscore this passion, per Rolling Stone (1981).

Yet, at the The Old Man & the Gun premiere, Redford backtracked, admitting it was a “mistake” to label it his final film, per Fox News (2018). The announcement had overshadowed the film’s merits, diverting focus from its storytelling. “I could have quietly slipped out of acting,” he mused, hinting at a desire to prioritize directing without closing the door on acting entirely. Casey Affleck, his co-star, called working with Redford a “dream come true,” reflecting the reverence Redford commands, per Fox News (2018). This ambivalence highlights Redford’s struggle to balance his legacy with evolving creative impulses.

A Youth Marked by Peril

Redford’s polished image belies a gritty past. Growing up in a working-class Los Angeles neighborhood, he joined a street gang as a teenager, seeking camaraderie amid urban chaos, per The New York Times (2008). His recollections are stark: petty theft, stolen jewelry, and a near-fatal dare that pushed him to the brink. A brush with the law, averted by his father Charlie’s intervention, was a turning point, per Esquire (2011). At 10, Redford battled polio, enduring physical agony until his mother’s care pulled him through, per Biography (2005). These trials forged his resilience, teaching him that courage lies in confronting fear, a lesson that shaped his rise from delinquency to Hollywood icon.

Sundance’s Growth and Challenges

As Sundance’s founder, Redford transformed independent cinema, launching films like Whiplash and Fruitvale Station, per Variety (2024). Yet, he now grapples with the festival’s exponential growth. “The quality is better than ever,” he told The New York Times (2024), but overcrowding in Park City threatens its intimate ethos. Traffic snarls and packed screenings frustrate attendees, prompting Redford to warn, “If both continue to grow, they’re going to choke each other.” The festival’s global appeal, fueled by a shifting industry and celebrity culture, has drawn paparazzi and fashion houses, diluting its countercultural roots, per The Hollywood Reporter (2023).

Redford envisions restructuring Sundance into genre-specific sections—narratives in January, documentaries in February—to ease congestion and enhance curation, per Variety (2024). “I don’t know whether that works,” he admitted, but his willingness to innovate reflects a commitment to preserving Sundance’s mission. The 2008 recession, he noted wryly, curbed excesses, refocusing the festival on artistry, per The Guardian (2010). Balancing growth with integrity remains a dilemma, as Redford ponders whether to cap expansion or adapt to industry realities.

Personal Losses and New Beginnings

Redford’s personal life mirrors his professional complexities. His 27-year marriage to Lola Van Wagenen, which produced four children, was scarred by the 1959 death of their son Scott to sudden infant death syndrome, per People (1985). This tragedy reshaped their family, and though Redford’s autobiography avoids detailing their 1985 divorce, grief likely strained their bond, per Vanity Fair (2000). He found solace with German artist Sibylle Szaggars, his partner since the 1990s, marrying her in 2009, per The Telegraph (2009). Their shared love for art anchors Redford’s later years.

A Childhood Dream Rekindled

Redford’s recent musings about building a mountain home echo a childhood dream, per Architectural Digest (2020). His Utah ranch, home to Sundance, reflects this longing for nature’s solace, a counterpoint to his urban youth. This vision underscores his desire to reconnect with simpler, authentic pursuits, much like his return to sketching.

A Legacy of Resilience

Redford’s revelations—retirement regrets, a perilous youth, and Sundance’s challenges—paint a portrait of an artist navigating the twilight of a legendary career. His 2002 Academy Award for lifetime achievement honors a legacy that spans Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) to A Walk in the Woods (2015), per Oscars.org (2002). At 87, Redford remains a titan, his candor revealing a man unafraid to confront past mistakes and embrace new paths. As he reimagines Sundance and sketches in solitude, Redford’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and an enduring love for storytelling that continues to inspire, per Variety (2024).