When Robert Redford first met Paul Newman in the late 1960s, it marked more than the start of a celebrated screen partnership—it ignited a friendship that would last a lifetime. On the set of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Newman, already a seasoned star, welcomed the younger Redford with easy charm and a mischievous edge. “Paul had this grin that made you feel like he was always two steps ahead,” Redford once recalled. “And most of the time, he was.”
Their on-screen chemistry was undeniable, but off camera it ran even deeper. They sparred playfully, teased without mercy, and supported each other’s passions with genuine respect. Newman admired Redford’s dedication to the Sundance Institute; Redford admired Newman’s quiet generosity through Newman’s Own. “He didn’t brag, he didn’t boast,” Redford said. “Paul just gave. That was who he was.”
When they reunited for The Sting, it felt less like acting and more like slipping back into a shared rhythm. Newman joked that if he ever had to pull off a real con, Redford would be his first call—“He makes trouble look good.” Behind the scenes, the laughter came as naturally as the performances.
After Newman’s death in 2008, Redford spoke of a loss that couldn’t be replaced. “There’s a part of me that will always miss him,” he said. “He was the best partner I ever had.”
Today, fans still hold their friendship close—not as nostalgia, but as a rare example of what Hollywood can be at its best. On screen, they’ll always be Butch and Sundance; beyond it, two friends bound by humor, respect, and a bond that time never managed to break.
On the tribulations of an expatriate in Europe
Friday, December 26, 2025
Off screen, they were the best of friends
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment