Remembering Robert Redford, 3 R’s= Remarkable, Regal, Resounding

Playing “The Sundance Kid,” he could not swim, while again, teamed with the great Paul Newman in another iconic film, “The Sting,” he already knew how to drink, however as Robert Redford, who died yesterday at age 89– oh could he act, direct, develop and yes–attempt to help.

Certainly his great looks helped, beauty in the eye of the beholder, but discernably less so when those wanting posteriors in the seats at “x” or paraphrasing Jack Kent Cooke, promoting the epic first of three great Frazier/Ali bouts, 1/2 “x” per “cheek,” yet Redford in a long great career, undeniably had and displayed the acting chops.

He stirred great emotions, so young with Gladys Cooper in a Twilight Zone episode and rose to fame with Jane Fonda (she among a trio of greats, Barbara Streisand and Meryl Streep, the others each paying tributes and recalling roles with Redford) in Neil Simon’s “Barefoot In The Park.”

There are so many others, thankfully that remains, one being “Jeremiah Johnson,” where he works with Will Geer, a great, shamefully blacklisted actor, who soon or already had the similar “Grampa” role on “The Waltons.”

Masterful with Dustin Hoffman in “All The President’s Men” and as a director try “Ordinary People,” and the so underrated and revealing, “Quiz Show.”

Mr. Redford was beyond cool displaying indifference toward girlfriend Etta, played by Katharine Ross in “Butch and Sundance,” saying “oh take her” to Newman’s “Butch” after their iconic bike ride to Burt Bacharach’s (sung by B.J. Thomas as the greats regarding Redford, continue to be noted and recalled Fond(A)ly) “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.”

My favorite and there are so many others, many I am omitting, is the almost flawless “The Sting” with Redford and Newman, a great bad guy in the limping and actually injured in real life,Robert Shaw and an array of brilliant character actors.

Redford as “Johnny Hooker” with character flaws (he did not even take his cut, lamenting “he would only blow it anyway”), dodging danger, was the gateway to the great ending.

Once downstairs at a club with an event, I did not approach Mr. Redford, for once respecting privacy as I had years earlier eschewing a talk attempt with Mr. Newman, who was seated eating dinner (Paul having talked of a fan’s approach when he stood at a urinal, racing in my mind).

Now and perhaps then, as I wish Redford well, recalling an incredible life replete with achievement, I make the signal, one finger (the index)touching and moving off my nose as Paul and Bob did in “The Sting.”

Really a co-favorite among the so many great Redford films is “The Way We Were.” View the trailer with Barbra singing the great Marvin Hamlisch composed song, below.

Robert Redford above

With Paul Newman. What a team!!