by In Hollywood, there are icons and legends that have shaped the industry throughout the decades. Two such icons are Brad Pitt and Robert Redford, actors from different generations who have both left major impressions on cinema. Though decades apart in age, they’ve crossed paths several times throughout their careers in meaningful ways. Recently, Brad Pitt recalled an encouraging interaction with Robert Redford early on that revealed Redford’s generous spirit and offered Pitt vital support at a pivotal time.
Pitt shared this candid story while being interviewed by Esquire. He transported readers back to the late 1980s, when he was just getting his footing as a new actor on the scene. Meanwhile, Redford’s star power was astronomical. He was a bonafide legend after smash hits like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and Out of Africa. For any aspiring actor, Redford was an absolute idol.
So when Pitt found himself at a party rubbing shoulders with the Hollywood elite, it was surreal to chat with Robert Redford himself. Pitt was feeling understandably insecure about his floundering career. Doubt had crept in about whether he had what it took to make it. He was just another hunky twenty-something without a big break. Then Redford did something surprising – he offered words of encouragement to Pitt, telling the fledgling actor “You’re going to be a star.”
Pitt confessed that this small gesture had an enormous impact. Redford’s vote of confidence was like a burst of sunlight through clouds, providing Pitt with hope and reassurance exactly when he needed it most. It gave him a vital morale boost to keep going in such a difficult industry.
That’s the power of icons supporting up-and-comers. In a cutthroat business where everyone is vying for the next big opportunity, there is a lot of pressure and insecurity. Simple acts of kindness can mean everything.
Pitt made it clear he has never forgotten Redford’s supportive words all those years ago. It’s a meaningful memory that has stayed with him even at the height of his own fame decades later. He expressed great admiration for Redford, not just as an acting legend, but as a person. To Pitt, Redford exemplified class and humility, offering his wisdom and reassurance to someone just starting out. It was a gesture that went beyond hollow party chatter – it connected on a human level.
The poignant exchange reminds us that behind all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, at the core, actors are just people trying to navigate tricky careers filled with triumphs and pitfalls. Even icons like Redford face periods of doubt and hardship. Recognizing this shared humanity is what builds mutual understanding and respect between different generations of actors.
Pitt and Redford’s paths would cross several more times as Pitt’s own star rose. In 1992, Pitt landed a crucial supporting role in the Redford-directed classic, A River Runs Through It. Though only in a few scenes, Pitt held his own acting alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Tom Skerritt and Brenda Blethyn. It marked an important transition for Pitt’s career toward more serious dramatic work.
The two actors co-starred again in 2008’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a fantastical drama directed by David Fincher. This time, Pitt took the lead role in the story of a man aging backwards, with Redford playing a supporting role as a father. The film was a milestone for both actors. Pitt received his first Lead Actor Oscar nomination for his work, while Redford stepped into one of the most poignant supporting roles of his career as a father watching his son live life in reverse. Their masterful performances demonstrated the talents of actors at two very different stages of their careers. For Pitt, it represented coming full circle after that first shy meeting as a fanboy decades ago.
Both Pitt and Redford have generously supported each other and praised each other’s talents over the years since that fateful first encounter. That’s the mark of comrades who recognize that in art and life, we all stand on the shoulders of those before us. Cinema is a long chain of inspiration passing from one great talent to the next.
When we look back on Robert Redford’s lasting legacy, his breathe of iconic films is of course crucial. Classics like The Sting, Out of Africa, and Butch Cassidy simply would not exist without Redford’s particular charm and fire. However, Redford has had an equally important impact off screen through his establishment of the Sundance Institute in the mountains of Utah.
Sundance has offered a launching pad for raw filmmaking talent for decades, providing financial, creative, and institutional support for visionary directors. By establishing a venue for independent creators who might get rejected by the Hollywood system, Redford opened the door for countless unique cinematic voices. He expanded the possibilities for outsiders and newcomers, just as he himself was kindly welcomed early in his career.
Consider that indie pioneers like Quentin Tarentino and Michael Moore may never have gotten their start without Sundance’s supportive platform. Many of today’s greatest auteurs began as Sundance no-names who needed that first big chance. By offering opportunities to new voices beyond the elite Hollywood pipeline, Redford dramatically reshaped filmmaking for the better. He made space for the next generation of talent and enabled countless dreamers.
Redford’s touching support of Pitt came full circle when Pitt became one of the biggest draws at Sundance and an active supporter of its mission himself. Through his production company, Plan B, Pitt has backed a diverse slate of gritty, provocative independent films like Tree of Life, Twelve Years a Slave, Moonlight, and Minari. Many of these premiered at Sundance before going on to garner impressive acclaim. Pitt has spoken of how meaningful it is to contribute to projects outside the traditional Hollywood system. In promoting new voices, he is paying forward the generosity Redford once showed him.
Beyond specific projects, Pitt champions and participates in causes close to Redford’s heart, like environmentalism. He has been an avid supporter of sustainability efforts and green architecture. Pitt aims to use his celebrity clout to raise awareness on important issues, just as Redford has so effectively over the years. The two actors share more than just staggeringly good looks and undeniable talents. They both leverage their fame for social impact in admirable ways.
On a purely artistic level, Pitt and Redford demonstrate two very different, but equally compelling, approaches to the craft of acting. Pitt is known for going to extremes for gritty roles, radically changing his physique and undergoing intense preparation to inhabit a mindset. He is a shape-shifter who can morph from the nihilistic Tyler Durden in Fight Club to the gruff cowboy Jesse James to the reserved Benjamin Button. Pitt Delves so deep into roles that the audience forgets they are watching an A-list star.
By contrast, Redford’s magic stems from his natural charm and magnetism. He captivates with his golden hair and thousand-watt smile. Redford’s films play heavily on his charisma and innate likability. Even when he plays criminals, like in The Sting, viewers can’t help rooting for him. Redford just oozes an old school Hollywood brand of star power specific to his golden era.
Of course, Redford has also proven himself to be a serious actor over the years in films like Ordinary People and All the President’s Men. However, at his core, his appeal is celebrity radiance – a certain glint in his eye that brightly telegraphs “Movie Star.” Pitt makes a point to disappear into characters. Redford makes the character disappear so only he remains shining through.
This contrast highlights how acting requires both chameleons who transform utterly and icons who amplify their built-in magnetism. Talents across the spectrum consolidate into an industry. Redford and Pitt demonstrate two equally viable tools for compelling acting that keep viewers fascinated. They prove that there is no one “type” for a leading man.
The friendship and mutual appreciation between such different performers reveals the incredible diversity of skills within the acting profession. It also shows how wisdom can pass between actors of different eras, binding the profession across generations. Any young actor with stars in their eyes can learn from icons like Pitt and Redford.
Robert Redford’s selfless gesture to Pitt was more than just a pep talk. It symbolized an enduring mentorship and camaraderie. It set virtues of generosity and openness as goals for how seasoned professionals should welcome newcomers. Neither man had to offer the other friendship or understanding, but both chose to be decent, supportive colleagues. That spirit elevated both their careers.
The takeaway for any aspiring actor is that this profession is not just a competition – it is also a community. There is room for many types of talents and masses of opportunities if people help each other. No actor makes it solely on their own; we all need encouragement sometimes. Mentorship and kindness matter.
Beyond Hollywood, the story represents broader truths about working in creative fields. It’s easy to see other professionals as threats and rivals for coveted opportunities. However, the reality is everyone is on their own journey, facing triumphs and rejections. We have more empathy when we recognize our common challenges and humanity.
What if others saw us at our frightened beginning and shared reassurance that bolstered our self-confidence? How might that change our path? Certainly, we can all think of mentors whose belief in us transformed what we imagined possible for ourselves. Their gifts to us can spur us to pay it forward for the next generation.
That might look like cheering for peers who land a big break you coveted or pointing newcomers towards helpful resources and communities. Generosity takes many forms. Simply reframing colleagues as comrades, not competitors, can make creative fields less cutthroat. There’s space for everyone to shine in their own way.
This outlook requires seeing beyond superficial metrics of achievement like fame and wealth. It values showing up authentically and contributing meaningfully over racking uphollow awards and numbers. The mark of a life well lived consists of how many people we aided, comforted, and inspired. By that measure, icons like Redford and Pitt are wealthy indeed, as much for their ethics as acting achievements.
The entertainment industry and beyond would benefit from more relationships like the one between these two men – rooted in goodwill, wisdom passed down, doors held open, and kind words shared. Those simple acts build bonds durable enough to last decades in an ephemeral field. They cut through cynicism to reveal that even the most glittering worlds consist of human beings trying their best.
Generosity and compassion never diminish us – they expand and elevate our collective humanity. Though Redford and Pitt are icons, at their core, they are givers using their gifts to raise each other up. Their story inspires hope that no matter how high one climbs, it is always possible to reach down, grasp another’s hand, and say sincerely: “You’re going to be a star.”
