Charles Robert Redford Jr. (born August 18, 1936), better known as Robert Redford, is an American film director, actor, producer, businessman, model, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He received two Oscars: one in 1981 for Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime Achievement in 2002.

Redford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Martha W. (née Hart) and Charles Robert Redford Sr. (November 19, 1914 – April 2, 1991), a milkman-turned-accountant from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He has a half-brother, William, from his father's re-marriage. Redford is of English and Scots-Irish ancestry.

When he was a child, legendary tennis star Pancho Gonzales asked Redford to warm him up before a match by hitting a few balls with him. Redford claims that this was one of the most memorable moments of his life in a documentary called "Remembering Pancho".