WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy express sorrow and gratitude on the passing of Robert Redford, the iconic actor, film director, and wildlife protection champion.
“Robert Redford was a Hollywood legend who reminded all of us of our responsibilities to nature and to wildlife,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “He was instrumental in supporting California’s historic ban on the trophy hunting of mountain lions in 1990 and, in the decades since, he raised his voice in favor of safeguarding wildlife opposing cruelty. We’ll remember him as an entertainer but also as a man of conviction.”
Across the span of his time on the public stage, Redford opposed horse slaughter, supported wild horse preservation, and used his platform to highlight threats to America’s iconic wildlife. His narration of documentaries on wild horses and ocean conservation underscored his belief that human progress must never come at the expense of animal suffering. His activism extended to broader environmental advocacy, including founding the Sundance Institute, where stories of resilience in nature found a global audience.