Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. in Santa Monica, California, the handsome blond star started out as a high school bad boy. He soon developed an interest in art and spent time traveling in Europe, eventually landing back in the US and pursuing artistic studies in New York. From there, he started taking acting classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the late ’50s.

Robert Redford In 15 Irresistible Old Photos
Charles Robert Redford, who turns 86 today, has left an indelible mark on American cinema. Only a handful of actors the world over can boast a filmography as dazzling over the last 60 years, spanning political thrillers, historical dramas, and timeless romances. With his irrefutable talent and winning charisma, Redford has appeared in no fewer than fifty movies, many of which have become classics. (Among them are Butch Cassidy and the Kid, in which the actor starred opposite Paul Newman; The Horse Whisperer, with a young Scarlett Johansson; and The Great Gatsby, with Mia Farrow and Sam Waterston.)