Robert Redford Passes Away, Iconic Actor Filmed Scene in Ballston Spa

BALLSTON SPA — Actor and filmmaker Robert Redford passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 89 at his home in Utah.

Redford’s illustrious career once brought him to the Village of Ballston Spa, where he filmed a scene on Front Street for “The Way We Were,” a romantic drama directed by Sydney Pollack and released in 1973. The film was a box office hit and won 2 Academy Awards for Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Song.

The Ballston Spa scene features Redord’s character beckoning Barbra Streisand’s character to cross the street and chat with him. They have a conversation near a restaurant built for the movie in front of the present-day Medberry Inn & Spa.

Redford’s many well-known acting credits include “The Natural,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” “Barefoot in the Park,” “All the President’s Men,” “Out of Africa,” “Three Days of the Condor,” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

As a director, he helmed “Ordinary People” (which won an Academy Award for Best Picture), “A River Runs Through It,” “The Horse Whisperer,” “Quiz Show,” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance.” He also co-founded the famed Sundance Film Festival.