Robert Redford: 20 Essential Movies

LAS VEGAS, NV - 1978: Actor Robert Redford portrays a cowboy/corporate pitchman in a scene from the 1979 Las Vegas, Nevada, movie "The Electric Horseman." The Sydney Pollack film was shot in and around Las Vegas, Nevada, and also starred Jane Fonda and Willie Nelson. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

An up-and-coming young actor in the 1960s, a sex symbol in the 1970s, a movie star (and Oscar-winning director) in the 1980s, an elder statesman in the 1990s and an éminence grise in the 21st century — Robert Redford’s screen career spanned six decades and gave us too many memorable performances to count. Which, naturally, has not stopped us from singling out 20 roles that we believe highlight the late, great actor’s immense talents. From presidential candidates to professional thieves, legendary journalists to legal eagles, electric cowboys to horse whisperers, here are our picks for Redford’s best.