Although Robert Redford started out appearing in films in 1962, his breakout year did not come until 1969, when he starred with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Since that time his career has consisted of one success after another, whether in front of the camera as actor or behind it as director, with his commitment to independent filmmaking anchored by the establishment of the Sundance Film Festival. Furthermore, his concern for the environment, particularly in the American West, has made him an important spokesman for conservation; he often lends his name to causes and charities that help to support preservation and endangered species.<BR>This comprehensive biography, the first to appear on Redford in nearly two decades, is based on extensive interviews with friends and colleagues, as well as assistance provided by Redford himself. The authors reveal Redford's relationships with such actors as Natalie Wood, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Paul Newman, and Meryl Streep, as well as Redford's at-times testy dealings with some of the leading directors and producers of his era. The authors also review the critical reception of Redford's films and provide their own views on the strengths and weaknesses of each. What is ultimately revealed in this wide-ranging look at the actor-director is a man who consistently defied conventional Hollywood norms beginning early in his career, and who made a tremendous success out of being a maverick in an industry beset by conformity and obsession with stardom.