While Paul Newman and Robert Redford became inseparable on screen as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Newman admitted he initially envied Redford. During filming, playing Robert LeRoy Parker (“Butch Cassidy”), he confessed he wished he could have taken Redford’s role as Harry Longabaugh (“Sundance Kid”). The 1969 Western showcased their remarkable talent, portraying notorious outlaws on the run and captivating audiences worldwide.
The film won four Oscars and remains one of the greatest Westerns ever made. They reunited four years later in *The Sting* (1973), delivering another iconic performance. On set, Newman, 44 at the time, admired the younger Redford, 33, who was rising rapidly after *Inside Daisy Clover* (1965).
Newman admitted in BBC Talking Pictures, “You can’t depend on Redford. You’re never sure he’s going to be there.” His daughter, Claire Newman Soderlund, explained the tension came from differing work styles: Newman was meticulous and punctual, while Redford was more of a free spirit. Over time, their connection deepened. Redford reflected on ABC News, “It was just that connection of playing those characters and the fun of it that really began the relationship… we discovered other similarities that just multiplied over time.”
They even considered a third project, *A Walk in the Woods* (2015), but Newman declined due to physical demands, and Nick Nolte took the role. Beyond films, the actors became like family, living close in Connecticut and sharing their lives and humor. Redford recalled, “We got to know each other’s flaws pretty well… and we’d try to surprise each other. It was so much fun that it became a scenario unto itself.” From iconic on-screen outlaws to lifelong friends, Newman and Redford shared a bond that went far beyond Hollywood, their brotherly love off-set matching the legendary chemistry audiences adored on screen.
