Robert Redford's journey to stardom passed through the Delaware Valley

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Before Robert Redford became one of Hollywood's most iconic stars, his journey to stardom passed through the Delaware Valley.

In 1961, Redford starred in the play Sunday in New York at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, marking one of his earliest stage performances. But his first major break came two years earlier at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, where he arrived as a summer apprentice through the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

"Which was a great acting school in New York, and every year they picked two people to come down here and be an apprentice for the summer," said Alexander Fraser, producing director at the Bucks County Playhouse. "Grace Kelly was in 1949 and Robert Redford 1959."

Tune in to "Robert Redford: The Life and Legacy of an American Icon -- A Special Edition of '20/20'" on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Born in California, Redford soon transitioned to film, starring in a string of acclaimed movies, including 'All the President's Men' and 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.' Seeking to move beyond his image as a Hollywood heartthrob, he turned to directing, earning an Academy Award for Ordinary People and later directing Quiz Show in 1994.

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Redford's most enduring legacy may be the creation of the Sundance Film Festival in the late 1970s, which he founded to support independent filmmakers.

"I think the whole development of independent films and giving artists a chance is one way to do it," Redford once said. "So, I've enjoyed the ride."

"He went on and changed the face of Hollywood forever with Sundance, and what he's done for young filmmakers, no one had ever heard of," Fraser added. "That is extremely remarkable."

In 2002, Redford received an honorary Oscar recognizing his contributions to film as an actor, director, producer, and founder of Sundance.

Robert Redford passed away at his home in Utah, surrounded by his family.

He was 89 years old.