While Paul Newman and Robert Redford became inseparable on screen as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Newman admitted he initially envied his co-star. Playing Butch, he confessed he wished he could have taken Redford’s role as the Sundance Kid. The 1969 Western captivated audiences worldwide, portraying the notorious outlaws with wit and charm.

The film went on to win four Oscars and cemented itself as one of the greatest Westerns of all time. Their partnership proved so magnetic that they reunited four years later in The Sting (1973), delivering another classic.

At the time, Newman was 44 and already an established star, while the 33-year-old Redford was quickly rising in Hollywood following Inside Daisy Clover (1965). Newman admired his younger co-star’s growing popularity.

Still, there were moments of tension. Newman once remarked 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, later explained that her father was meticulous and punctual, while Redford leaned more free-spirited.

Despite the differences, their bond only deepened. Redford reflected to ABC News, “It was just that connection of playing those characters and the fun of it… we discovered other similarities that just multiplied over time.”

They even considered a third collaboration with A Walk in the Woods (2015). Newman declined due to the physical demands, and Nick Nolte took the part opposite Redford.

Off set, the friendship endured. They lived near each other in Connecticut and shared humor, family moments, and an ease that came from decades of trust.

Redford once said, “We got to know each other’s flaws pretty well… and we’d try to surprise each other. It was so much fun.” Their brotherly love matched the legendary chemistry that audiences cherished on screen.