By Janelle Ash | Published: March 16, 2026
The morning after the 98th Annual Academy Awards, Hollywood icon Jane Fonda didn’t hold back her thoughts on the ceremony’s “In Memoriam” segment. Fonda playfully “took a dig” at the Academy’s decision to have Barbra Streisand introduce the tribute to the late Robert Redford, who passed away in September 2025. Fonda, who shared a professional partnership and deep friendship with Redford spanning over 50 years, joked that she was the more qualified candidate for the honor during an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. For those who missed the broadcast, a full ceremony recap by Variety covers the major highlights and social media reactions to the night’s biggest snubs and surprises.
The Conflict: Four Movies vs. One
While Barbra Streisand’s performance in the 1973 classic The Way We Were remains one of Redford’s most iconic on-screen pairings, Fonda was quick to point out the math of her own history with “Bob.”
“I want to know how come Streisand was up there doing that for Redford?” Fonda joked. “She only made one movie with him, I made four! I have more to say.”
The Fonda-Redford Legacy
Fonda and Redford’s collaborative history helped define Hollywood’s Golden Age through several decades, including films like Tall Story (1960), The Chase (1966), and the legendary Barefoot in the Park (1967). Their work together ended with the 2017 Netflix film Our Souls at Night, which marked 50 years of on-screen chemistry. Fans interested in the personal side of their relationship can read more about Fonda’s personal memories and her “strong opinion” regarding the Academy’s choice.
The Tribute: Streisand Honors an “Intellectual Cowboy”
During the Oscars on March 15, Streisand delivered a moving three-and-a-half-minute speech, describing Redford as an “intellectual cowboy who blazed his own trail.” She reflected on his initial reticence to play Hubbell Gardiner because the character “had no backbone.” The tribute culminated in a rare live performance as Streisand sang a portion of the film’s title track, marking her first time on the Oscar stage in 13 years. The Guardian’s coverage of the Streisand tribute describes the emotional weight of her performance and her final whispered “I love you too” to the late actor.
Remembering Robert Redford (1936–2025)
The Hollywood legend died at the age of 89 on September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah. Best known for classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, Redford was also the visionary founder of the Sundance Film Festival, which Fonda credited with “lifting up independent movies.” A look at Redford’s legacy as a Sundance visionary explores how he transformed Utah into a global hub for independent cinema. Following his death, his representative noted he passed away “surrounded by those he loved,” a fitting end for a man who famously valued the privacy of his Utah real estate and the mountains he loved.
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