Robert Redford says getting his entire family in one place at one time can be a challenge.
“We don’t come together that easy,” the actor said at the Film Society of Lincoln Center Chaplin Award ceremony, where he was honored with the prestigious prize as his wife, three children, their spouses and lots of grandkids looked on.
“It’s the only time I can get everybody together,” the 78-year-old actor said ahead of the Monday night affair. “All of them coming here was a shock, but a wonderful shock.”
Redford said the Manhattan ceremony had a special meaning to him.
“I think it has a lot to do with the fact that this is where my career started, in New York City — in the theater — and because that’s the root of my beginnings,” he said.
The award was presented to Redford by his “The Way We Were” co-star, Barbra Streisand, herself a past Chaplin recipient.
Redford said his family affair will continue next month, when he’ll give the commencement address at a grandson’s graduation at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
“I’m looking forward to that,” said Redford. “I’m mostly looking forward to him graduating because I didn’t graduate from anything.”
Besides receiving the Lincoln Center’s 42nd annual Chaplin Award, Redford was celebrated with a seven-film tribute. Screened over April 24-27 were his “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” ‘’The Candidate,” ‘’Jeremiah Johnson,” ‘’Ordinary People” ‘’Quiz Show,” ‘’Three Days of the Condor” and “The Way We Were.”
Previous receipients of the Chaplan Award, named after the legendary Charlie Chaplin, include Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart and Meryl Streep. Last year, it was given to Rob Reiner.
Upcoming films for the 78-year-old Redford include the Bill Bryson memoir adaption “A Walk in the Woods” and the Dan Rather docudrama “Truth.”
