Jane Fonda wishes she had been the one to pay tribute to Robert Redford during the Oscars In Memoriam segment
After Barbra Streisand got to make the tribute, actress Jane Fonda has said she wishes she had been the one to pay tribute to Robert Redford during the In Memoriam segment at the 98th Academy Awards.
Jane Fonda wishes she had been the one to pay tribute to Robert Redford during the In Memoriam segment at the 98th Academy Awards.
The actress, 88, spoke after the ceremony about the moment when Barbra Streisand appeared on stage to honour Robert Redford, who died on 16 September 2025 aged 89.
The tribute formed part of the annual In Memoriam segment at the Oscars ceremony, which was hosted by Conan O’Brien. Barbra had previously starred alongside Robert in the 1973 romantic drama The Way We Were, directed by Sydney Pollack, who died aged 73.
Jane, however, shared the screen with Robert in four films across several decades, including The Tall Story, The Chase, Barefoot in the Park and Our Souls at Night.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at an Oscars night party, Jane joked about the decision to have Barbra deliver the tribute.
She said: “I want to know how come Streisand was up there doing that for Redford?
“(She) only made one movie with him, I made four! I have more to say.”
Jane also spoke warmly about Robert, describing the impact he had on her life and on the film industry.
Jane said: “I was always in love with him. The most gorgeous human being and such great values.”
The actress added: “And he did a lot for movies, he really changed movies, lifted up independent movies.”
During the ceremony, Barbra paid tribute to Robert before performing a rare live rendition of the song The Way We Were, more than a decade after she last sang it at the Oscars in honour of composer Marvin Hamlisch.
Reflecting on their collaboration during the tribute, Barbra spoke about the experience of working with Robert on the film.
Barbra said: “He was a brilliant, subtle actor.”
She added: “And we had a wonderful time playing off each other because we never quite knew what the other one was going to do in the scene.”
Jane and Robert’s collaborations included the 1960 comedy The Tall Story, the 1966 drama The Chase, the 1967 romantic comedy Barefoot in the Park and 2017’s Netflix film Our Souls at Night.
When Robert died, Jane shared a statement reflecting on their friendship.
She said: “It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying.”
The actress added: “He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”
Speaking again to Entertainment Tonight, Jane also reflected on the wider In Memoriam segment at the ceremony.
Jane said: “We lost a lot of really talented people.”
The actress was also asked about the ceremony’s tribute to Diane Keaton, which was led by Rachel McAdams.
Jane said she had not seen the moment during the broadcast.
She added: “But her passing hit me really hard.”
The Oscars segment also remembered figures including Rob Reiner, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Catherine O’Hara, Val Kilmer and Robert Duvall.
