A Jewish Girl's Lifelong Love Affair with Robert Redford

The passing of Hollywood legend Robert Redford at 89 has unleashed a flood of memories about the golden-haired heartthrob who defined an era of cinema. From his early appearance on The Twilight Zone playing Death to his unforgettable performances in classics like "Barefoot in the Park," "The Way We Were," and "The Sting," Redford embodied the quintessential American dreamboat that captured hearts across generations.

For a Jewish girl from Brooklyn, Redford represented something particularly special – the ultimate "shaggitz boy" fantasy with his striking blonde hair and mesmerizing blue eyes. That archetype of the non-Jewish heartthrob extended to other stars like Paul Newman, Troy Donahue, and the handsome faces of Warner Brothers productions like "77 Sunset Strip." When Redford and Newman appeared together in "The Sting," it created a perfect storm of charisma that left audiences swooning. The 1973 release of "The Way We Were" opposite Barbra Streisand further cemented Redford's status as the golden boy whose mere presence was magnetic.

This heartfelt tribute explores how celebrity crushes shape our understanding of desire and attraction – how the fantasy of blue-eyed, blonde-haired leading men informed not just entertainment preferences but personal dreams. Redford's legacy lives on not just in his impressive filmography but in the hearts of those who dared to dream about him from the darkness of movie theaters across America. His passing marks the end of an era when movie stars truly felt larger than life, leaving behind memories of a man who was, without question, truly loved. What actors captured your heart and imagination during your formative years? Share your memories and join us in celebrating the dreamboats who defined Hollywood's golden age.

Chapters

• 0:17 Robert Redford's Passing
• 0:46 Blonde Dreamboats of the 60s
• 1:31 My Type: Blue-Eyed Blonde Men
• 3:23 Remembering Redford
• 4:43 Message of Love and Acceptance

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:17

So it's a sad day. Today. One of my dream boats, true dream boats from the 60s, has passed Robert Redford. Oh, did I have a crush on him. Oh my God, I think the first time I saw him was on the Twilight Zone, where he played Death. Gladys Cooper was dying. She lived in this like little rat hole underneath and was so afraid to die she wouldn't let him in. Mr death. Oh my god, was he gorgeous with that blonde hair, barefoot in the park. The only reason I went to see that movie was him, nobody else, sorry, jane fonda or jane fondle or whatever.

Speaker 1: 1:02

Oh, and then memory like the corners of my mind. Oh God, barbra Streisand. I was Barbra Streisand and I was with Robin Redford. I mean, what Jewish girl truthfully did not love a Shaggitz boy? Our dream, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Shaggitz, my dream man. Of course, paul Newman was also my dream man, and when the two of them were in the sting together, oh my God, I died and went to heaven. I mean, that was one. My God, I died and went to heaven. I mean, that was one.

Speaker 1: 1:48

All blue-eyed, blonde-haired men were my dream boats. I don't know why. I liked Adam Hunter. So what if he was gay? He was my still. He was my dream boat back in the 50s, you know. And Robert Redford, paul Newman, all those blonde, gorgeous, blue-eyed men, oh, that was my dream, they were my dream men. And Robert Redford was always my dream man, right from the beginning of when. I saw him in the movies and absolutely, you know, loved him, and I'm sad today.

Speaker 1: 2:19

So I thought I would talk about my love of blonde-haired, blue-eyed men. That's always been my type, although I didn't know no, excuse me I married my second husband, dennis, blonde-haired, blue eyes, not Jewish, gorgeous, just gorgeous. He was gorgeous back in the day. I don't know what he looks like now, I haven't seen him in a hundred years, but he was gorgeous back then. This is my homage, though, to Robert Redford. Oh my God, when I saw the way we were in 1973, with Stryfe and had the big curly hair like me, and oh my God that I dreamed that I would be stride there and of course she went overboard, always pushing herself to get the guy when you know he could have just been there and who can't, right? Oh, I love that movie. I love that movie. So my homage to robert redford.

Speaker 1: 3:23

You know, it's like it's a sad day for me and I talked about it on tiktok how my love of blonde hair, blue-eyed men that was my thing. I always had had a crush like Troy Donahue, blonde Hair, blue Eye, all those guys were, so, you know, gorgeous to me. And on 77 Sunset Strip right, loved all those Warner Brothers gorgeous guys. They were my dream boys. What a little girl from Brooklyn, a little Jewish girl from Brooklyn, could be with those gorgeous men. See, that was the fantasy I had when I was a kid. No other fantasy just to be with gorgeous, blonde-haired, blue wives. Blonde hair and blue wives, blonde hair and blue wives. Blonde hair and blue wives, blonde hair and blue eyes. That's for me.

Speaker 1: 4:23

Anyway, I just thought I'd do a quick one today in honor of Robert Redford. Wow, you know, 89 years young to me anyway, I don't know what happened to him, I only know that I will remember him forever and ever and ever and wow. So anyway, and if nobody told you they love you today, I love you because you're you. So be yourself, whoever that is boy, girl, gay, lesbian, straight, you know, trans, drag, whatever and I love you all very much. Have a fabulous day and, robert Redford, rest in peace. You are loved.