Hollywood star and indie film champ Robert Redford turns 80

Many actors find themselves in the directors' chair at some point during their career, though the outcome can vary. One of these actors is Robert Redford, who earned a solid reputation as an outstanding and charismatic actor - but not so much as a brilliant director.

Some critics consider the nine films he directed as the product of a side job of an actor who still had energy left over off camera.

Some of the films directed by Redford are perfectly crafted highly emotional melodramas, including his debut "Ordinary People" (1980), which was awarded an Oscar, "A River Runs Through It" (1992), "Quiz Show" (1994) and "The Horse Whisperer" (1998).

Political statements and commitment to social causes seem to dominate some of Redford's latest works, including "Lions for Lambs" (2007) and "The Company You Keep" (2012).

Redford's social commitment and critical awareness

There could be two reasons for Robert Redford's decision to become a director. Born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, he has always been an independent, autonomous and self-reliant person. His fame and success never drove him from one Hollywood party to the next.

Already at a young age, Redford focused on doing his own thing - by consciously choosing roles that had meaning for him, as well as the directors he worked with. His favorite director was Sydney Pollack with whom he worked a total of six times.

But then Redford came to realize that the only way he could fulfill his desire to do his own thing was to become a director himself. In some of these films, Redford acted as well, in others he left the acting to his colleagues.

A staunch supporter of the Democrats

Robert Redford has always been a politically and socially motivated person and a vocal support of the Democratic Party - which may be yet another reason for his huge success as an actor and director.

After all, it's not always easy to finance films that are critical of the political system, especially when expensive names are to play in them. That's probably why Redford felt an urge to take things into his own hands.

In the early 1980s, Redford's inner distance from Hollywood's superficiality and star cult motivated him to found a small indie film festival in Utah. What came to be known as the Sundance Film Festival in 1991 developed into an important and internationally renowned platform for independent movie-making.

Robert Redford, who celebrates his 80th birthday on August 18, is still known for his extraordinarily attractive, almost boyish looks - and for simply being a nice guy, both on and off the screen.