Robert Reed his Broadway stage debut as Paul Bratter in Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park", replacing Robert Redford. For the remainder of the decade, Reed appeared primarily in television guest spots, including roles in "Family Affair", "Ironside", "The Mod Squad", and "Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre". He also appeared in the 1968 film "Star!" and in the Broadway production of "Avanti!". Appearing in the Neil Simon play "Barefoot in the Park" led to two new contracts at Paramount Pictures and ABC, both in 1968. When Paramount had decided to turn the television version of "Barefoot in the Park" into a
Robert Redford the film rights for the book from Bryson after reading it more than a decade earlier, with the intent of costarring in it with Paul Newman, but had shelved the project after Newman's death. In August 2018, Redford announced his retirement from acting after completion of "The Old Man & the Gun", which was released in September 2018. Redford had long harbored ambitions to work on both sides of the camera. As early as 1969, Redford had served as the executive producer for "Downhill Racer". His first film as director was 1980's Best Picture winner "Ordinary People", a drama about