Lead
At the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday night, Jane Fonda joked that she should have delivered the Oscars’ In Memoriam tribute to Robert Redford instead of Barbra Streisand. The exchange came after Streisand took the stage during the 98th Academy Awards to honor Redford, who died in September last year at age 89. Fonda told Entertainment Tonight she had a longer connection to Redford — four films versus Streisand’s one — and quipped that she ‘has more to say.’ The moment underscored both actresses’ long careers and the emotional resonance of the night’s remembrances.
Key Takeaways
- Jane Fonda told Entertainment Tonight at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party that she wished she had delivered the Oscars In Memoriam tribute to Robert Redford, noting she co-starred with him in four films.
- Barbra Streisand performed a segment of ‘The Way We Were’ during the televised In Memoriam at the 98th Academy Awards, honoring Redford, who died in September at age 89.
- Streisand and Redford co-starred in Sydney Pollack’s 1973 drama ‘The Way We Were,’ the song of which Streisand used in her tribute.
- Fonda and Redford worked together on The Chase (1966), Barefoot in the Park (1967), The Electric Horseman (1979) and Our Souls at Night (2017); Redford also appeared uncredited in Tall Story (1960).
- Both Fonda and Streisand posted public remembrances on Instagram after Redford’s death, praising his artistic influence and personal qualities.
- The 98th Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and were hosted by O’Brien; the telecast included the In Memoriam segment featuring Streisand’s tribute.
Background
Robert Redford was a towering figure in American cinema, celebrated for his on-screen performances and for founding the Sundance Institute, which has supported independent filmmakers for decades. His death in September at age 89 prompted tributes across the industry, from co-stars to institutions he helped elevate. In Hollywood, memorial segments at awards broadcasts are both a public gesture and a curated selection, with organizers often seeking performers who have an identifiable connection to the honoree. Streisand’s selection to sing during the Oscars reflected her high-profile association with Redford via The Way We Were, while Fonda’s history with Redford stretches across multiple films and eras.
Fonda and Streisand represent different but overlapping strands of Hollywood history: Streisand as a musical and theatrical star turned screen actor, and Fonda as an actor and activist with a long, varied filmography. Both women have publicly reflected on Redford’s professional craft and personal warmth since his passing. The Vanity Fair Oscar Party remains a prominent industry gathering where celebrities are asked to reflect on the night’s events; reporters from outlets like Entertainment Tonight often capture offstage reactions that contrast with the more formal moments in the broadcast. Those informal remarks can reveal competing memories of collaboration, affection and professional pride.
Main Event
During the Academy Awards telecast, Barbra Streisand appeared in the In Memoriam segment to honor Redford, delivering a brief, emotional musical tribute that included a portion of the title track from The Way We Were. In her remarks during that segment, Streisand described Redford as thoughtful, bold and one of the finest actors, noting his advocacy for causes and his influence on independent film. The televised tribute was presented as part of a wider sequence remembering figures from the industry who passed in the previous year.
At the Vanity Fair after-party later that night, reporters with Entertainment Tonight asked Fonda about Streisand’s televised moment. Fonda responded lightheartedly, questioning why Streisand had been chosen to deliver the televised honor when Fonda had a longer history of collaboration with Redford: ‘She only made one movie with him; I made four! I have more to say,’ she said, adding playful recollections about their friendship and his practical jokes.
Fonda also offered more earnest comments about Redford’s impact on cinema, saying she had ‘always been in love with him’ and praising his role in elevating independent film and supporting new voices. The exchange illustrated how public memorials can coexist with private remembrances: a televised, formal tribute performed by Streisand and an informal, personal reaction from Fonda among peers at the party.
Analysis & Implications
The interaction highlights the complicated choreography of public mourning in Hollywood. Award-show tributes necessarily balance star power, perceived legitimacy and broadcast pacing; organizers often select familiar faces and recognizable performances to convey emotion quickly to a large audience. Streisand’s single but iconic collaboration with Redford in The Way We Were gave her a clear musical and cinematic connection that translated easily to a televised musical tribute.
Fonda’s reaction underscores another consideration: long-term collaborators and friends may feel sidelined when high-profile moments are given to others. That dynamic can prompt discussion about how the industry recognizes relationships that span decades versus single, culturally resonant projects. The tension is not unique to this case and reflects broader questions about gatekeeping in ceremonial moments and who is chosen to represent communal grief.
For audiences and institutions, the episode may prompt reflection about preserving multiple narratives in remembrances — honoring both marquee pairings and sustained working relationships. Practically, it could influence how future In Memoriam segments are curated, with producers potentially weighing a wider set of personal testimonials alongside musical tributes to better represent the full range of an individual’s professional partnerships.
Comparison & Data
| Film | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Chase | 1966 | Co-starred Fonda and Redford |
| Barefoot in the Park | 1967 | Fonda and Redford; Fonda has referenced falling for him on set |
| The Electric Horseman | 1979 | Feature pairing of Fonda and Redford |
| Our Souls at Night | 2017 | Later-career collaboration |
| Tall Story | 1960 | Redford uncredited appearance |
The table above maps Fonda and Redford’s screen collaborations over five decades, illustrating both the longevity and intermittence of their professional relationship. Streisand’s noted on-screen partnership with Redford centers on The Way We Were (1973), a single but culturally enduring project that provides a distinct associative thread for a musical tribute.
Reactions & Quotes
‘I have more to say,’ Fonda told Entertainment Tonight, framing her comment with both humor and a recognition of her longer film collaboration with Redford.
Jane Fonda / Interview with Entertainment Tonight (entertainment outlet)
‘He was thoughtful and bold,’ Streisand said during the Oscars In Memoriam, praising Redford’s advocacy and cinematic contributions.
Barbra Streisand / Oscars In Memoriam (televised tribute)
‘Bob made a real difference in all good ways,’ Fonda wrote on Instagram after Redford’s death, reflecting on his influence and playful on-set moments.
Jane Fonda / Instagram (personal statement)
Unconfirmed
- Whether producers considered Jane Fonda to perform or speak during the Oscars In Memoriam has not been publicly confirmed by the Academy or broadcast producers.
- Any internal discussions about why Streisand was selected for the televised musical tribute have not been disclosed; details of the selection process remain private to organizers.
Bottom Line
The exchange between Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand over who should commemorate Robert Redford captures how public memorials intersect with personal histories in Hollywood. Streisand’s televised musical homage relied on cultural memory tied to The Way We Were, while Fonda’s longer list of collaborations produced a different, more sustained claim to shared history with Redford.
Both responses — the formal tribute and the offstage quip — are part of how the industry processes loss: through high-profile broadcasts that reach wide audiences and through informal, peer-to-peer recollections that surface in interviews and social media. For viewers and organizers alike, the moment may prompt a re-evaluation of how remembrances balance iconic associations with longstanding personal and professional bonds.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter (Entertainment news — original report)
- Entertainment Tonight (Broadcast/entertainment — interview coverage)
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Official — Oscars information)
- Vanity Fair (Event host — Oscar Party coverage)