Iain Armitage, known for his breakout role in Young Sheldon, mourns the passing of beloved Hollywood legend Robert Redford.
The teen star joins the list of celebrities who are expressing their sorrow and sharing a heartfelt tribute filled with fond memories of working alongside the veteran actor.
In a post on Instagram, the 17-year-old reflected on his childhood experiences with Redford and revealed what the late star was truly like behind the camera.
Armitage posted a throwback photo of himself and Redford from the behind-the-scenes filming of their 2017 movie Our Souls at Night, which also starred Jane Fonda.
The post also features his handwritten note to the award-winning actor and director, expressing gratitude for the 89-year-old star’s genuine kindness and the honor of working alongside him.
Apart from the adorable photos, the former child star posted a lengthy message recalling his fond memories of working with him on the set.
“Thinking of the work families and especially the real family of Robert Redford today. Almost a decade ago, I got to work with him on a small movie filmed in Colorado Springs. The whole experience felt like a dream. It’s hard to explain how important watching legends like Jane Fonda and Robert Redford was to me, but even at that age, I knew it was crucial and wrote about it to him in the note I’ve posted here. The crew called him Bob, but that seemed too informal, so I stuck with “Mr Robert,’” the post reads.
Armitage also described himself as a “lucky kid” for being able to enjoy simple childhood joys on set — from playing with trains to fishing, baseball and more.
“My main memory, though, was that he was kind to me. I was a lucky kid who got to roast marshmallows, go fishing, play baseball and assemble toy trains with Robert Redford in a beautiful part of the world. I am grateful for it and will never forget it,” the actor added.
Lastly, the Big Little Lies actor reflected on the lessons he learned working with Redford.
“Dear Mr. Robert, It has been a pleasure to work with you! I’ve learned so much from watching you! Sometimes when you don’t even know it, I am watching and learning…My best memory is when we played the train set together…Thank you for being so nice to me. I am so proud to know you!… Love, Iain.”
The Oscar-winning actor passed away Tuesday at his home “at Sundance in the mountains of Utah – the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved” — his publicist Cindi Berger shared, according to BBC.
