SLO County sheriff once worked security for Robert Redford in Morro Bay
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson was only 19 or 20 years old when he was given a dream assignment: Work security for Robert Redford.
Parkinson said he was about a year into his law enforcement career for the Morro Bay Police Department when he was given the assignment to protect the Hollywood legend and two-time Oscar winner, who died on Tuesday at age 89.
“I was probably at the right place at the right time, but they asked if I’d be willing to do it,” Parkinson recalled. “I said, ‘Yes, of course.’ Who wouldn’t want to meet Robert Redford?”
Parkinson did not recall exactly why Redford was in Morro Bay in August 1985 but did know Redford’s visit had something to do with the environment. According to reporting from the Telegram-Tribune at the time, Redford was in town “to attend a hush-hush conference between the offshore oil industry and environmental groups.”
In addition to being a movie star and filmmaker, Redford was also known for his environmental activism.
According to the Telegram-Tribune, groups who attended the meeting denied Redford attended the conference at the Inn despite several witnesses seeing him.
Parkinson grew up watching Redford in movies, adding that “The Sting” was the first big Redford movie he could remember seeing that also made the largest impression on him.
Parkinson said he worked security for Redford for two days as the actor stayed and attended meetings at the Inn at Morro Bay.
He would walk Redford to and from his hotel room to his meeting room multiple times each day.
“If you see Robert, he dresses fairly impeccably, just very nicely dressed,” Parkinson said. “But he had a propensity to change his clothes multiple times during the day.”
Parkinson said Redford would be in a new fashionable outfit each time he exited the hotel room.
“He left an impression with me, and I walked away saying he’s a super nice guy, just super down to earth.”
Parkinson said he expected Redford to be strictly business and not want to talk to him much, but Redford happily small-talked with him about Morro Bay and even asked Parkinson if he was OK and offered to get him water after one of the meetings.
“I said, ‘No, I’m fine, thank you.’ But it kind of shows the kind of personality he had,” Parkinson said.
Parkinson said he was sad to hear the news of Redford’s passing, adding that based of their interactions he felt Redford was a genuine and caring person.
“We’ve lost several people that you grew up watching and you lose track of because they’re ageless for so many years,” Parkinson said. “It kind of dawns on you that this icon — and Robert Redford is definitely an icon — aged. ... It makes you feel like you’ve missed the last 20 years of somebody’s life when you haven’t seen them.”
This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 3:34 PM.
