The View kicked off Tuesday’s broadcast with a touching tribute to the late actor Robert Redford, who passed away that morning at the age of 89.

Whoopi Goldberg broke the news as soon as she and her co-hosts took their seats at the top of the broadcasts.

“Right before we went on air, we learned about the passing of one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading men and a tireless activist, environmentalist and philanthropist: The fabulous Robert Redford,” she announced, earning some shocked gasps from the audience.

Redford reportedly passed away in his sleep the morning of Sept. 16 at his Utah home.

Joy Behar and Sara Haines recounted some of the actor’s most iconic roles, including The Way We Were starring Barbara Streisand, All The President’s Men and Indecent Proposal, amongst others.

Sunny Hostin also praised the actor’s climate activism.

“I was really struck by his work on climate change and his work in that space,” she said. “He knew that it would be a problem before I think many people paid attention to it and that says something about caring for the world that he would leave behind.”

Goldberg revealed that she once had the opportunity to spend time with Redford at Sophia Loren’s 80th birthday party, almost 10 years ago.

“As a kid, as I’ve said, since 1962 I’ve been watching this man. And getting to talk to him about movies, and just all the things, and of course the Sundance Film Festival, he was extraordinary and truly will be missed,” Goldberg said.

“But this is what actors do,” she continued. “And people always say, ‘Why are you in the middle of this? Why are you talking about this?’ Because we’re also Americans, we’re also part of the fabric.”

Goldberg concluded her tribute to Redford with a final farewell.

“There was nobody like him,” she said, before looking up to the sky and adding, “Sail on, my friend.”

The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.