Behind the glitz and glamor of Robert Redford’s celebrated career lies a story of unimaginable personal loss. The iconic actor faced heart-wrenching tragedies with the deaths of two of his children. Discover how these devastating events shaped the life of one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars.
Amidst his illustrious career, Robert Redford has faced profound personal loss. The joy of parenthood for him and his first wife turned to heartbreak with the sudden death of their infant son. Later, they faced more sorrow with another son’s long health struggles and untimely passing.
The loss of his children profoundly impacted Robert, shaping his personal and professional life. Each tragedy brought deep sorrow and immense challenges, influencing his outlook and roles.
This article explores the details of Robert’s enduring love for his children and the unimaginable losses he faced. It also shows how these experiences have intertwined with his storied career and legacy.
James Redford, Robert Redford, and Shauna Redford on September 27, 2017, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Robert Redford and His Career
Born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Robert Redford, now 84, is a retired American actor and filmmaker. During his youth, Robert was a bit of a troublemaker, stealing hubcaps in high school and losing his college baseball scholarship at the University of Colorado because of his drinking habits.
However, his talent for caricature in high school eventually led him to pursue a serious study of art. After high school, he traveled around Europe for a year, hitchhiking, living in youth hostels, and leading the painter’s life.
Eventually, he realized that his artwork was unoriginal and not very good. Robert moved back to New York to study theatrical design at the Pratt Institute of Art. By the end of 1960, he was acting on Broadway in several plays, including “Barefoot in the Park,” which made him famous.
His experience on TV and stage, combined with his all-American good looks, paved the way for film roles and a breakthrough performance in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) when he was 33.
American actors Katharine Ross and Robert Redford in “Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid,” circa 1969 | Source: Getty Images
“The Way We Were” (1973) and “The Sting” (1973) propelled Robert to the top of the box office for the next three years. Leveraging his influence, he supported environmental causes and invested in Utah property, transforming it into a ranch and the Sundance ski resort.
Robert’s first film as a director, “Ordinary People” (1980), garnered him the Academy Award for Best Director in 1981. He returned to directing eight years later with the adaptation of John Nichols’ acclaimed novel “The Milagro Beanfield War” (1988).
In 1992, he impressed both critics and fans with “A River Runs Through It,” and followed it with “Quiz Show” in 1994, earning another Best Director nomination. His last major movie role was in “The Old Man & the Gun,” a 2018 crime/comedy.
In this film, he played Forrest Tucker, an infamous criminal and escape artist who breaks out of San Quentin State Prison in his old age and embarks on a crime spree. He also played Alexander Pierce in “Avengers: Endgame” (2019).
Actor Robert Redford and actress Sissy Spacek on September 20, 2018, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Robert has earned numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2002, he received the Academy Honorary Award, and in 2019, he was honored with the Honorary César.
He was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1994 and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1996. Additionally, he bagged the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
His Family Life: Tragedies and Triumphs
Robert married Lola Van Wagenen on August 9, 1958. The couple had four children together: Scott, Shauna, James, and Amy. Sadly, two of their children died, leaving a lasting impact on the family.
In 1959, Robert and Lola faced a heartbreaking loss when their five-month-old son, Scott, died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Reflecting on this tragic period, Robert recalled, “That was a tough hit. It was our first child. We were in New York and we were broke. It was really tough.”
Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen with their two kids, as seen on June 24, 1971 | Source: Getty Images
During an interview, Robert opened up about the grief and the enduring pain of losing Scott. “How does that show up in my work? I don’t know. I was only 21; my wife was 20. We were just starting our lives; I was just starting my career in New York. Of course, it was traumatic, and how that plays out over time, I don’t know.”
“We had to deal with it…But something like that doesn’t get completely dismissed. It probably shows up in various small ways you’re not even aware of…But it’s pretty traumatic when it happens, particularly when you’re that young. You’re not equipped to deal with it,” concluded Robert.
Robert and Lola’s third child, David James, known affectionately as Jamie, was born in May 1962. Throughout his life, James faced numerous health challenges. As Robert once shared, his son “suffered the furies” of ill health.
Debilitating colitis led to cirrhosis, and in 1993, James underwent a liver transplant. Unfortunately, the first surgery was unsuccessful, and during the filming of “Quiz Show,” Robert would fly each weekend to Omaha, where James awaited a second transplant.
Robert Redford and son James Redford in Hollywood, California, on November 8, 2003 | Source: Getty Images
James underwent a second operation, which brought more complications. Despite these struggles, Robert mentioned that James eventually recovered, saying, “But now he’s fine.”
The family faced additional turmoil in 1984 when their daughter Shauna, grieving the murder of her longtime boyfriend Sidney Wells, crashed her car into the Jordan River.
A local resident, Dorine Staker Rivers, rescued Shauna, and Robert reportedly expressed his gratitude to her when they met at the premiere of “The Natural” (1984). “Saying thanks just isn’t enough,'” she remembered him saying. “I believe [Robert] was at a loss for words. He was just being a dad at that point.”
On October 16, 2020, James’ wife, Kyle Redford, announced on X that her husband had passed away from bile-duct cancer in his liver at their home in Marin County. He was 58. “Jamie died today. We’re heartbroken. He lived a beautiful, impactful life & was loved by many,” she wrote.
“He will be deeply missed. As his wife of 32 yrs, I’m most grateful for the two spectacular children we raised together,” said Kyle, concluding her poignant post.
Losing another son was devastating for Robert, Lola, and their other children. The “All Is Lost” actor stayed close to his family following James’ death. A spokesperson for Robert, Cindi Berger, told People at the time that the sorrow of losing a child was beyond measure.
She described James as a devoted son, husband, and father whose legacy endured through his children, his work in art and filmmaking, and his passionate commitment to conservation and the environment.
James was a filmmaker who faced health challenges from a young age. He was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a rare autoimmune disease affecting the liver.
James Redford, as seen on November 8, 2003 | Source: Getty Images
Following two liver transplants in 1993, Jamie established the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness, a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about organ and tissue donation.
In 2005, he and his father co-founded The Redford Center, a nonprofit organization that produces films and provides grants to filmmakers focusing on climate change and environmental issues. James is survived by his wife, Kyle, and their two children, Dylan and Lena.
About Robert Redford’s Other Children
Robert and Lola’s elder daughter, Shauna Jean Redford, was born in November 1960. She pursued a career in painting and has maintained a private life away from the public eye.
Shauna married Eric Matthew Schlosser in October 1958 on the lawn of her parents’ home in Provo, Utah. She’s a graduate of the University of Colorado, while Eric is a cum laude graduate of Princeton University.
Robert Redford and Shauna Redford, as seen on November 17, 1983 | Source: Getty Images
Eric holds a Master of Literature degree from Oriel College, Oxford. He is a successful writer and producer, known for his work on “Fast Food Nation” and “Command and Control.” The couple has two children and remains married to this day.
The youngest of Robert and Lola’s children, Amy Hart Redford, was born in October 1970. Like her father, Amy has built a diverse career in the entertainment industry as an actress, director, and producer. She made her directorial debut with “The Guitar,” featuring Saffron Burrows.
Amy also produced the feature film “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women.” Currently, Amy is working on several projects, including “Claude and the Birthday Cake” and “Roost.”
She is a producer for the documentary series “The Lincoln Project” on Showtime and is developing two docu-series focused on LGBTQ+ youth and homelessness in Utah. Moreover, Amy is working on the podcast series “Scrappy Broads” as both host and producer.
Director Amy Redford on June 2, 2015, in Culver City, California | Source: Getty Images
Amy has directed and produced multiple music videos, and she has appeared in various film and television roles, such as “Sunshine Cleaning,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” and “The Sopranos.”
Her theater work includes performances in “Bhutan” and “The Shape of Things.” Amy resides in Los Angeles with her husband and their three daughters. In a 2008 interview, she reflected on her relationship with her father, saying:
“I am able to talk to my dad in a way a lot of people can’t — he still drives me nuts, he’s still my dad, but I have to say, in light of what his universe was, he had his eye on the ball in terms of having kids, and part of that was being raised in Manhattan.”
Robert Redford as a Doting Dad and His Last Public Appearance
Robert has always cherished his role as a father. In a 1998 interview, he shared, “People think it’s been easy for me. That’s hard to live with. It’s so untrue. The hardest thing in the world is when your children have problems.”
Shauna Redford, Amy Redford, and Robert Redford on June 6, 1980, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
“I’ve made some interesting movies, and I’ve been very satisfied with the work, but if someone wrapped it all up and said to me, ‘What’s your greatest achievement?’ I’d say, ‘The children. They’re the best thing in my life,'” stated the doting dad.
On October 29, 2021, Robert attended the 14th annual Planetary Health Awards ceremony organized by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. This happened to be the “Out of Africa” actor’s last public appearance.
The event took place at the Salle des Princes in the Grimaldi Forum Monaco and recognized leading individuals and organizations committed to environmental conservation. Grants were awarded to IPCC students for climate change and soil research.
To mark the foundation’s 15th anniversary, the evening featured an exclusive environmental-themed performance titled “The Way of the Rain – Hope for Earth,” created by Robert’s second wife, Sibylle Szaggars Redford. The couple married in July 2009 and have been together ever since.
Robert Redford and Sibylle Szaggars on October 29, 2021, in Monaco | Source: Getty Images
Robert’s participation in this event highlighted his ongoing commitment to environmental causes, a passion he has championed throughout his career.
Through triumph and tragedy, Robert Redford’s life reflects a deep resilience and enduring love for his family. His personal losses have shaped not only his private world but also his public legacy.
