Robert Redford, 88, Lost Two Sons but Found Love Again — Inside His Powerful Family Journey
Robert Redford is a name that echoes through the halls of Hollywood history. With a career spanning over five decades, he’s been a leading man, a visionary director, and an environmental activist. But behind the fame and accolades is a deeply personal story of loss, resilience, and a second chance at love.
Now 88 years old, Redford’s legacy isn’t just measured by his films—it’s written in the quiet strength with which he navigated life’s most painful chapters.
Early Years of Struggle and Tragedy
Before Robert Redford became a household name, he was a struggling artist and a young newlywed trying to make ends meet in New York City. He met Lola Van Wagenen, a bank teller, at just 21 years old. The two married in 1958 and welcomed their first child shortly after.
But tragedy struck early. Their five-month-old son died from sudden infant death syndrome in 1959. Redford later admitted the loss nearly broke them. “It was really tough,” he said. “You don’t just get over something like that.”
Despite their heartbreak, the couple went on to have three more children—Shauna, Jamie, and Amy.
Raising a Family Amid a Rising Career
As Redford’s film career soared with roles in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men, his personal life remained a grounding force. He stayed dedicated to his family, often shielding them from the public eye.
But the hardships didn’t end there. His son Jamie battled chronic health issues for decades. Diagnosed with colitis that led to cirrhosis, Jamie required two liver transplants in the 1990s. Redford was directing Quiz Show in New York at the time, flying to Omaha every weekend to be at his son’s bedside.
Though Jamie survived the transplants, he tragically passed away in 2020 from bile-duct cancer. He was 58.
A Pain Few Can Understand
Redford has rarely spoken publicly about these personal losses, preferring to grieve privately. But those close to him describe a man deeply devoted to his family, even through heartbreak.
“People think it’s been easy for me,” Redford once said. “The hardest thing in the world is when your children have problems.”
For Redford, being a father was his proudest role. “The children. They’re the best thing in my life,” he stated.
A New Chapter: Finding Love Again
In the late 1990s, Redford met Sibylle Szaggars, a German-born environmental artist. Their connection grew slowly and naturally, rooted in shared passions for nature, art, and purpose.
Despite their 20-year age gap, the pair complemented each other deeply. In 2009, they married in a quiet ceremony after more than a decade together. Sibylle’s career in eco-conscious art spans continents, and together, they’ve created powerful multimedia works such as The Way of the Rain—a blend of music, poetry, and environmental awareness.
“She’s younger than I am and European, which I like,” Redford said with a smile in one interview. “That’s a whole new life.”
Still Creating, Still Inspiring
Even in his late 80s, Redford remains active. He appeared onscreen in 2025 for a special cameo in Dark Winds and continues producing environmentally conscious projects with Sibylle.
Whether he’s riding horses, skiing, or narrating climate-focused films, Redford’s spirit remains youthful and passionate. He’s still affectionately known as “Bo-Pa” to his grandchildren, a title he holds dear—just don’t call him “grandfather.” “It feels like some old guy in a robe,” he once joked.
A Legacy Built on More Than Fame
From immense sorrow to personal triumph, Redford’s life is a reminder that even icons carry invisible burdens. His story is not just one of success but one of survival—of staying soft through sorrow, of evolving beyond pain, and of finding beauty in life’s second acts.
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