Robert Redford’s death on September 18, 2025, at the age of 89, prompted an outpouring of tributes to the iconic actor, director, and activist. But behind the public image of Hollywood royalty lay a family history marked by profound loss and resilience. Redford, who shared four children with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, navigated a life shadowed by tragedy, from the infancy of his firstborn son to the battles and eventual passing of his second.
The first heartbreak arrived with Scott Anthony Redford, born on September 1, 1959. Just two and a half months later, on November 19, 1959, Scott succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Redford, then only 21, and his wife, Lola, 20, were just beginning their lives and careers. He rarely spoke publicly about Scott’s death, explaining in his 2011 biography a preference for facing issues alone. “I was not into shared soul searching,” he wrote. In a 2017 interview with Esquire, he reflected on the trauma, acknowledging that such a loss “doesn’t get completely dismissed. It probably shows up in various small ways you’re not even aware of.” Scott is buried in Provo City Cemetery in Provo, Utah.
Following Scott’s death, the couple welcomed Shauna, James, and Amy. James’s birth was particularly fraught with danger. Both he and Lola nearly died during labor, and the newborn was diagnosed with hyaline membrane disease, a life-threatening condition affecting premature infants. His slow recovery prompted Redford to shift his career focus from theater to film, driven by a desire to provide financial security for his family.
Tragedy struck again in 1983 when Shauna’s boyfriend, Sidney Wells, was murdered while attending college. The case remained unsolved for years, deeply impacting the entire family. Robert Redford reportedly left a film set to attend Wells’ funeral, and James served as a pallbearer, visibly distraught according to reports.
Just a year later, in 1984, Shauna herself faced a near-fatal accident, losing control of her car and plunging into the Jordan River. Quick-thinking witnesses rescued her from drowning, an act of bravery that family members publicly acknowledged with gratitude. The incident reportedly helped Shauna overcome a period of deep depression.
James Redford battled chronic health issues throughout his life, beginning with ulcerative colitis in his teens, eventually requiring the removal of his colon. He underwent two liver transplants, the second of which proved successful. He became a vocal advocate for organ donation, channeling his personal experience into a public platform. Despite periods of recovery, his health continued to decline, and he died of bile duct cancer in 2020 at the age of 58. The family released a brief statement following his death, requesting privacy.
Robert Redford’s passing in 2025 brought renewed attention to his family’s history. In the wake of his death, unauthorized AI-generated images and fabricated tributes circulated online, prompting his daughter, Amy Redford, to publicly appeal for people to respect the family’s grief and refrain from creating false memorials. Her plea highlighted a fresh dimension of loss in the digital age – the intrusion of fabricated mourning and the challenge of protecting private grief from public manipulation.
