Robert Redford Lost Both Sons: The Story of Two of the Darkest Days of His Life
- Robert Redford was blessed with two sons and two daughters; sadly, he lost both sons.
- The actor said losing his sons was traumatic and the grief immeasurable.
- Today, Robert is retired, but even in his retirement, he is still involved in film production.
Robert Redford arrives at the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 12, 2014. | Source: Getty Images
Robert Redford and his wife, Sibylle Szaggars, married on July 11, 2009. The couple, who have been married for 14 years, share no kids. However, Robert and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, were blessed with four kids.
Sibylle Szaggars and Robert Redford at the Cesar Film Awards 2019 at Salle Pleyel in Paris, France, on February 22, 2019. | Source: Getty Images
The pair had two sons, Scott and James, and two daughters, Shauna and Amy. Robert has lived a full life filled with love. However, he is no stranger to heartbreak, loss, and grief, as two of his sons passed away.
Robert Redford poses after he received the Legion d’honneur at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on October 14, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
The actor’s firstborn son, Scott, born on November 19, 1959, died when he was a baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Robert was only 21 and Lola 20 when their child died. Scott’s death hit them hard. The actor confessed:
“It’s pretty traumatic when it happens, particularly when you’re that young. You’re not equipped to deal with it.”
Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen attend the 53rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, circa 1981. | Source: Getty Images
Still, Lola and Robert, who divorced in 1985, had to learn to live with the loss and pain. The duo buried their son in Provo City Cemetery in Provo, Utah. They moved on and had other kids, but the actor reiterated that something like losing a child “doesn’t get completely dismissed.” After losing Scott when he was just two and a half months old, Lola and Robert were hit with another tragedy years later.
