Robert Redford’s Private Heartbreak: What He Said About the Deaths of His Two Sons

Robert Redford is often remembered as the quintessential American icon—a golden-haired star whose career spanned decades, bringing audiences unforgettable performances in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and The Great Gatsby. Yet behind the polished image of Hollywood glamour and Sundance Film Festival prestige lies a story of devastating loss.

Few know that Redford, who seemed to have everything—success, fame, and family—endured the unimaginable tragedy of losing not one, but two sons. His first son, Scott, died as an infant in 1959. More than sixty years later, in 2020, his son James passed away after a long battle with cancer. For Redford, these heartbreaks have left scars that fame and accomplishment could never erase. In rare interviews, the actor spoke with raw honesty about grief, resilience, and the holes that remain in the heart forever.

The Loss of Baby Scott

Robert Redford was just starting his career when he married his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, in 1958. Together, they welcomed their first child, Scott Anthony Redford, in September 1959. But the joy of new parenthood was tragically short-lived. Just two months after his birth, Scott died suddenly from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The loss devastated the young couple. At the time, Redford was still a struggling actor, working hard to build a career in theater and film. Losing his son while trying to find his footing in Hollywood left him shaken and forever changed. In later years, he reflected on how the tragedy altered his perspective on life:

“It leaves a hole that never fills,” he once admitted. “The pain stays with you, but you learn to carry it.”

Though rarely spoken of publicly, the death of baby Scott shaped Redford’s understanding of fragility and permanence. It was the first time he confronted mortality in such a personal, devastating way.

A Life in the Spotlight

Despite this private heartbreak, Redford’s career began to soar in the 1960s and 70s. His clean-cut looks, natural charisma, and versatility on screen quickly made him one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood. Audiences saw him as the embodiment of charm and confidence.

But Redford’s inner world remained marked by loss. Friends and collaborators often described him as thoughtful, sometimes even guarded, as though he kept part of himself always hidden. That hidden place, many now believe, was where he carried his grief.

Even at the height of his fame, he remained dedicated to his family. He and Lola went on to have three more children—Shauna, James, and Amy. For all the glitz of Hollywood, Redford worked to balance career with fatherhood, knowing too well the preciousness of time with his children.

James Redford: A Son’s Legacy

James Redford, known as “Jamie” to his family and friends, grew up to follow in his father’s creative footsteps, though he worked largely behind the camera. A documentary filmmaker, activist, and philanthropist, James made films that tackled issues such as health, the environment, and education.

But James’s life was shaped by health challenges. As a teenager, he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare liver disease that ultimately required him to undergo two liver transplants. These experiences inspired his lifelong commitment to health advocacy.

In 1995, James and his father co-founded the Redford Center, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental justice and storytelling. Together, they worked on projects that used film as a tool for social change.

Tragically, in October 2020, James passed away at the age of 58 following a battle with bile-duct cancer. For Robert Redford, then 84, the loss was a crushing blow.

Robert Redford’s Words on Grief

Though a deeply private man, Robert Redford has spoken occasionally about grief. After James’s death, a family spokesperson shared Redford’s devastation, noting he was “mourning with his family during this difficult time” and asking for privacy.

Earlier in his life, he had reflected more openly on the long shadow of losing children. “You don’t get over it,” he said of his first son’s death. “You learn to live with it.”

These candid words resonated with many who have endured similar heartbreak. For Redford, grief did not diminish his love for life or his ability to create art, but it did shape the contours of his identity. The man audiences saw smiling on red carpets and delivering powerful performances was also a father who had known deep sorrow.

Grief and Resilience

What emerges from Redford’s story is not only the tragedy of loss but the resilience of a man who carried it with dignity. Rather than retreating into bitterness, Redford channeled his pain into compassion and creativity. His work with the Redford Center and other philanthropic efforts reflected a deep awareness of life’s fragility and a desire to leave the world better than he found it.

Colleagues often remarked on his empathy and humility, qualities that made him beloved not just as an actor but as a leader and friend. It is no coincidence that his art often gravitated toward themes of survival, resilience, and moral struggle.

A Legacy Beyond Hollywood

Robert Redford’s name will forever be associated with cinematic classics, but his legacy extends far beyond Hollywood. He has become a symbol of endurance—someone who experienced unimaginable loss but continued to create, to inspire, and to give.

For his fans, the knowledge of his family tragedies adds a layer of depth to his public image. It reminds us that behind every glamorous façade is a human being with scars and stories unseen.

Conclusion: The Quiet Strength of a Father

Robert Redford rarely allowed the world into his private grief. Yet in the rare glimpses he offered—acknowledging the deaths of his sons Scott and James—he revealed a vulnerability that only deepened respect for him.

“It leaves a hole that never fills,” he said, and perhaps that is the most honest truth about loss. But in his life and work, Redford has shown how it is possible to carry grief with grace, to transform pain into empathy, and to honor those we lose by continuing to live fully.

For a man whose career has spanned decades, the roles he played on screen are only part of his story. Off screen, his quiet strength as a father who endured unthinkable sorrow is equally part of his legacy. And it is this blend of artistry and humanity that ensures Robert Redford’s place not only in Hollywood history but in the hearts of those who admire him.