Robert Redford is basically the face of the American West. You know the look: the sandy hair, that squint against the sun, and a career that defined Hollywood for over half a century. But behind the Sundance Kid's effortless cool, there’s a story that is way more complicated and, honestly, much more tragic than most fans realize. The Robert Redford family history isn't just a tale of red carpets and Utah ranches; it’s a saga marked by profound loss, quiet resilience, and a legacy that his children are now desperately trying to protect.
Most people think of Redford and imagine a charmed life. He’s the guy who built an indie film empire from the dirt up in the Wasatch Mountains. But if you look closer, you'll see a man who spent his life running from the "movie star" label to be a present father, only to face the kind of grief that would break most people.
The Tragedies That Shaped the Redford Legacy
It’s a heavy thing to talk about, but you can’t understand the Robert Redford family without talking about Scott. In 1959, Robert and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, were just starting out. They were young, broke, and living in a walk-up in New York. Their first son, Scott Anthony Redford, was only two and a half months old when he died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Back then, nobody talked about SIDS. There were no support groups or awareness campaigns. Redford once mentioned in a rare interview with People that the loss was a "tough hit" and that, as a young father, he felt a massive sense of guilt and confusion. It’s the kind of scar that never really fades. He dived into his work to cope, which is a classic Redford move—turning internal pain into external creation.
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Then, decades later, lightning struck twice. His son David James, who everyone called "Jamie," became the soul of the family’s activism. Jamie was a filmmaker and an environmentalist, just like his dad. But he struggled with health issues his entire life, eventually undergoing two liver transplants in the 90s.
In October 2020, Jamie passed away from bile duct cancer at age 58. Losing a child once is unfathomable. Losing a second one when you’re in your 80s? It’s the kind of thing that shifts your entire perspective on what "success" actually means. When Robert Redford himself passed away in September 2025 at the age of 89, he left behind a family that had been through the absolute ringer.
Who Are the Surviving Members of the Redford Family?
While the tragedies often dominate the headlines, the surviving members of the Robert Redford family are powerhouses in their own right. They aren’t your typical "Hollywood brats." They’ve mostly stayed out of the tabloids, choosing instead to focus on art and the environment.
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Shauna Redford: The Painter
Shauna is the eldest daughter, born in 1960. She’s an incredibly talented painter, but she’s always been the most private member of the clan. You won’t see her chasing fame. She married Eric Schlosser—the guy who wrote Fast Food Nation—back in 1985. They’ve lived a relatively quiet life, raising two kids, Mica and Conor. Honestly, Shauna seems to have inherited her father’s "loner" streak. She lets her art do the talking.
Amy Redford: Carrying the Creative Torch
Amy is the youngest, born in 1970. She’s probably the most "public" of the siblings because she followed Robert into the industry. She’s an actress and a director, with credits on The Sopranos and Sex and the City. But she’s also a director, recently making waves with her film Roost.
Amy has been very vocal about the pressure of the Redford name. She once told HER Magazine that she had to learn to "inhabit the world of the whole story" as a director, rather than just being a face on screen. She’s also a mom to three daughters, including Eden, and she’s been a central figure in keeping the Sundance Institute running as her father stepped back in his later years.
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Sibylle Szaggars: The Final Chapter
We can't forget Sibylle. She’s Robert’s second wife, a German-born multimedia artist. They met in the late 90s and married in 2009. What’s cool about Sibylle is that she didn’t really know who Redford was when they first met—or at least, she wasn’t impressed by the fame. They shared a deep, almost spiritual connection to nature and art. She founded "The Way of the Rain," a nonprofit that uses performance art to talk about climate change. She was his rock during the final two decades of his life, especially during the loss of Jamie.
The Grandkids and the Future of Sundance
There are seven grandchildren in the Robert Redford family, and they are the ones truly carrying the legend into the 2020s.
- Dylan Redford: Jamie’s son is a filmmaker and producer. He’s been very active in the Redford Center, ensuring his father's environmental work continues.
- Conor Schlosser: Shauna’s son, who recently shared some beautiful, never-before-seen photos of "Grandpa" after Robert's passing, reminding everyone that to them, he wasn't a legend—he was just the guy who told them stories in the Utah mountains.
- Lena Redford: Another of Jamie's children, she’s been a constant presence in the family's artistic circles.
The "next steps" for this family are massive. They are currently transitioning the Sundance Institute into a new era. For years, Robert was the face of it, but now Amy and Shauna are taking the lead. They aren't just trying to keep a film festival alive; they’re trying to maintain a philosophy that film can change the world.
How to Follow the Redford Legacy Today
If you're looking to connect with what the Robert Redford family stands for, don't just re-watch Butch Cassidy. Look at what they are doing now.
- Support The Redford Center: This is where the real work happens. They fund environmental documentaries that actually lead to policy changes.
- Explore Sibylle’s Art: Her work with The Way of the Rain is a beautiful intersection of environmentalism and high art.
- Watch Amy Redford’s Work: If you want to see the "Redford sensibility" in a modern context, her directorial projects are the place to start.
The story of the Redford family is a reminder that even the biggest icons face the same human heartbreaks as the rest of us. They’ve turned their grief into a massive engine for good, proving that a family legacy isn't about the name—it's about the work you leave behind.