Robert Redford Lost Both Sons: The Story of Two of the Darkest Days of His Life

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.

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.

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.\”

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.

On October 16, 2020, Robert and Lola lost their other son, James, who was born on May 5, 1962. As an adult, James had been diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, an illness that impacts the liver and bile ducts. Eventually, in 1993, James received two liver transplants.

The Redford Center also honors James with its work today.

However, in 2019, while he was waiting for another liver transplant, James was diagnosed with bile-duct cancer in his liver, and ultimately, he died. James\’ wife, Kyle Redford, announced on X that \”Jamie died today. We\’re heartbroken. He lived a beautiful, impactful life & was loved by many. He will be deeply missed.\”

James and Kyle were married for 32 years and were blessed with two kids: a son, Dylan, and a daughter, Lena. Kyle said she was grateful for the \”spectacular children\” she and her husband raised. She added that over the past two years, the kids supported them as James battled the cancer.

Robert\’s representative shared a statement from the actor to CNN after James died. The statement read, \”The grief is immeasurable with the loss of a child.\” James worked as a philanthropist, documentary filmmaker, and environmental activist. His father said his legacy would live on kids, art, filmmaking, and his devoted passion for conservation and the environment.

James had previously worked on documentaries with author Amy Tan. Amy, on her Facebook page, expressed being \”devastated\” by the death of her friend. Amy received James\’ latest documentary, \”Where the Past Begins,\” and sent him a response. Soon, she grew concerned when he didn\’t respond.

When she reached out to Kyle, she told Amy her email was the last James had read and the last time he had opened his computer due to his deteriorating health.