Robert Redford, the legendary actor and filmmaker, passed away on Tuesday, September 16, at 89 years old. Throughout his life, Redford experienced profound personal losses, including the deaths of two of his sons, Scott and James, which deeply affected his family and shaped his outlook.
Remembering Scott: The Loss of Robert Redford’s First Son
Redford’s first son, Scott, was born on September 1, 1959, but tragically died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) just two and a half months later. The actor rarely discussed this painful event publicly, but in a 2017 Esquire U.K. interview, he opened up about the impact it had on him and his wife, Lola Van Wagenen.
I was only 21; my wife was 20. We were just starting our lives; I was just starting my career in New York. Of course, it was traumatic, and how that plays out over time, I don’t know,
Redford recalled.
We had to deal with it. You have to move on. And we had other children who came. But something like that doesn’t get completely dismissed. It probably shows up in various small ways you’re not even aware of.
Redford also revealed the difficulties he faced seeking therapy to cope with Scott’s death.
I tried a while back, two or three times. I found myself trying to psychoanalyze the analyst,
he said, underscoring the complicated nature of his grief.
James Redford’s Fight with Illness and His Father’s Reflections
James Redford, Robert’s third child, endured serious health challenges during his adult years after being diagnosed with a rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis. His medical journey included two liver transplants in 1993, which inspired James to raise awareness through the founding of the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness.
James also directed the 1999 documentary The Kindness of Strangers, exploring the lives of organ donors and recipients. Despite these efforts, James succumbed to bile-duct cancer in October 2020 at age 58. His wife, Kyle, shared on Twitter that he died surrounded by his family.
Following James’s death, Robert Redford’s representative told People magazine,
The grief is immeasurable with the loss of a child. Jamie was a loving son, husband and father. His legacy lives on through his children, art, filmmaking and devoted passion to conservation and the environment.
Robert reflected on the challenges of parenthood in a 1998 People cover story, stating,
People think it’s been easy for me. That’s hard to live with. It’s so untrue. The hardest thing in the world is when your children have problems,
adding,
If someone wrapped it all up and said to me, ‘What’s your greatest achievement?’ I’d say, ‘The children. They’re the best thing in my life.’
The Enduring Impact of Robert Redford’s Family Loss
Robert Redford’s experiences with the loss of his sons Scott and James reveal a profound dimension of his life beyond his Hollywood fame. These tragedies shaped not only his personal journey but also the legacy he leaves through his surviving family and ongoing support for causes like organ donation and environmental conservation. As the world remembers Redford’s remarkable career, his story also highlights the enduring strength found in facing family loss with resilience and love.
