Robert Redford’s first marriage to Lola Van Wagenen was a foundational period marked by early struggles, deep loss, and enduring commitment, unfolding during the late 1950s and lasting through the mid-1980s. This chapter in his life, involving love and hardship, helped shape the celebrated actor and director behind his public persona.
While the world honors Robert Redford for his cinematic achievements and environmental advocacy, his relationship with Lola was a critical part of his personal journey. Their marriage began when both were young and navigating uncertain futures, becoming a story of resilience amid challenges that paralleled Redford’s rapidly evolving career.
The Beginnings of a Young Marriage and Early Ambitions
Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen met when Robert was in his early twenties and still searching for his path as an artist and actor. Born and raised in Southern California in modest circumstances, Redford’s life was marked by early setbacks, including losing a college athletic scholarship due to heavy drinking. This motivated him to reinvent himself.
After a period in Europe pursuing art, Redford returned to the United States determined to succeed in acting. At about 20 years old, he met Lola, a 17-year-old college student from Utah, and soon married her in 1958. Their wedding took place as Redford decided to leave Los Angeles and begin a new chapter in New York City.
Lola, who was raised in a Mormon family, embraced this young, uncertain life with Redford despite their financial struggles. The couple started with just $300 between them and had to borrow a car to drive home after their ceremony. This leap of faith symbolized their commitment to building a future together in the midst of hardship.
They feared that I was going to go off the deep end, or that I would never amount to anything, or die at an early age. I wanted to prove them wrong,
Robert once shared.
Their early years were marked by frugality and financial strain. Living in New York, they managed on simple meals and scant resources, but Redford’s resolve to succeed in both his career and marriage was unwavering.
Enduring Heartbreak in the Early Years of Marriage
The couple faced tragedy soon after their wedding. In 1959, their first child, a son, died of sudden infant death syndrome when he was only five months old. At 20 and 21 years old, Lola and Robert confronted a loss that forced them into premature adulthood and tested their resilience during a time when Redford’s career was still in flux.
It was really hard. We were very young. I had my first theater job, which didn’t pay much. We didn’t know anything about SIDS, so the only thing you think is that you’ve done something wrong. As a parent, you tend to blame yourself. That creates a scar that probably never completely heals,
Robert revealed.
The grief of losing their son remained a silent presence throughout their marriage. Redford acknowledged that the pain often surfaced in ways he could not fully articulate, underscoring the emotional weight carried by both him and Lola during their shared journey.
Navigating Fame, Family Challenges, and Marital Change
Despite the early sorrow, Robert and Lola built a family over the years, raising three children: Shauna, David, and Amy. Redford’s acting career gained momentum, and he became a celebrated figure in Hollywood, although their family faced ongoing personal difficulties.
Their son David endured severe health issues as a teenager, including liver complications tied to ulcerative colitis, which necessitated two transplants. This struggle deeply affected the family amid Robert’s growing fame, with the emotional toll tempered by their strong family bonds.
By the mid-1980s, after nearly three decades together, Robert and Lola decided to part ways. Their divorce in 1985 was described as a mutual choice that preserved respect and affection between them—a rare outcome in the entertainment industry. Their children remained a stable focus throughout the transition.
I never wanted to be one of those divorced showbusiness casualties – so predictable! I wanted to prove that a marriage could last and prove the business wrong. But I couldn’t,
Robert reflected.
Lola Van Wagenen’s Career in Film and Later Life
Beyond her marriage to Robert Redford, Lola Van Wagenen established her own career as a producer and documentary filmmaker. She contributed to notable projects such as American Experience in 1988 and The State of Marriage in 2015. Early in her career, she appeared on The Mike Douglas Show in 1961, showcasing her emerging presence in the industry.
After her divorce, Lola remarried in 2002 to George Burrill, living with him in Vermont. Her journey reflects both her independent professional achievements and her continued personal growth beyond her marriage to Redford.
Robert Redford’s Life After His First Marriage
Following his divorce from Lola, Robert Redford found a second chance at love with Sibylle Szaggars, a German artist he met through the Sundance Institute. The couple married in 2009 in an intimate ceremony held at the Louis C. Jacob Hotel in Hamburg, Germany, attended only by family and close friends.
She’s a very special person. She’s younger than I am, and European, which I like, so that’s a whole new life,
Robert said of his wife.
Sibylle is significantly younger than Redford by 21 years, and the couple’s relationship symbolizes a fresh chapter in his personal life, coming after decades filled with both professional triumphs and profound family trials.
Facing Continued Personal Loss and Tragedy
Robert Redford’s family life remained punctuated by moments of sorrow. In 1983, his daughter Shauna’s boyfriend, Sidney Lee Wells, was fatally shot in Colorado, a tragedy that led Redford to withdraw from the public eye for privacy and reflection. Shauna herself later survived a near-fatal car accident that left her vehicle submerged in water.
Perhaps the most devastating loss came in 2020, when Redford’s son David passed away at age 58 from bile duct cancer. David had been ill with liver complications since adolescence but channeled his experience into activism and documentary filmmaking focused on social and environmental justice. He is remembered as a devoted father to his two children, Dylan and Lena, and husband to Kyle Redford.
The Family’s Artistic Legacy and Continuing Influence
Robert and Lola’s eldest daughter Shauna, now 64, is an artist and has been married since 1985 to Eric Schlosser, an author. Their wedding took place on the lawn of her parents’ home in Provo, Utah, preserving family connections through generations.
Amy Redford also embraced the family’s cinematic tradition, working as a producer, director, and actress. She appeared alongside Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, and Natasha Richardson in the film Maid in Manhattan, reflecting the family’s lasting contribution to film and culture.
Through all the joys and losses, Robert Redford emerged as a figure defined by endurance and the ability to move forward despite the hardships life brought him.
Remembering Robert Redford Following His Passing
Robert Redford passed away peacefully at his home in Utah in the early hours of September 16, at the age of 89. His death was confirmed by Cindi Berger, CEO of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, who noted that he died in his sleep surrounded by loved ones.
Redford’s final days were spent in the mountains near Provo, a place he dearly loved. His legacy extends far beyond his iconic roles in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; he is remembered as an Oscar-winning actor, a passionate environmentalist, and a pivotal force behind the independent film movement through the Sundance Institute.
