Hollywood has lost one of its most beloved icons.
Robert Redford — the heartthrob who became an Oscar-winning director, an environmental crusader, and the force behind the Sundance Film Festival — has passed away at the age of 89.
Always had one person who believed in him
Redford died peacefully in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home in the Utah mountains near Provo, according New York Post and his publicist, Cindi Berger.
No cause of death has been shared.
Born on August 18, 1936, Robert Redford lived a life few could ever match. Yet behind his success as an actor and director, he endured heartbreak and unimaginable loss.
As a child, Redford battled polio, and in his teens, he admitted he was a “bad student.” He lost his scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder after turning to heavy drinking. While living in Boulder, he worked as a janitor at the city’s oldest restaurant, The Sink — a place he never forgot. In fact, at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, he wore a shirt with the restaurant’s logo as a quiet tribute to his past.
In his youth, Redford felt weighed down by criticism, but he always had one person who believed in him: his mother, Martha Hart. “The one person who stood behind me was my mother,” he once said. Sadly, her life was cut short. She died at just 40 from complications tied to a rare blood disorder. Redford, only 18 at the time, later admitted his deepest regret was not telling her “thank you” before she passed.
That loss left a permanent scar, but three years later, he found love with Lola Van Wagenen, whom he credited with “saving his life.” The couple married young and went on to have four children.
But tragedy struck again when their firstborn son, Scott, died at only 2½ months from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). “As a parent, you tend to blame yourself,” Redford later revealed. “That creates a scar that probably never completely heals.”
Left his mark on Hollywood
Sadly, decades later, Redford would again face the pain no parent should bear. His son James “Jamie” Redford, born in 1962, became a filmmaker and environmental advocate but struggled with serious health issues his entire life.
After receiving two liver transplants in 1993, Jamie continued to champion organ donation and founded a nonprofit to spread awareness. But in October 2020, he died at age 58 from bile-duct cancer. Redford’s rep said at the time, “The grief is immeasurable with the loss of a child.”
Despite such tragedies, Redford never stopped creating. He left his mark on Hollywood with unforgettable films, founded the Sundance Film Festival, and inspired countless independent filmmakers.
When reflecting on his long career, Redford admitted the hardest moments were always tied to family. “The hardest thing is when your children have problems. There have been so many hits on our family no one knows about,” he once shared.
Robert Redford’s legacy stretched far beyond the screen. He was a storyteller, a pioneer, and a father who carried both extraordinary triumphs and profound sorrow.
According to the New York Post, Redford is survived by his wife, his daughters Shauna Schlosser Redford and Amy Redford, as well as seven grandchildren.
His resilience in the face of loss made his life not only remarkable, but deeply human. His legacy — both on and off the screen — is one that shaped how America saw itself, and how stories were told. RIP, Robert!
