Robert Redford had four children with his first wife, historian Lola Van Wagenen: Scott Anthony Redford, Shauna Redford, David James “Jamie” Redford and Amy Hart Redford. Scott died in infancy in 1959, and Jamie, a documentary filmmaker and environmental advocate, died in October 2020 at age 58. Shauna pursued visual art, while Amy built a career in acting, directing and producing. Robert Redford died on September 16, 2025, at age 89, leaving behind a lasting film, environmental and family legacy.

Introduction

Robert Redford was celebrated around the world for his work as an actor, director and champion of independent cinema. Away from Hollywood, however, he was also a father whose family experienced creative achievements, private challenges and profound losses. His four children with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, were Scott Anthony Redford, Shauna Redford, David James “Jamie” Redford and Amy Hart Redford.

Redford died at his home in Sundance, Utah, on September 16, 2025, at age 89. His death brought renewed attention to his family, including the two children who survived him, Shauna and Amy, and the lives of Scott and Jamie, who died before their father. The Los Angeles Times confirmed that Redford was survived by his wife, Sibylle Szaggars, his daughters and seven grandchildren.

The Redford children followed different paths. Shauna became known for her work as a painter and maintained a comparatively private public profile. Jamie developed a career in documentary filmmaking and environmental advocacy, working alongside his father on projects that connected storytelling with environmental issues. Amy became an actor, director and producer. Scott, the couple’s first child, died when he was only a few months old.

Their stories help explain the personal side of a Hollywood figure who often guarded his privacy while encouraging creative expression and environmental responsibility.

What Happened? A Look at Robert Redford’s Family Legacy

Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen married in 1958 and had four children during their marriage. Their family life began before Redford became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, and the couple experienced both early tragedy and the challenges of raising children while his acting career expanded.

Their first child, Scott, died in infancy in 1959. The couple later welcomed Shauna, Jamie and Amy. Jamie eventually followed his father into filmmaking, while Shauna and Amy developed their own creative interests.

Redford and Van Wagenen divorced in 1985. Redford later married German-born artist Sibylle Szaggars in 2009. They did not have children together.

The family experienced another major loss in October 2020, when Jamie died at age 58 following a battle with bile duct cancer. His death came nearly five years before his father’s passing.

Although the Redford children did not all pursue the same careers or public profiles, creative work and environmental concern became important parts of the family’s broader story.

Key Details About Robert Redford’s Four Children

• Scott Anthony Redford: Robert and Lola’s first child, who died from sudden infant death syndrome in 1959 at approximately two and a half months old.
• Shauna Redford: Their daughter, a painter who married journalist and author Eric Schlosser.
• David James “Jamie” Redford: Their son, a documentary filmmaker and environmental advocate who co-founded The Redford Center with his father and died in 2020.
• Amy Hart Redford: Their younger daughter, an actor, director and producer whose work spans film, television and theatre.

These details are documented in obituaries, biographical reporting and the official websites of organizations associated with the family.

Who Was Scott Anthony Redford?

Scott Anthony Redford was Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen’s first child. He was born in September 1959 and died from sudden infant death syndrome, commonly known as SIDS, at approximately two and a half months old.

His death occurred while Robert Redford was still establishing himself as a young actor. Redford later spoke about the emotional impact of losing a child so early in life. A 2017 interview with Esquire, discussed in a later Biography feature, described the experience as traumatic for the young couple.

A family tragedy that remained private

The loss of Scott is one of the most painful events in the Redford family’s history. Unlike his siblings, he never had the opportunity to build a public life or career.

Redford was known for keeping much of his personal life out of the spotlight. As a result, the public record about Scott is limited to basic biographical details and his parents’ reflections on their loss.

It is important not to fill those gaps with speculation. The reliable accounts establish that Scott died in infancy and that the experience deeply affected his parents, but they do not provide a complete picture of how every family member processed the loss over time.

Scott’s story is an important part of the family history because it reminds readers that Redford’s life included personal grief as well as professional achievement.

Who Is Shauna Redford?

Shauna Redford is Robert Redford’s eldest surviving daughter. She was born in November 1960 and developed an interest in visual art, becoming known as a painter. Unlike her father and sister Amy, she has generally maintained a lower public profile.

Shauna married Eric Schlosser, the American journalist and author best known for Fast Food Nation, in 1985. The couple have two children, Mica and Conor Schlosser, according to published family profiles.

Her work as an artist

Shauna’s artistic career differs from the film careers of her father and younger sister. Painting is her principal publicly reported creative pursuit, although she has not sought the same degree of media attention as many members of famous Hollywood families.

Her relatively private lifestyle means that detailed, current information about her projects is not always available. It would be misleading to infer that she has withdrawn from art simply because she appears less frequently in entertainment coverage.

Her story also illustrates that being part of a famous family does not require following the same professional path. Shauna has maintained her own identity, while the available public record suggests she values a degree of separation between her family life and the public spotlight.

Shauna’s family

Her marriage to Schlosser connects the Redford family to a prominent figure in investigative journalism and nonfiction writing. Schlosser’s books have examined topics including the American food industry and nuclear weapons policy.

The couple’s children belong to a later generation of the Redford family. However, detailed claims about their private lives should be treated carefully, especially when they are not based on their own public statements or reliable reporting.

Shauna’s family story is best understood through the facts that are publicly established: her work as an artist, her marriage to Schlosser and her role as one of Robert Redford’s two surviving children.

Who Was Jamie Redford?

David James “Jamie” Redford was Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen’s second son. Born in 1962, he became a documentary filmmaker, writer and environmental advocate. His work reflected an interest in using film to explore health, education and environmental issues.

Jamie died on October 16, 2020, at age 58, after a battle with cancer involving the bile duct. His death was reported by major news organizations, and The Redford Center issued a tribute recognizing him as a co-founder and a central figure in its environmental work.

A filmmaker with his own voice

Although Jamie grew up in the family of a major Hollywood figure, his professional work was not simply an extension of his father’s acting career. He focused largely on documentary filmmaking and stories designed to draw attention to real-world challenges.

His projects included work related to his experience with liver disease and organ transplantation. His health experiences informed his interest in public awareness and the human consequences of medical conditions.

Jamie also worked with his father on environmental storytelling. Their collaboration helped establish a family connection between film and conservation that continued through The Redford Center.

Co-founding The Redford Center

In 2005, Robert and Jamie Redford established The Redford Center to connect environmental advocacy with filmmaking and public engagement. The organization’s official history describes its mission as bringing together environmental justice, collective action, education and impact filmmaking.

The initiative reflected a shared belief that films and stories can do more than entertain. They can help people understand environmental problems and encourage action.

Jamie’s contribution to the organization became part of his lasting legacy. Following his death in 2020, his son Dylan Redford was elected chair of The Redford Center, helping maintain a family connection to its work.

Jamie’s family

Jamie married Kyle Redford in 1988, and they had two children, Dylan and Lena. His family life was important to him, but public accounts of his private relationships are limited.

Following his death, tributes highlighted his roles as a husband, father, filmmaker and environmental advocate. His professional legacy is especially visible in the work of The Redford Center, which continues to support environmental storytelling.

Jamie’s life demonstrates how the Redford family’s creative influence extended beyond acting and mainstream filmmaking into documentary work and environmental causes.

Who Is Amy Redford?

Amy Hart Redford is Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen’s youngest child. She was born in 1970 and built a career as an actor, director and producer in film, television and theatre.

Her official website describes a creative career spanning more than three decades. It identifies The Guitar, starring Saffron Burrows, as her directorial debut and lists work as an actor and producer across a range of projects.

Amy’s career in film and television

Amy has appeared in film and television productions and worked behind the camera as a director and producer. Her career has included independent projects as well as work in established television and theatre settings.

Her work reflects some of the creative values associated with her father, particularly an interest in independent storytelling. However, her career should be considered on its own merits rather than viewed only through her relationship with Robert Redford.

Amy has also been involved with the Sundance Institute, the nonprofit organization her father founded in 1981 to support independent filmmakers. The institute’s official website lists her among its board of trustees and describes her professional background in the creative arts.

Her connection to Sundance

Sundance became one of Robert Redford’s most important contributions to American cinema. Through the Sundance Institute and its festival, he helped create opportunities for filmmakers whose work might otherwise have struggled to reach audiences.

Amy’s involvement in the institute connects her professional life to that legacy. Her work in film and theatre also shows how the family’s creative interests have continued across generations.

The relationship is not simply symbolic: Amy has pursued projects as a filmmaker and producer in her own right. Her official biography describes ongoing creative development work, although individual projects can change over time.

Amy’s personal life

Amy has generally kept details of her family life more private than her professional career. Published biographical sources report that she has children, including twin daughters, but information about their everyday lives is limited.

Respecting those boundaries matters because her children are not public figures in the same way their grandfather was. The most reliable focus is on Amy’s established work and her publicly documented involvement in the arts.

Robert Redford’s Marriage to Lola Van Wagenen

Robert Redford married historian Lola Van Wagenen in 1958. Their marriage began before his rise to international fame and lasted until their divorce in 1985.

Together, they raised three children who lived beyond infancy—Shauna, Jamie and Amy—and experienced the loss of their first child, Scott. Their family grew during the period when Redford was becoming one of the most prominent actors of his generation.

Van Wagenen later became known for her work in history and education, including efforts to bring greater attention to women’s history and public understanding of the past. While Redford’s Hollywood career often dominated public coverage, their family life involved two people with distinct professional interests.

Redford’s second marriage was to artist Sibylle Szaggars in 2009. They did not have children together. His obituary in the Los Angeles Times confirmed that Szaggars survived him, alongside his daughters and grandchildren.

Robert Redford’s Grandchildren and the Next Generation

Robert Redford was reported to have seven grandchildren. His children’s families have continued the broader connection to creative work, though not every grandchild has chosen a public career.

Shauna and Eric Schlosser have two children, Mica and Conor. Jamie and Kyle Redford had two children, Dylan and Lena. Amy is also reported to have three daughters. Together, those family branches account for the seven grandchildren frequently mentioned in obituaries and family profiles.

Dylan Redford has been involved in filmmaking and The Redford Center, where he took on a leadership role after Jamie’s death. That development illustrates how the organization’s environmental work has continued through another generation of the family.

It would be too broad to say that all of Robert Redford’s grandchildren have followed the same path. The more accurate conclusion is that creative work and environmental engagement remain visible parts of the family’s public legacy, while several relatives maintain private lives.

What Officials and Organizations Have Said About the Redford Legacy

The Sundance Institute described Robert Redford as its founder and a central figure in the development of independent cinema. Its tribute following his death emphasized his role in supporting artists and creating opportunities for new voices.

The Redford Center has similarly recognized the importance of Robert and Jamie’s partnership. Its official history explains that the two established the organization in 2005 to bring together storytelling and environmental action. The center also records Jamie’s death in 2020 and Dylan Redford’s subsequent election as board chair.

These institutional accounts help establish the family’s public legacy through documented work rather than speculation about private relationships.

Robert Redford’s impact was not limited to the films in which he acted or the movies he directed. His commitment to independent cinema created a platform for emerging artists, while his environmental advocacy found another outlet through The Redford Center.

Jamie’s work extended that mission, and Amy’s career connects another generation of the family to film and theatre. Shauna’s artistic life provides a different expression of the same broader family connection to the arts.

Why Robert Redford’s Children Matter to His Legacy

Understanding Robert Redford’s children provides a fuller picture of the man behind the public image. His career was defined by film performances, directing, independent cinema and environmental activism, but his family life included both achievement and loss.

Scott’s death in infancy was an early tragedy. Jamie’s death in 2020 was another profound loss, coming after decades of creative and environmental work. Shauna and Amy have continued their own lives and careers, with Amy maintaining a visible presence in filmmaking and the Sundance community.

The family’s work also demonstrates that legacy does not pass down in a single form. Shauna’s painting, Jamie’s documentaries and environmental advocacy, and Amy’s acting and directing represent different ways of pursuing creative work.

The Redford Center and Sundance Institute provide concrete examples of how Robert’s values became part of organizations that continue beyond any one individual. Their work is a more reliable measure of that legacy than assumptions about what every family member believes or intends.

What Happens Next for the Redford Family Legacy?

Robert Redford died in September 2025, so there are no new personal plans from him to report. The ongoing story is instead about how the family and the organizations he helped establish continue their work.

The Sundance Institute remains dedicated to discovering and supporting independent artists. The Redford Center continues to focus on environmental storytelling and public engagement. Both institutions preserve parts of Redford’s work while operating through their own staff, leadership and programs.

Amy’s creative work also remains part of the public record through her official website, while Dylan Redford’s role at The Redford Center connects Jamie’s environmental legacy to the next generation.

There is no need to speculate about private family plans to understand what continues. The public record shows that Robert Redford’s influence lives on through his films, the organizations he founded and the varied creative paths taken by his children.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many children did Robert Redford have?

Robert Redford had four children with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen: Scott Anthony, Shauna, David James “Jamie” and Amy Hart Redford. Scott died in infancy in 1959, and Jamie died in 2020.

2. Who are Robert Redford’s surviving children?

His surviving children are daughters Shauna Redford and Amy Hart Redford. His son Scott died in infancy, while his son Jamie died in October 2020.

3. What does Shauna Redford do?

Shauna Redford is known as a painter. She married journalist and author Eric Schlosser in 1985, and they have two children, Mica and Conor.

4. Who was Jamie Redford?

Jamie Redford was Robert Redford’s son, a documentary filmmaker and environmental advocate. He co-founded The Redford Center with his father in 2005 and died on October 16, 2020, at age 58.

5. What does Amy Redford do?

Amy Redford is an actor, director and producer whose work includes film, television and theatre. She is also involved with the Sundance Institute, the independent-film organization founded by her father.

6. What happened to Robert Redford’s first son, Scott?

Scott Anthony Redford died from sudden infant death syndrome in 1959 at approximately two and a half months old. His death was a major personal tragedy for Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen.

7. How many grandchildren did Robert Redford have?

Robert Redford was reported to have seven grandchildren through his children. Public profiles identify grandchildren in the Shauna, Jamie and Amy branches of the family.

8. Who was Robert Redford’s wife when he died?

Robert Redford’s second wife was artist Sibylle Szaggars, whom he married in 2009. His first wife was historian Lola Van Wagenen; they divorced in 1985.