UTAH, Sept. 19, 2025 – Robert Redford died in his sleep on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at his home in Sundance, Utah, at age 89, with reports now revealing an “intense sadness” over the death of his son, James Redford, weighed heavily on him in his final years.
Hollywood legend Robert Redford carried deep sorrow following his son’s passing.
- Robert Redford died at age 89 on Sept. 16.
- Former neighbors report he was deeply affected by his son James’ death in 2020.
- Redford had previously spoken of the trauma of his first son’s death in 1959.
- He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
According to former neighbors in Tiburon, California, the actor and director struggled with the loss of his son, James, also known as Jamie, who died in 2020 at age 58 from bile-duct cancer. Redford, a father of four, shared Scott Anthony, Shauna Jean, David James, and Amy Hart with his ex-wife, Lola Van Wagenen. His first son, Scott, died of SIDS in 1959 as an infant.
A waiter at a bayside restaurant near Redford’s California home recalled his visits. “Bob, as we called him, would sit at the same round table every week with his wife and friends, and he was incredibly gracious,” the waiter said. “He talked to the staff and was personable, he asked questions and was interested in everyone. But there was an intense sadness to him after his son died a few years ago.”
The waiter added, “Bob talked about how much he missed his son. It was a heartbreaking thing for him. He felt like a part of him had been lost, it was hard for him to live without his boy. It took a toll on him to see his son die like that.”
Another local resident remembered Redford’s fondness for hiking the Tiburon trails. “He liked to walk around Tiburon and would say hello and wave to locals. He always had a cap and sunglasses on, but everyone knew it was Robert Redford.”
Redford had previously spoken about the profound impact of his eldest son Scott’s death. In a 2017 interview, he described it as “traumatic,” noting, “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… We had to deal with it. You have to move on.” He reflected on how such experiences leave a lasting, often subconscious, mark.
Following Jamie’s death in 2020, a representative shared Redford’s desire for privacy, stating, “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 for conservation and the environment.”
Redford, a celebrated figure in Hollywood, rose to stardom with roles in films like Barefoot in the Park, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Jeremiah Johnson, The Candidate, and The Sting. He received an honorary Oscar in 2002 and was also recognized for his extensive activism in environmentalism, Native American rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and the arts.
Redford is survived by his second wife, Sibylle Szaggars, daughters Shauna and Amy, and seven grandchildren.
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