You see him on screen and think of the chiseled jaw, the Sundance Kid, or maybe the guy who basically invented the modern independent film scene. But for Robert Redford, the "movie star" thing was always kinda secondary to being a dad. If you're wondering does Robert Redford have children, the answer is yes, though it’s a story marked by as much heartbreak as Hollywood glamour.
He had four kids with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen.
They got married way back in 1958 when they were both basically kids themselves. He was 21, she was 20. They were living in a tiny walk-up in New York, Redford was just starting to land TV roles, and they were ready to start a family. What followed was a decades-long saga of immense creative success shadowed by the kind of personal loss that most people never have to face twice.
The Children of Robert Redford: A Legacy of Art and Activism
The Redford household wasn't your typical Hollywood mansion scene. He famously kept his private life locked down. He once told Esquire that he separated his public self from his private self because he didn't feel he owed the public his life—just his performances.
His four children are Scott, Shauna, James, and Amy.
While two of them followed him into the film industry, they all seemingly inherited that "Redford itch" for making a difference or creating something from scratch. It’s not all red carpets and Sundance parties, though. The family has dealt with some seriously heavy stuff over the years.
The Tragedy of Scott Anthony Redford
Most people don't know that Robert Redford's first experience with fatherhood ended in a nightmare. His firstborn son, Scott, was born in September 1959.
He was only 10 weeks old when he died.
The cause was Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which back then was often called "crib death." It’s the kind of trauma that stays in the marrow. Redford later admitted that as a young father, you feel a sense of guilt that never really goes away. You wonder what you missed. You carry it. He and Lola had to keep moving because that’s what you did in the 50s and 60s—you bore the brunt of it with grace and kept going.
Shauna Jean Redford: The Painter
Born in November 1960, Shauna is the eldest daughter. Unlike her dad, she didn't want the camera in her face. She chose the canvas instead.
She's a highly successful painter.
Shauna has lived a pretty quiet life, mostly out of the tabloid's reach. She’s been married to Eric Schlosser (the guy who wrote Fast Food Nation) since 1985. But even her life hasn't been without its share of "The Redford Curse," as some gossip rags cruelly called it. In the 80s, her college boyfriend was tragically murdered, a case that stayed cold for years and recently resurfaced in the news after Robert Redford’s own passing in late 2025.
Honestly, she’s the one who stayed furthest from the "industry," yet she seems to have captured that same quiet intensity her father was known for.
James Redford: A Life of Purpose
Then there was David James Redford, known to everyone as Jamie. He was the one who most closely shared his father's passion for the environment. Jamie was a documentary filmmaker and an activist.
He died in 2020.
His death at 58 from bile-duct cancer was a massive blow to the family. Jamie had struggled with health issues since he was a kid, eventually needing two liver transplants in the 90s. Instead of just being a "celebrity kid," he used his experience to found the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness. He and his dad also co-founded The Redford Center, which basically gives grants to filmmakers trying to save the planet.
He left behind a wife, Kyle, and two children, Dylan and Lena, who are keeping the creative flame alive.
Amy Hart Redford: The Youngest
The baby of the family, Amy, was born in 1970. She’s the one you might recognize if you watch a lot of indie films or catch old episodes of Sex and the City or The Sopranos.
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She’s an actress and a director.
Amy has often spoken about the "universe" of being Robert Redford's daughter. She told the New York Times that her dad could still drive her nuts, but that he always had his "eye on the ball" when it came to his kids. She’s directed films like The Guitar and has become a fixture at the Sundance Institute, which her father started back in 1981.
How Fatherhood Defined Robert Redford
It’s easy to look at a guy like Redford and think it’s all about the Oscars or the skiing in Utah. But if you look at his later interviews, he was pretty blunt about what actually mattered.
"The children. They're the best thing in my life," he told People in the late 90s.
Think about that for a second. This is a man who helped change the face of American cinema, yet he pointed to his kids as his greatest achievement. He lived long enough to see his grandkids—seven of them—start their own careers. When he passed away at age 89 in September 2025, it wasn't just a loss for film; it was the end of a very long, very complicated family story that survived more tragedy than most.
What to Know About the Redford Family Legacy
If you’re looking into the Redford family, don’t just look for the acting credits. The real story is in the activism and the art.
- The Redford Center: This is the place to look if you want to see Jamie and Robert’s shared work. It’s still a huge deal in the environmental filmmaking world.
- The Grandkids: Keep an eye on Dylan Redford. He’s a filmmaker and artist who has taken over a lot of the leadership roles at the family’s nonprofits.
- The Privacy: Respect the fact that Shauna and Amy generally prefer to let their work speak for them. They aren't "influencers"; they're creators.
If you're diving into this because you're a fan of his movies, take a look at Ordinary People. It’s a film Robert Redford directed about a family dealing with the death of a son. Knowing what we know now about Scott and Jamie, it hits a lot harder. It wasn't just a movie for him; it was a reflection of the life he was actually living behind the scenes.
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To understand the Redford family today, the best move is to look at the work being done at the Sundance Institute or The Redford Center. These organizations are the practical, living versions of the values he passed down to Shauna, Jamie, and Amy. Supporting independent film or environmental storytelling is basically the best way to honor the legacy of the man and the children he so clearly adored.