The Heartbreaking Truth About Scott Anthony Redford: Robert Redford's Firstborn Son
What happens when the brightest light is extinguished in mere weeks? For legendary actor Robert Redford and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, this wasn't a hypothetical question—it was their devastating reality. The name Scott Anthony Redford represents a profound and private sorrow that shaped a Hollywood icon's journey into fatherhood. While the world knows Robert Redford as the charismatic star of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, and later as a revered director and environmentalist, the story of his first child is a poignant chapter of loss that unfolded long before his fame peaked. This article delves into the brief, tragic life of Scott Anthony Redford, the impact of his loss on the Redford family, and how this early heartbreak influenced the legacy of one of America's most beloved actors.
The Early Years: Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen
Before the Oscars, the Sundance Institute, and the iconic roles, there was a young couple in love, navigating the hopes and dreams of new adulthood. Charles Robert Redford Jr. was born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California. He met Lola Van Wagenen, a student from Utah, and they married in 1958. At the time, Redford was a 22-year-old aspiring actor studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, working odd jobs to make ends meet. Their life was modest, filled with the uncertainty and promise of a young artist building his craft.
Their relationship was a partnership of ambition and support. Lola, who would become a noted historian and producer in her own right, stood by Redford during his earliest struggles. Together, they welcomed their first child, a son, in September 1959. This moment should have been a celebration of new beginnings, a anchor for their young family as Redford's career began its slow, steady climb. Instead, it became the source of a grief so profound it would remain a quiet, foundational piece of his personal history.
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Biographical Snapshot: Scott Anthony Redford
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Scott Anthony Redford |
| Parents | Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen |
| Date of Birth | September 1, 1959 |
| Place of Birth | Likely New York or California (exact location not widely publicized) |
| Date of Death | November 17, 1959 |
| Age at Death | 2 months and 16 days (approximately 2.5 months old) |
| Cause of Death | Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) |
| Siblings | Jamie Redford, Shauna Redford, Amy Redford (half-siblings from same parents) |
Note: There is conflicting and erroneous information online, including a record of a different "Scott Anthony Redford" born in 1969 in Illinois who died in 2005. This is a separate individual and not the son of Robert Redford. The details above reflect the historically accurate account of Robert Redford's firstborn son.
A Joyful Beginning Turned to Unimaginable Sorrow
Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen welcomed their first child, son Scott Anthony Redford, on September 1, 1959. For the young couple, aged just 23 and 21 respectively, this was a moment of pure joy. Redford, who was just getting his acting career rolling with minor theater roles and television appearances, was a proud new father. The family's life was centered around this tiny new life, filled with the hopes and dreams parents hold for their child.
The tragedy struck with shocking speed and cruelty. The young couple sadly did not make it far into their new parenting roles, as Scott died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in November 1959, when he was a little more than two months old. More precisely, Scott died of SIDS on November 17, 1959, at just 2½ months old. There was no warning, no lingering illness. One day, their son was alive; the next, he was gone. In an era when discussions of infant mortality were hushed and resources for grieving parents were scarce, the Redfords faced this catastrophe with the limited support available to them.
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Understanding the Devastation: What is SIDS?
His untimely demise was attributed to sudden infant death syndrome, a term that still carries a chilling mystery. SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant under one year of age, typically during sleep. It remains the leading cause of death in infants aged 1 to 12 months in the United States, though its incidence has dramatically decreased since the "Back to Sleep" campaign began in the 1990s.
For parents in the late 1950s, SIDS was even more terrifying due to a lack of public awareness and scientific understanding. There were no known safe sleep guidelines, no widespread public health campaigns. Grieving parents often blamed themselves, haunted by questions of what they could have done differently. The lives and legacies of Redford’s four children began with this shadow of loss. This early tragedy struck at the very beginning of Robert Redford's journey as a parent, shaping his experience of family in ways the public would never fully see.
The Ripple Effect: Grief, Resilience, and a Growing Family
The death of an infant is a unique and devastating form of grief. It is the loss of a future, of all the milestones that will never happen. For Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen, this loss occurred in the midst of building their lives and his nascent career. The emotional toll must have been immense, yet life, in its relentless march, continued.
Remarkably, the couple found the strength to expand their family. Robert Redford shared four children with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen. After Scott, they went on to have three more children: Shauna Redford (born 1960), Amy Redford (born 1970), and James "Jamie" Redford (born 1962). This fact is crucial to understanding the Redford family narrative. Redford and his first wife lost two sons. The phrasing refers to Scott and, later, their son David James Redford, who died of cancer in 2020. This means the family known to the public—Shauna, Amy, and Jamie—are the surviving children from Robert and Lola's marriage, with Scott being the first, lost son.
This pattern of building a family amidst profound sorrow speaks to a deep resilience. It highlights that while his career kept him very busy, Redford still found time to raise a family, even as he carried the private burden of losing his firstborn. The children who grew up with him—Jamie Redford, Amy Redford, Shauna Redford—were raised alongside the silent memory of their older brother, Scott. Their father's love was undoubtedly colored by this early experience of loss, perhaps making him more protective, more present, or simply carrying a quiet sadness that shaped the family's emotional landscape.
The Surviving Children: Carrying Forward a Complex Legacy
Here’s everything to know about Robert Redford's kids requires looking at the full picture, including the children who survived to adulthood and the one who did not. The Redford children have largely lived private lives, though some have stepped into the public eye in their own ways.
- Shauna Redford: The eldest surviving child, born in 1960. She has maintained a very low profile, choosing a life away from Hollywood's spotlight.
- Amy Redford: Born in 1970, Amy is an actress and director. She has appeared in films like The Old Man & the Gun (which starred her father) and directed projects such as The Guitar and episodes of television series. She has spoken fondly of her father's influence and support.
- James "Jamie" Redford: Born in 1962, Jamie was a filmmaker and environmental activist. He co-founded the Redford Center, which supports storytelling on environmental and social issues, aligning with his father's passions. Tragically, David James Redford died of cancer in 2020. His passing was a second monumental loss for the Redford family, echoing the pain of losing Scott decades earlier.
- Scott Anthony Redford: The firstborn, whose life spanned only from September to November 1959. He exists in the family's history as a beloved but brief presence, a "what could have been" that undoubtedly informed the deep appreciation his parents and siblings had for the family they did build.
Through them, he had several grandchildren, including one who has grown up to look like he could be his twin. This is a common observation about grandchildren, who often carry forward family traits in striking ways. For Robert Redford, seeing his legacy continue through his grandchildren likely brought immense joy, a counterbalance to the early loss of his first son.
The Enduring Impact of a Brief Life
So, why does the story of Scott Anthony Redford matter in the larger narrative of Robert Redford? It matters because it humanizes an icon. It reminds us that behind the movie star, the festival founder, the conservationist, was a young father who experienced a parent's worst nightmare. This early heartbreak likely instilled in him a profound appreciation for the family he had, a quiet understanding of life's fragility that may have fueled his later work in preserving natural beauty—a different kind of legacy against impermanence.
Tragedy struck early in Robert Redford’s journey as a parent. That November in 1959, a young couple's world shattered. The grief of losing Scott Anthony Redford was a private anguish, rarely discussed publicly by the intensely private Redford. Yet, its echo can be felt in the fierce protection of his subsequent family life, in the emphasis on legacy not just through film but through bloodline and values. The lives and legacies of Redford’s four children are therefore intertwined with the memory of the fifth child, the one whose life was a whisper in time.
When Robert Redford, who died on Sept 16, 2024, reportedly dying in his sleep, the world mourned a legend. But within his family, the mourning was layered—for the man they knew, and for the brother and son who was lost before any memories could be fully made. Here’s what to know about the late actor’s family includes this essential truth: his story of fatherhood began with a devastating loss that he carried with him, shaping the man who would later become a devoted father to three and a grandfather.
Conclusion: A Legacy Forged in Joy and Sorrow
The name Scott Anthony Redford is not a footnote but a foundational chapter in the biography of Robert Redford the family man. His life, though tragically short, represents the first, painful initiation of Redford into the profound vulnerability of parenthood. The joy of Scott's birth on September 1, 1959, and the agony of his death on November 17, 1959, from sudden infant death syndrome, created a duality of experience that few could comprehend.
This early loss did not define Redford's entire paternal journey, but it undeniably informed it. It preceded the raising of Jamie, Shauna, and Amy Redford, and preceded the later grief of losing his son Jamie to cancer. It is a testament to the family's resilience that they built a life of love, creativity, and purpose in the shadow of such losses.
In remembering Robert Redford, we must remember all his children. We remember the ones who grew up, pursued their passions, and had children of their own. And we remember Scott Anthony Redford, the firstborn son whose brief life holds a mirror to the fragility of life itself and the enduring strength of a family that loves, loses, and loves again. His story is a solemn reminder that even the brightest stars can have their earliest light dimmed, yet the sky—and the family—remain, forever changed, but still vast and full of wonder.
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Shauna Redford Scott Anthony Redford
Scott Anthony Redford (1959-1959) - Find a Grave Memorial
Scott Anthony Redford: Robert Redford Son's Tragedy Fate
