The morning of September 16, 2025, brought sorrow across the world as the New York Times confirmed the passing of Robert Redford. The 89-year-old actor, director, and activist died peacefully in his sleep at his cherished Sundance home in Utah. Known globally for classics such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President’s Men, and even his modern-day role in Avengers: Endgame, Redford left behind a cinematic legacy matched only by his impact as a filmmaker and environmentalist.

But long before the spotlight, Redford’s life was filled with tragedy and trials that shaped the man behind the legend.

A Childhood Marked by Illness and Loss

In his youth, Redford battled polio, a disease that forced him into weeks of isolation and uncertainty. Though he recovered, the memory of that illness left him deeply grateful when Jonas Salk later introduced the vaccine, a discovery Redford would pay tribute to decades later in film.

Yet illness was not the only shadow of his childhood. At 18, Redford endured a devastating loss: the death of his mother, Martha, at just 40 years old due to complications from a blood disorder. Redford later admitted that he had been a difficult teenager but credited his mother for believing in his potential. Her death left a wound that never fully healed.

A Troubled Youth and Second Chances

Redford’s college career was short-lived. Attending the University of Colorado on a baseball scholarship, he became known more for partying than discipline. His time there ended abruptly when he was expelled after only 18 months. But rather than collapse under disappointment, Redford reinvented himself. He turned to painting in Florence and Paris before studying drama in New York, paving the way to a career that would soon captivate audiences worldwide.

The Death of His Firstborn Son

The greatest heartbreak of Redford’s early adulthood came in 1959 when his firstborn son, Scott, died of sudden infant death syndrome at just 10 weeks old. The grief nearly broke him. For years, Redford carried the guilt of believing he could have done more. It was an unhealed scar he carried quietly for decades until he finally spoke openly about it in later interviews.

A Narrow Escape for His Second Son

Just three years later, tragedy nearly struck again when his second son, David James Redford, was born prematurely with a severe respiratory condition. Doctors gave the infant only a 40 percent chance of survival. Against all odds, both mother and child pulled through. But the fragility of his children’s lives weighed heavily on Redford, shaping his outlook as a father and as a man.

m*rd*r, Mystery, and Heartbreak

In 1983, his daughter Shauna’s life was torn apart when her boyfriend, journalism student Sid Wells, was m*rd*red. Shot in the head in his Colorado apartment, the case remains one of the state’s enduring mysteries. A suspect was named but never convicted, and Wells’ killer vanished. Redford described the lingering pain as a “partially open door with a dark room behind it,” a haunting metaphor for grief without closure.

The pain deepened with the mysterious drowning of Redford’s close friend and co-star Natalie Wood in 1981. Their connection was one of mutual respect and trust, and her shocking death left Redford devastated. He often spoke of her legacy, even lending his voice to tributes that celebrated her career while acknowledging the unanswered questions of her final night.

Personal Struggles and a Private Divorce

Redford’s marriage to Lola Van Wagenen began in 1958 and endured tragedy, including the death of their firstborn son. Together, they raised three more children and built what many saw as a stable family. But in 1985, after nearly three decades, the couple divorced quietly. Redford remained fiercely private, refusing to air details, and it took a decade for the media to confirm the separation. He eventually found love again with German artist Sibylle Szaggars, whom he married in 2009 after years of companionship.

Losing His Son James

The cruelest of life’s blows came in 2020 when Redford lost his second son, James, to liver cancer at just 58. James had battled liver disease since childhood and underwent a transplant in 1993, later founding an institute to raise awareness. When cancer returned decades later, James fought bravely but succumbed after a year-long struggle. For Redford, losing a second child was a pain beyond words.

A Legacy Born from Pain and Purpose

Despite enduring so much heartbreak, Robert Redford remained steadfast in his mission to create meaningful art and advocate for change. His founding of the Sundance Film Festival gave countless filmmakers their start. His environmental activism inspired a generation to care for the planet. His performances and direction cemented his place as one of Hollywood’s most respected figures.

The representative who announced his death summed up his life beautifully: “Robert Redford passed away at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah, the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved.”

Behind the fame was a man who faced sorrow after sorrow yet found ways to rise, creating beauty and purpose from his pain. His story is one of resilience, love, and the human capacity to endure.

Robert Redford may be gone, but his legacy will live on—not only in the films he left behind but in the strength he showed through a life shadowed by loss and lit by courage.