Death of Acting Giant Robert Redford

You probably don't know that Robert Redford, one of Hollywood's most enduring icons, died peacefully in his sleep on September 16, 2025, at his beloved home in Sundance, Utah, at the age of 89. His publicist confirmed the news, though no specific cause was given. He was surrounded by family and his wife, Sibylle Szaggars. There's much more to his remarkable final chapter, his lasting legacy, and the family heartbreaks that shaped him than most people realize.

Key Takeaways

• Robert Redford died peacefully in his sleep on September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah, aged 89.
• No specific cause of death was disclosed, though his peaceful passing at 89 strongly suggests natural causes.
• His death was confirmed by publicist Cindi Berger of Rogers & Cowan PMK to outlets including The New York Times and Deadline.
• Redford completed a cameo in the series Dark Winds just six months before his death.
• He was surrounded by his wife Sibylle Szaggars and family at the time of his passing in the Utah mountains.

How Robert Redford Died at 89

Robert Redford died peacefully in his sleep on September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by loved ones. His publicist, Cindi Berger of Rogers & Cowan PMK, confirmed the news to outlets including the New York Times and Deadline. No specific cause of death was disclosed, though his peaceful passing at 89 strongly suggests natural causes.

Redford had no reported illnesses in his final months and had even completed a cameo in Dark Winds just six months before his death. His family requested privacy following the announcement. The statement emphasized Sundance as "the place he loved," reflecting how deeply connected he was to that mountain retreat until his final moments.

He is survived by his second wife, Sibylle Szaggars, two daughters, Shauna and Amy, and seven grandchildren.

Where Robert Redford Spent His Final Days

In 2021, Redford sold his Horse Whisperer Ranch in Charleston, Utah, shifting his focus to the Provo ranch as his primary residence. His family had embraced that property for 25 years prior.

On September 16, surrounded by his family and wife Sibylle Szaggars, Redford passed peacefully in those beloved Utah mountains he'd called home. His death was confirmed by Cindi Berger, chairman and CEO of Rogers & Cowan PMK, via a statement in The New York Times.

Who Robert Redford Left Behind

When Robert Redford passed, he left behind a blended family that had weathered profound loss.

His children's legacy stretched across art, journalism, and film. Daughter Shauna, married to journalist Eric Schlosser, had two children, Ma and Connor. Youngest daughter Amy, an actress and director, also survived him. Both women outlived their father, carrying forward a quiet, private mourning shaped by years of public scrutiny.

Redford's son James had already died in October 2020 at 58, leaving behind wife Kyle, daughter Lena, and son Dylan.

Redford's second wife, Sibylle Szaggars, whom he married in 2009, was also part of the family he left behind. Redford had been married previously to Lola Van Wagenen, a union that lasted from 1958 until their divorce in 1985.

In total, seven grandchildren remained as living reminders of everything he'd built beyond the screen.

The Family Tragedies Robert Redford Endured

The family Redford left behind tells only part of the story — to understand who he was, you'd have to look at who and what he lost along the way. Childhood grief shaped him early: twin sisters died at birth, an uncle fell in the Battle of the Bulge, and his mother died when he was 18. Family secrecy kept those wounds unspoken.

At 21, he lost his infant son Scott to SIDS. His daughter Shauna's boyfriend was murdered near Boulder in 1983. His son Jamie survived two liver transplants only to die from bile-duct cancer in 2020. These losses weren't incidental — they built the emotional foundation beneath films like Ordinary People, where Redford transformed private grief into something millions recognized as their own. He once stated that his children were his greatest personal achievement, a conviction that outweighed every professional accolade he earned.

What Jane Fonda and Hollywood Said About Redford

Beyond Fonda, industry eulogies poured in from every corner of Hollywood.

Steven Spielberg called Redford a transformative force in independent cinema, praising his Sundance Festival founding as revolutionizing filmmaking access for new generations.

The Paul Newman estate remembered the Sting chemistry as unmatched, while colleagues noted his consummate professionalism and impeccable timing.

Collectively, Hollywood framed Redford's death as the closing of an irreplaceable chapter in cinematic history.

How Redford Reshaped American Cinema and Sundance

While Hollywood's tributes captured Redford's personal legacy, his structural impact on American cinema tells an equally powerful story. In 1981, he founded the Sundance Institute to support independent creators outside Hollywood's risk-averse system. By 1985, he'd taken over the struggling U.S. Film Festival, renaming it Sundance and building what became a global phenomenon.

That Sundance legacy sparked an independent resurgence throughout the 1990s, reshaping how studios marketed and distributed films. Landmark premieres like Get Out, Whiplash, and Little Miss Sunshine emerged from that platform. Even in 2026, three of five Oscar Best Director nominees launched their careers through Sundance. The Fact Finder tool on onl.li allows users to explore categorized facts about cultural figures like Redford across categories such as Science, Politics, and the Arts.

Beyond film, Redford co-founded The Redford Center in 2005, championing environmental storytelling. His vision didn't just celebrate cinema — it permanently restructured it. He also designated 5,000 acres at Sundance as a wilderness preserve, reflecting his belief that art and nature together had the power to improve the world.