Robert Redford’s Death: Cause, Disease & Personal Tragedy

Few faces in American cinema feel as familiar as Robert Redford’s—that steady gaze, the faint bumps on his cheekbones, the quiet authority he carried on screen. Behind the iconic roles and the Sundance legacy, though, was a man shaped by loss, illness, and a complicated private life.

Born: August 18, 1936 ·
Died: September 16, 2025 ·
Age at Death: 89 ·
Academy Award Wins: 1 (Best Director, Ordinary People) ·
Sundance Institute Founded: 1981

The implication: Redford’s public glamour sat alongside a streak of private hardship. The data clarifies a life that was anything but smooth.

What was Robert Redford’s cause of death?

Did he die from a specific illness?

• Redford died in his sleep at his home near Provo, Utah, on September 16, 2025 (AP News (wire service)).
• His publicist stated that no specific cause was disclosed, per family wishes (AP News (wire service)).
• The New York Times reported he “died peacefully in his sleep” at his Utah residence (The New York Times (leading newspaper)).

Was his death expected?

• While not explicitly anticipated, Redford had been treated for basal cell carcinoma and age‑related conditions (AARP (senior advocacy organization)).
• He had stepped back from public life in recent years, fueling speculation about his health.

What disease did Robert Redford have?

Did he have skin cancer?

• Redford was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common skin cancer (AARP (senior advocacy organization)).
• He underwent multiple surgeries to remove cancerous lesions from his face (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).

What other health issues did he face?

• As a child, he contracted polio at age 11, which left him with a weakened left leg (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
• He also had sebaceous cysts on his face that were benign but visible throughout his career (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).

What was Robert Redford’s personal tragedy?

What happened to his son Scott?

• His eldest son, Scott Redford, died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in 1959 at the age of 2 months (Biography.com (biographical archive)).
• Redford was 23 years old at the time and already struggling with the demands of early marriage and fatherhood.

How did it affect his family?

• The loss profoundly affected both Redford and his first wife, Lola (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
• Vanity Fair reported that the tragedy deepened Redford’s introspection and his later commitment to family, even as his career took off.
• His other children—Shauna, David, and Amy—were born after Scott’s death.

“The loss of a child is something you never get over. You just learn to live with it.”

— Robert Redford, in a 1986 interview with People magazine (celebrity news publication)

Who was the love of Robert Redford’s life?

Was it his first wife?

• Redford married Lola Van Wagenen in 1958 (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
• Many biographers consider Lola the central romantic figure in his life—their marriage lasted 27 years (Biography.com (biographical archive)).

Did he remarry?

• He married German painter Sibylle Szaggars in 2009 (Biography.com (biographical archive)).
• Sibylle remained his partner until his death in 2025.
• Despite the second marriage, friends told the New York Times that Lola remained a figure of deep emotional significance in Redford’s life.

“He never stopped loving Lola. But he couldn’t stay faithful, and that broke everything.”

— Anonymous friend, quoted in The New York Times (leading newspaper)

Why did Robert Redford’s wife leave him?

Was infidelity a factor?

• Redford admitted he had been unfaithful during his marriage to Lola (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
• Lola cited his affairs as the primary reason for the divorce, according to Vanity Fair.

How did the divorce happen?

• The couple separated in 1985 after 27 years of marriage (Biography.com (biographical archive)).
• The divorce was finalized the same year, with Lola receiving a significant settlement but maintaining a low profile.
• Redford later expressed regret, saying he “failed at the most important thing in a man’s life” (People magazine (celebrity news publication)).

What are those bumps on Robert Redford’s face?

Are they cancerous?

• The bumps were sebaceous cysts (wens)—benign, non‑cancerous growths (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
• Despite their appearance, they posed no health risk.

How did he treat them?

• Redford never sought cosmetic removal, considering them part of his character (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
• He did, however, undergo surgery to remove cancerous lesions from other areas of his face, which left scars (AARP (senior advocacy organization)).

Timeline: Key Events in Robert Redford’s Life

• 1936: Born in Santa Monica, California (Biography.com (biographical archive))
• 1958: Marries Lola Van Wagenen (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine))
• 1959: Son Scott dies of SIDS (Biography.com (biographical archive))
• 1981: Founds Sundance Institute (AARP (senior advocacy organization))
• 1985: Divorces Lola Van Wagenen (Biography.com (biographical archive))
• 2009: Marries Sibylle Szaggars (Biography.com (biographical archive))
• 2025: Dies at age 89 (AP News (wire service))

“He wanted to go quietly, without a fuss. That was Bob—private to the end.”

— Family spokesperson, as quoted in AP News (wire service)

“Bob was a man of contrasts. He could charm a room of studio executives, then disappear into the mountains for weeks. The son’s death never left him.”

— Friend, quoted in The New York Times (leading newspaper)

For the millions who grew up watching him on screen, Redford’s death closes a chapter. But the institutions he built—Sundance, the environmental campaigns, the films that defined a generation—will outlast him. The private struggles won’t define his legacy, but they do remind us that even the brightest lights carry shadows.

Related reading: **Henry Fonda: Life, Family, Relationships, and Legacy** · **Leonardo DiCaprio: Biography, Relationships & Health Rumors**

The legacy of the legendary actor and director is examined in the detailed report Robert Redford dies at 89, which covers the confirmed cause of death and his enduring impact on cinema.

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