Robert Redford was born on August 18, 1936, and has had a life that few people can equal. However, the successful actor, who had polio as a youngster, also experienced a great deal of heartbreak and tragedy.
Robert Redford was a self-described “terrible student” who lost his scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder after he began drinking frequently. Redford worked as a janitor at The Sink, the town’s oldest restaurant, while living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
The Denver Post reports that Redford has not forgotten his experience at the eatery. He donned a shirt with The Sink’s renowned emblem at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018.
When Robert was younger and believed he was the target of a lot of criticism, he could always count on his mother for comfort.
The only person who stood by him was his mom, he remarked in 2018 at the Sundance Film Festival Utah Women’s Leadership Celebration.
All things considered, she simply had trust that he had something in him that was going to turn out OK, he stated.
He regarded his Texan-born mother, Martha Hart, as an adventurous person who always saw the bright side of things. He also attributes his great attraction to women to her.
Unfortunately, his loving mother died while he was just 40 years old. An unexpected uncommon blood illness was the reason for the death.
She had a hemorrhage related to a blood disease she received after losing twin girls at birth 10 years after he was born, he explained, adding that his mom had been informed that another pregnancy would be risky.
She was desperate for a family, so she became pregnant again, Redford recalled, adding that his mother’s death seemed so unjust.
Redford, who was just 18 when he had to bury his loving mom, stated his greatest regret was not saying ”thank you” to her.
Following his mother’s death, Redford traveled around Europe, subsequently studying painting at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and taking studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Still reeling from his mom’s death, he took solace in his first marriage to Mormon girl Lola Van Wagenen. Three years after his mom’s death, the pair married. The actor, who was 22 at the time, stated that the relationship “saved his life” at the time.
Lola Van Wagenen and Robert Redford were married for 27 years and had 4 kids together. Unfortunately, their first child, Scott Redford, died at a young age, shocking his parents to their core.
Scott Redford died at the age of 2 and a half months, and the reason for his passing was sudden infant death syndrome. The well-known actor blamed himself for not checking on his child sooner.
It took a long time for Robert to speak publicly about Scott’s death, however after 52 years, he eventually did so in an interview.
They were rather young since they didn’t know anything about SIDS, all one could imagine was that you’d done something wrong, he stated. As a parent, one tend to blame oneself, he said. This leaves a scar that will very certainly never recover entirely.
Unexpected infant death syndrome (SIDS) was described in 1969 and is now the top cause of mortality among infants aged one month to one year.
Though SIDS remains unpredictable, you may assist lower your infant’s risk, and we now know far more about the syndrome than parents did in the 1950s.
Scott Redford, born in September 1959, was laid to rest at his parents’ house in Provost, Utah. Sadly, this would not be the last time Robert Redford had to bury his own kid.
Robert Redford’s third child was James Redford, also known as Jamie. Lola Van Wagenen and Robert Redford gave birth to him in 1962.
Jamie, a filmmaker and environmentalist, had allegedly suffered with health issues since his boyhood. He was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a rare autoimmune illness affecting the liver, according to his IMDb website.
After receiving two liver transplants in 1993, he founded the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about organ and tissue donation.
James’ cancer was diagnosed in November 2019 while he was waiting for a liver transplant following the recurrence of his liver ailment two years prior, as per his wife Kyle.
James died in October 2020, at the age of 58, from bile-duct carcinoma in his liver. A representative for Robert Redford told that the actor is mourning with his family during this sad time and requests privacy.
The pain associated with the death of a kid is indescribable, the representative stated.
Jamie was a devoted son, husband, and parent. His kids, art, films, and determined enthusiasm for conservation and the environment carry on his legacy.
After 60 years in the industry, Robert Redford stated that his final picture, The Old Man & The Gun, will be released in 2018. He has kept pretty quiet after retiring from performing, however he still has a few directing and producing projects to finish.
When reminiscing on his life and profession, the 86-year-old recalled the most difficult moment of his life.
I had no clue this Hollywood star had gone through such sorrow; losing his mother and two kids must have been devastating.
