Who Is Lola Van Wagenen — Inside Robert Redford's First Marriage

While millions now mourn the actor, few know the full story that marked his first marriage. The union was an early chapter of passion, pain, and resilience that shaped the man behind the fame.

Robert Redford, the legendary actor, director, and environmental advocate, lived a life filled with acclaim, artistry, and personal trials. While the world remembers him for his films and the independent cinema movement he helped champion, his first marriage to Lola Van Wagenen was an equally defining part of his story.

Young Love, Empty Pockets, and a Dream on the Brink

Robert and Lola's relationship began when he was still a restless young man trying to prove himself. The union shaped much of his early life before ending decades later on amicable terms.

The director's path to fame was far from straightforward. Growing up in Southern California in modest circumstances, he wrestled with early struggles, including heavy drinking that cost him a college athletic scholarship.

He eventually drifted to Europe chasing a dream of becoming an artist before finding his way back to the US with a new determination to act. At around 20 years old in Los Angeles, Robert crossed paths with Lola, a 17-year-old college student from Utah.

At the same time, he chose to settle down in marriage, a step that marked the beginning of his life with Lola. The two married in 1958 and settled in New York City, a move that marked the end of his time living in Los Angeles.

Lola, a young Mormon woman, became Robert's partner in what was then a leap of faith. Determined to prove to his family that he could be stable and dependable, Robert married her despite their modest means.

"They feared that I was going to go off the deep end, or that I would never amount to anything, or die at an early age. I wanted to prove them wrong," he shared.

The newlyweds had just $300 between them and even borrowed a car to drive home after their wedding. Their early years in New York were financially strained, with simple meals and little security.

Tragedy Strikes in the Early Years

The first years of their marriage were filled with struggle. In 1959, the unimaginable happened when the couple lost their first child, a son, to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at just five months old. Lola was only 20, and Robert was just 21. The loss forced the couple into adulthood quickly, testing their resilience at a time when Robert's career was still uncertain.

"It was really hard. We were very young. I had my first theater job, which didn't pay much. We didn't know anything about SIDS, so the only thing you think is that you've done something wrong. As a parent, you tend to blame yourself. That creates a scar that probably never completely heals," Robert opened up.

He also acknowledged that the loss of his newborn son never fully left him. Though he and Lola went on to have other children and life continued forward, the grief lingered in subtle, often unrecognized ways.

He believed the trauma left marks that surfaced unconsciously over time. This burden was made heavier by how unprepared he had been to face such a tragedy at such a young age.

Fame, Family, and More Heartbreak

Despite the couple's painful beginning, they went on to raise their three children, Shauna, David, and Amy Redford. Robert Redford's career began to flourish, bringing fame and acclaim, but the family was never far from hardship.

Their son David Redford developed severe health problems as a teenager, including liver complications from ulcerative colitis that required two transplants. The experience weighed heavily on the family. As Robert became a Hollywood icon, they were grappling with fear and helplessness.

By the early 1980s, the marriage had reached its natural end. Robert and Lola chose to divorce in 1985, describing the decision as mutual and ultimately positive for both. They managed to maintain a bond of respect and affection, a rare outcome in Hollywood divorces, and their children came through the split with stability.

Still, the dissolution of the marriage left Robert reflective. "I never wanted to be one of those divorced showbusiness casualties - so predictable! I wanted to prove that a marriage could last and prove the business wrong. But I couldn't," he admitted.

Lola Finds Her Voice in Film

Like Robert, Lola Van Wagenen also pursued a path in show business, building a career as a producer. She is best known for her documentary work, including "American Experience" in 1988 and "The State of Marriage" in 2015.

She is also known for the 1961 talk show "The Mike Douglas Show." Since July 17, 2002, Lola has been married to George Burrill. The couple lives in Vermont.

A Second Chance at Love for Robert

After his divorce from Lola, Robert also eventually found lasting companionship with Sibylle Szaggars, a German artist he met through the Sundance Institute. "She's a very special person. She's younger than I am, and European, which I like, so that's a whole new life," Robert shared.

Sibylle is a German-born artist and is 21 years younger than Robert. However, their relationship blossomed, leading to a 2009 wedding. The couple exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony at the luxurious Louis C. Jacob Hotel in Hamburg, Germany.

Despite his fame, their wedding was private, with only 30 family members and close friends. According to reports, the bride wore a champagne-colored gown, while the groom donned a white suit. By the time of their union, Robert had weathered decades of personal hardship alongside his professional triumphs.

More Loss, More Perseverance

Robert's family life had been marked by grief that often echoed the themes of his most acclaimed work, including "Ordinary People." In 1983, his daughter Shauna's boyfriend, Sidney Lee Wells, was fatally shot in Colorado, a tragedy that deepened Robert's tendency toward privacy.

Shauna herself narrowly survived a terrifying car accident years later when her vehicle became submerged in water. The family's deepest blow came decades afterward. Robert's son David, who had struggled with liver complications since adolescence, died in 2020 at age 58 from cancer of the bile ducts.

David had followed a path of activism and creativity, dedicating his life to social and environmental justice through documentary filmmaking. He was married to Kyle Redford, with whom he shared two children, Dylan and Lena.

The Legacy of Love and Loss

Today, Lola and Robert's eldest daughter, Shauna, 64, is an artist and has been married Eric Schlosser, an author, since in 1985. The ceremony took place on the lawn of her parents' home in Provo, Utah.

Amy also embraced the family's cinematic legacy, becoming a producer, director, and actress. She even landed a small role in "Maid in Manhattan" alongside Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, and Natasha Richardson.

Through both joyful milestones and heartbreaking losses of life, Robert stood out as a figure of remarkable resilience.

A Peaceful Farewell

The big-screen charmer turned Oscar-winning director died early Tuesday morning, on September 16, at his home in Utah. He was 89.

His passing, in the mountains outside Provo, was announced by Cindi Berger, chief executive of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK. Cindi said he died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones.

Robert's life came to a close in the place he cherished most. He will be remembered for his films, which often helped America understand itself and as a director who championed independent cinema through the Sundance Institute.