Robert Redford Remembered by Grandchildren Through Exclusive Family Photos

Tributes and timeless memories: The touching, exclusive images that were shared by the icon's grandkids, one of whom interviewed the actor in 2016, come after the tragic news of the filmmaker's demise.

A treasure trove of deeply emotional, never-before-seen family photos has been revealed by the grandchildren of screen legend Robert Redford, after his death rocked Hollywood and the world.

Shauna Redford's son, Conor Schlosser, along with James Redford's daughter Lena Hart Redford and her brother Dylan Redford, all paid tribute in a flood of heartfelt memories, captured in candid moments and emotional family snapshots that speak volumes about the man who meant everything to them, and so much to millions more.

'He Was Simply That…Family': Conor Schlosser's Heartfelt Photo Tribute

Conor shared a deeply personal collection of photographs on Instagram alongside a heartfelt caption. "He was larger than life to the world, but to his family, he was simply that…family. Rest in peace, Grandpa 🐎," he wrote.

Among the touching collection? A beaming Robert in a striped shirt, basking in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, as Conor wraps his arm around him in a moment of pure affection.

In another striking image, the two men share a quiet dinner at a softly lit restaurant, a simple yet powerful exchange between generations that glows with love and mutual respect.

Amid the more recent snaps came the childhood memories: a black-and-white photo of young Conor on a golf course, standing beside his grandfather, who kneels in a moment of innocent mentorship, frozen in time.

Another displays a candid holiday scene, with Conor sitting beside his grandfather, who attempts to open a big gift, as another loved one looks on.

But it's the cover image that's etched into hearts: Robert on horseback, strong and steady, with a young Conor sitting in front — both gazing into the horizon, as though dreaming the same dream.

"If anyone has a favorite story of him you'd like to share, please send it to me in a private message — I'd love to collect them," penned Conor at the end of his caption.

Lena Redford's Red Heart and Deeply Personal Homage to a Grandfather's Love

Lena paid her respects with a simple, powerful gesture: a red heart emoji, and a carousel of photographs that showed the man known to millions as a film icon, but to her, simply grandpa.

One photo captures two vintage black-and-white snapshots pinned to a wall — one of Lena riding horseback with Robert, the other of her as a toddler atop a pony, evoking a deep connection to nature and to her grandfather's Western spirit.

Another photo reveals Lena in her teenage years, standing between her late father, James, and her grandfather, the three of them sharing a quiet moment at what appears to be a public gathering.

One especially moving image shows Lena snuggling against Robert's shoulder, glowing with emotion, as his widow Sibylle Szaggars smiles tenderly beside them. In her hands, Lena holds a framed picture of herself as a child — a photo within a photo, layering the past and present in one hauntingly beautiful moment.

Another treasure from 1999 shows Robert holding Lena in his arms, both cozy in thick winter coats, and smiling freely — a frozen snapshot of joy.

A different nostalgic image shows Robert squatting between Lena and his grandson (Lena's brother), Dylan, on a film set. The trio stares intently at a massive camera rig, their shared passion for storytelling literally focused on the same lens.

Through every shared frame, Lena's message was clear: her grandfather's legacy isn't just embedded in the iconic films he was a part of, but in the moments he made matter.

A Family Framed in Red Hair and Emotion

The tributes continued in Lena's Instagram Stories, where she posted a candid photo of a graduation celebration — a sea of redheaded family members gathered close, and dressed in jeans, sundresses, and cozy knits.

To the left, almost out of frame, Robert stands apart, striped shirt on, wearing a knowing grin that seemed to say he was exactly where he wanted to be.

Like his sister, Dylan (James's son) shared his own dedication through a touching, since-expired Instagram Story, pairing his words with a photo that captured both reverence and affection. In the image, Dylan stands beside his grandfather, his arm resting gently on Robert's shoulder.

Overlaying the image were Dylan's own heartfelt words, which read, "He was the best grampa a grandson could ask for." Beneath that, he continued, "He also made amazing things, helped others make amazing things, and tried to make the world a better place."

In just a few lines, Dylan managed to encapsulate the duality of a man who shaped the world — and his family — with both purpose and heart.

The deep affection Robert's grandchildren feel for him is rooted in a bond that had formed long before their heartfelt tributes. When they were young, they had their own way of referring to the film legend — sidestepping the traditional grandfather title for something far more endearing and personal.

'Bo-Pa' and 'Ba-Poo': The Playful Side of a Legend

Depending on who was speaking, he was either "Bo-Pa" or "Ba-Poo," sweet and silly nicknames that reflected both the intimacy of their connection and Robert's gentle resistance to being seen as the stereotypical elder.

"The word grandfather is weird," he once asserted. "It feels like some old guy in a robe." That persona — playful, grounded, and deeply human — seemed to define his role in their lives.

That playful spirit — the one that answered to Bo-Pa and Ba-Poo — was matched by a quiet reverence Robert held for the younger generation. In later years, he spoke candidly about watching his children come into their own, expressing a desire not to steer them, but to step aside and let them flourish.

"I feel I'm at a point where, beyond encouraging them, I can step not completely away, but step aside, so they can take the thing and run with it," he once said. "Basically, they're inheriting what I started, and they're going to keep it going with my grandchildren."

The Legacy of Sundance and a Dolphin Named Lokia

Part of that legacy is rooted in nature itself. Robert had long been a steward of the land around his beloved Sundance resort in Utah's Provo Canyon — a portion of which has since been preserved as wilderness under the Sundance Preserve.

The balance between public image and private life was something Robert worked hard to protect, and it's a theme that surfaced powerfully in a 2016 interview he gave to his grandson Dylan. The conversation, deeply personal yet peppered with humor, revealed the unique challenges that came with being both a family man and a global icon.

Dylan recalled feeling confused and overwhelmed when Robert attended his fourth-grade Grandparents' Day — classmates asking questions, even delivering fan mail through coded notes from their own relatives. For Dylan, it was a wild realization: his grandfather wasn't just Bo-Pa, he was the Robert Redford.

Robert, in turn, remembered the moment as "very disturbing," noting how quickly he shifted from being a doting grandparent to a celebrity fielding autograph requests.

Still, that interview also revealed the core of what made Robert such a grounding figure: his quiet commitment to protecting family from the noise of fame. "How can I raise a family and not let outside stuff intrude?" he reflected. It was a question he took seriously, and one his grandchildren never stopped appreciating.

"It's always felt to us that you are first and foremost our grandfather [...] I think it's something that you've clearly put a lot of thought and effort into making," shared Dylan.

Just a few years after that intimate interview, Dylan managed to pull his grandfather back into the spotlight — if only briefly. Though Redford had largely stepped away from acting, he couldn't resist when Dylan asked him to lend his voice to the offbeat film "Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia." With a grin, Redford agreed to play the role of a dolphin named Lokia, joking, "At least I'm not a whale."

The project premiered at Sundance, the very festival Robert had founded decades earlier to give young filmmakers a platform. For Dylan, it was the beginning of a budding career. For Robert, it was one more chance to show his support — proving that even in retirement, he never stopped making space for the next generation.

Dylan Redford's Dyslexia and the Redford Family's Courageous Legacy

That sense of encouragement extended beyond film, particularly when it came to supporting his late son's documentary project, which highlighted a medical condition affecting James's son, Dylan.

Dylan himself has spoken openly about living with severe dyslexia, a condition that made even simple tasks, like opening a school locker, feel insurmountable during his childhood.

His struggles became part of "The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia," the documentary directed by his father, which premiered at Sundance in 2012. The project highlighted both the challenges and the creative strengths that often come with dyslexia, and Robert was said to be deeply proud of his grandson's honesty and courage in sharing his story.

For the Redfords, it was yet another reminder that resilience, like artistry, runs in the family — a legacy Robert leaves behind not just in cinema, but in the lives of those who loved him most.

A Quiet Passing in 'The Place He Loved'

The film legend sadly passed away at 89 years old on September 16, 2025. Although no further details were given regarding his demise, Cindi Berger, the chief executive of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, stated that he passed away in "the place he loved [sic] surrounded by those he loved."