Robert Redford Opens Up About Infant Son's Death

By Catherine Donaldson-Evans Posted Jan 21st 2011 12:05PM

The famously private Robert Redford has never fully recovered from the tragic SIDS death of his baby boy more than 50 years ago, he says in a rare interview.

Redford's son with first wife Lola Van Wagenen died of sudden infant death syndrome when he was only 5 months old, in 1959.

"It was really hard," Redford, 74, tells AARP The Magazine for its March/April cover story. "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."

Redford and Van Wagenen, whom he divorced in 1985 after almost 30 years of marriage, had three other children together. The actor, director and founder of the Sundance Film Festival remained single until 2009, when he married longtime girlfriend Sibylle Szaggars.

"She's a very special person," he says of his current wife. "She's younger than I am, and European, which I like, so that's a whole new life."

As for how he's been able to stay private, even as he rose to stardom and became one of the greatest and most prolific film actors of his generation, Redford says it has always just been about the work for him. Until recently, that is.

"When I got into the business, I had this naive idea that I'd let my work speak for me. I just was never interested in talking about myself," he tells AARP. "However, we're in such a different time and celebrity is so much in the mainstream. I thought, 'I might as well enter this zone, but go a toe at a time.'"

He also has treated fame very gingerly.

"I dealt with it the way I wanted to," Redford says. "I felt that if you were fortunate enough to have success, you should shadowbox with it but never embrace it, because it has a demon side."

It still sometimes surprises the star of 'The Horse Whisperer,' 'Indecent Proposal,' 'The Sting' and more than 60 other films that he became an actor in the first place, he says.

"I never imagined being an actor. I wanted to get a formal education in art so I could go back to Europe and paint," he says. "Something clicked. It was the beginning of everything coming into focus with me."

At 74, Redford still remembers "going into hiding" when he turned 40 -- while his close friend Jane Fonda threw herself a big bash for the same birthday. Since then, he has learned to accept but not obsess about aging and stay active along the way.

"I ride horses, ski, play pretty hard tennis. I still have energy. When that starts to shut down, I might start to think about age," he says. "When you get older, you learn certain life lessons. You apply that wisdom, and suddenly you say, 'Hey, I've got a new lease on this thing. So let's go.'"

Redford, whose most recent project is as director of 'The Conspirator,' does take issue with being called a "living legend" because it makes him sound close to the end. And he is anything but.

"That really bothers me," he tells the magazine. "Does that mean I'm bronzed? Whoa! It's not over yet, folks!"

Tags: robert redford

Comments

(124)

Friday 21 January

By cxisbestis

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SIDS, aka "I don't want this baby I'll just kill it. But I'm female! It's not selfish!"

Saturday 22 January

By karsim123

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You need some mental help ASAP

By Steven D. Logan

Great interview with Robert Redford. I met him and his wife in Napa Valley CA. We had a chance to visit. He's a super guy. A very nice person. I don't have a lot of respect for many of the folks in the intertainment industry, but I respect him and enjoy his work.

By Melissa

Robert Redford was and is a wonderful actor. He was a natural for any part he played. My favorite movie of his was "The Way We Were". He's still an attractive man and in great shape. I wish him well, and continued success.

By megan

another hollywood egocentric whose mantra is do as i say..not as i do...hypocrit

By Carl

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A great actor and a great person. He's been a good citizen of this planet for most of his years - keep active, Robert! You're an inspiration to millions.

By jckfmsincty

He's the most attractive man ever to have appeared in movies.

By Michael Nelson

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Redford is great, he has done so many wonderful films. As a top of the line director and actor who no longer needs to concern himself with money, I wish he and other well known actors and directors would get involved on politics. If they didn't want to serve in office, they could heavily promote candidates that really know how to turn things around and wouldn't sell us out like current crooked politicians in Washington DC.....

By Geoff

Robert Redford's greatest movies was
Jeremiah Johnson circa 1976. The
storyline, plot, characters and scenery
was magnificent !

Sunday 23 January

By doneldathomas

THAT WAS A GREAT MOVIE>>>HE WAS SO HANDSOME IN THAT MOVIE....

By urbisoler

I always liked Redford movies - even after I learned of his liberal credentials. But he is diminished in my eyes for leaving a wife of 30 years and 4 kids for a trophy wife. The trouble is that people look up to Hollywood types as role models. Big mistake! Hollywood is riddled with drug, alcohol, marriage and sex abuses of the worst kind. It is their Liberal attitude that supports and defends such behavior. There was another Hollywood some years ago. The one I grew up with. No, not perfect. But secure enough in knowing who they were to run headlong in defense of the country when needed.

By Joanne

Hollywood hasn't really changed. Years ago the studios controlled what was in the media. There were many scandals that were kept under wraps by the studio bosses.

By jjbeens1

So,what happened to his first wife of 30 years? Did she marry a younger man.....?? give me a break........heal this!!!

By Josie

He divorces his wife of 30 years and marries his "longtime girlfriend." The "longtime girlfriend" was on the scene while he was still married. Typical mid life crisis fool.

By Linda

You need to learn the facts or at least READ the article. He was divorced in 1985 and didn't marry again until 2009. Yes, she was a longtime girlfriend but he did NOT even know her when the first marriage ended.

My Aunt owned the last neighborhood theater in our town when he became a superstar in "The Way We Were". I worked there for several years but I'll always remember when that film came out. I may have been way too young but he was my first screen crush... That is, besides Cary Grant who had a charm of his own.

Monday 24 January

By m michini

I think we all really need to get a life. Smile!!

By seeineye1

is abortion a SID

By Maureen Bucher

how stupid are u?

By Kit

Robert Redford for me, is the best actor in the world. I believe that he is very like the person you see in his movies. That smile, says it all. Many, Many more years Bob. We well.

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