Robert Redford First Wife Lola Van Wagenen: Marriage, Children, Divorce, Life Afterward
Robert Redford’s first wife was Lola Van Wagenen, an American historian and activist. They married long before he became a defining Hollywood star, built a family together, and later divorced after decades of marriage. If you’re looking for the “who” behind the headline, Lola’s story is more than “Redford’s ex”—she created her own identity through education, environmental work, and history projects.
Who Is Robert Redford?
Robert Redford was an American actor, director, producer, and environmental advocate who became one of the most influential screen figures of the 20th century. He starred in classics that shaped modern American cinema, then expanded into directing and producing with the same instinct for storytelling. He also became synonymous with independent film through the Sundance legacy, helping create a pipeline for smaller, riskier movies to reach audiences.
Even when his career was at its loudest, Redford’s personal life often stayed quieter than the public expected. That privacy is part of why his early marriage still draws interest: it was the foundation years—before the legend was fully formed.
Who Was Robert Redford’s First Wife?
Robert Redford’s first wife was Lola Van Wagenen. She is widely known today as a historian and activist, and she built a public life around education and community-focused work rather than Hollywood. During their marriage, she was sometimes referred to as “Lola Redford,” but her professional identity grew in its own direction over time.
Because she did not pursue celebrity in the tabloid sense, the public often reduces her to a relationship label. The more accurate view is that she was a young woman who married a future movie icon—and then spent decades developing her own work, largely away from cameras.
How Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen Met
Redford and Van Wagenen met in Los Angeles in the late 1950s, when both were young and still figuring out who they would become. Their relationship began before Redford’s biggest fame, which is important context: this wasn’t a marriage formed around red carpets and premieres. It was formed during early adulthood, when life is usually more about survival, ambition, and learning how to build stability.
They ultimately eloped, choosing a simple, fast commitment rather than a highly staged wedding moment.
When Did They Get Married?
Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen married in 1958. The marriage is often described as taking place in Las Vegas, reflecting the classic “young couple, quick decision” feel of the era. At the time, Redford was still on the rise, and their life together included the kind of pressures that come with building a career in a competitive industry while raising a family.
For many fans, it’s surprising to learn how early this marriage began—because Redford’s most iconic films came later. In other words, Lola was there before the world decided he was Robert Redford.
The Children They Had Together
Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen had four children together. Their family story includes both joy and tragedy, and it’s one reason the first marriage remains a meaningful chapter in Redford’s biography.
- Scott Anthony Redford (their first child), who died in infancy from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Shauna Redford, who grew up largely outside Hollywood celebrity culture.
- James Redford, who became known for his work in documentary filmmaking and advocacy; he died in 2020 after health struggles.
- Amy Redford, who has pursued creative work and remained part of the public record mainly through family context rather than tabloid visibility.
That blend—private children, public father—helps explain why so much of this family history is shared only at a high level. Redford was famous, but the family was not marketed as a constant public story.
When Did Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen Divorce?
Most widely repeated biographies place their divorce in the mid-1980s, commonly reported as 1985. By then, Redford was firmly established as a major star and filmmaker, and their marriage had spanned the transformation from “young couple starting out” to “global celebrity household.”
While the exact emotional reasons for their split were never treated as public entertainment in the way celebrity divorces often are today, the consistent public understanding is simple: they separated after a long marriage, and they continued forward as co-parents in a family shaped by both fame and loss.
Who Is Lola Van Wagenen Beyond the Marriage?
Lola Van Wagenen is widely described as a historian and activist, and her work shows a clear pattern: education, social issues, and environmental awareness. She has been credited with co-founding consumer and environmental initiatives and later pursued extensive academic training, including advanced degrees in public history and American history.
She also became associated with history-focused media and educational projects. In plain terms, she didn’t stay frozen as “an ex-wife from the past.” She built a serious second act—one rooted in learning, activism, and public education.
Lola Van Wagenen’s Life After Robert Redford
After divorcing Redford, Lola continued living a relatively private life compared to typical celebrity-adjacent figures. She later remarried, choosing a personal path that stayed largely outside entertainment coverage. Her public footprint has remained centered on her work and her education rather than on celebrity culture.
This is also why information about her can feel “thin” online. She isn’t hidden—she’s simply not performing her life for public consumption.
Robert Redford’s Life After His First Marriage
Redford later married German artist Sibylle Szaggars. Their relationship was also known for privacy, and it reflected Redford’s long-running preference for keeping personal life quieter than professional life. While Redford remained a cultural figure until the end of his life, his relationships were rarely treated as a spectacle on his terms.
