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

Few people know the whole story of the actor’s first marriage, even though millions of people are currently grieving for him. The man behind the renown was fashioned by the early chapter of passion, suffering, and resiliency that was the relationship.

The life of renowned actor, filmmaker, and environmentalist Robert Redford was full with praise, artistic endeavors, and personal struggles. Even though his films and the independent film movement he supported are what many remember him for, his first marriage to Lola Van Wagenen was a crucial aspect of his life.

Empty pockets, a dream on the verge of collapse, and youthful love
When Robert was still a restless young man attempting to establish himself, he started dating Lola. His early existence was greatly influenced by the relationship, which ended peacefully decades later.

The director’s journey to stardom was everything from simple. He struggled with early issues, including as frequent drinking that cost him a college athletic scholarship, while growing up in low circumstances in Southern California.

After pursuing his passion of becoming an artist, he eventually traveled to Europe before returning to the US with a renewed resolve to perform. Robert met Lola, a 17-year-old Utah college student, while he was about 20 years old and living in Los Angeles.

He made the decision to get married at the same time, which signaled the start of his life with Lola. His stint in Los Angeles came to an end when he and his spouse got married in 1958 and moved to New York City.

Robert took a leap of faith when he partnered with Lola, a young Mormon woman. Determined to prove to his family that he could be steady and dependable, Robert married her despite their limited finances.

“They were afraid that I might die young, never amount to anything, or sink straight to the bottom. “I wanted to disprove them,” he revealed.

The newlyweds had barely $300 between them and even borrowed a car to drive home after their wedding. They had modest meals and limited security during their early years in New York due to financial difficulties.

Tragic Events Occur in the Formative Years
They had a difficult first few years of marriage. A boy who was just five months old died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in 1959, causing the couple to experience the unthinkable. Robert was only 21 and Lola was only 20. At a time when Robert’s career was still in doubt, the loss pushed the pair into adulthood too soon and tried their fortitude.

“It was somewhat difficult. We were quite young. The first theater job I had was low-paying. Since we were ignorant about SIDS, your only thought is that you did something incorrectly. You tend to blame yourself as a parent. That leaves a scar that is unlikely to fully heal,” Robert said.

Promotion
He also admitted that he never really recovered from the loss of his newborn son. Though he and Lola went on to have more children and life resumed, the sadness lingered in subtle, often unrecognized ways.

He thought the experience left scars that gradually became apparent without his conscious awareness. The fact that he had been ill-prepared to deal with such a tragedy at such a young age added to this load.

Family, Notoriety, and More Heartache
The couple raised their three children, Shauna, David, and Amy Redford, in spite of their difficult beginning. Despite the success and recognition that Robert Redford’s work brought, the family never fared well.

As a teenager, their son David Redford experienced serious health issues, including ulcerative colitis-related liver difficulties that necessitated two transplants. The family was deeply affected by the incident. They struggled with impotence and terror as Robert rose to fame in Hollywood.

The marriage had naturally ended by the early 1980s. In 1985, Robert and Lola decided to get a divorce, which they said was mutually beneficial. Their children survived the separation with stability, and they were able to preserve a relationship of affection and respect, which is uncommon in divorces in Hollywood.

Nevertheless, Robert reflected when the marriage ended. “Those divorced showbiz victims are so predictable, and I never wanted to be one of them! I wanted to disprove the business and demonstrate that marriages could last. But I was unable to,” he acknowledged.

Lola Finds Her Voice in Film
Lola Van Wagenen followed in Robert’s footsteps and became a producer in the entertainment industry. Her most well-known documentaries include “The State of Marriage” (2015) and “American Experience” (1988).

Another notable accomplishment of hers is the 1961 chat show “The Mike Douglas Show.” Lola has been married to George Burrill since July 17, 2002. Vermont is where the pair resides.

Robert’s Second Chance at Love
Robert eventually found enduring friendship with Sibylle Szaggars, a German artist he met through the Sundance Institute, following his divorce from Lola. She is a truly unique individual. It’s a completely new life because she’s younger than me and European, which I adore,” Robert said.

Robert is 21 years older than Sibylle. But as their romance grew, they were married in 2009. At Hamburg, Germany’s opulent Louis C. Jacob Hotel, the pair exchanged vows in a small ceremony.

Only thirty family members and close friends attended their intimate wedding, despite his notoriety. The bride reportedly wore a champagne-colored gown, and the groom reportedly wore a white suit. Robert had endured decades of personal adversity in addition to his professional achievements by the time of their union.

More Perseverance, More Loss
The grief that characterized Robert’s family life frequently mirrored the themes found in his most well-known works, such as “Ordinary People.” The 1983 shooting death of Sidney Lee Wells, the boyfriend of his daughter Shauna, in Colorado exacerbated Robert’s inclination toward seclusion.

Years later, Shauna herself barely survived a horrific car accident in which her car was buried in water. Decades later, the family suffered their worst setback. David, Robert’s son, passed away from bile duct cancer in 2020 at the age of 58. David had battled liver issues since he was a teenager.

David had pursued a creative and activist career, using documentary filmmaking to dedicate his life to social and environmental justice. He had two children, Dylan and Lena, with his spouse, Kyle Redford.

The Effects of Loss and Love
Shauna, the 64-year-old eldest daughter of Lola and Robert, is now an artist. Since 1985, she and novelist Eric Schlosser have been wed. In Provo, Utah, on the lawn of her parents’ house, they were married.

Amy became a producer, director, and actor, further embracing the family’s movie heritage. She even got a little part in “Maid in Manhattan” with Natasha Richardson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jennifer Lopez.

Robert stood out as a person of extraordinary fortitude through both happy milestones and tragic life losses.

A Calm Good-Bye
Early on Tuesday morning, September 16, the Oscar-winning director and former movie star passed away at his Utah home. He was 89.

Cindi Berger, the CEO of the public relations firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, reported his death in the highlands outside of Provo. According to Cindi, he passed away quietly while sleeping with his loved ones by his side.

In the location that Robert loved the most, his life ended. He will be known as a filmmaker who supported independent filmmaking through the Sundance Institute and for his films, which frequently helped America understand itself.