Scott Anthony Redford: The Sad Story of Robert Redfords First Son

Scott Anthony Redford was the celebrity son of Robert Redford and his ex-wife Lola Van Wagenen, who passed away not long after birth. Here’s all we know about him. 

Robert Redford is one of the most critically acclaimed Hollywood actors with a long-lasting career in the industry. He has a couple of children, but many do not know that his firstborn child, Scott, had an untimely death. 

What happened to Scott, and how did his parents survive the death of their first child? Keep reading to find out. 

Who Was Scott Anthony Redford?

Scott Anthony Redford was the firstborn child of Robert Redford and his ex-wife, Lola Van Wagenen. He was born on September 1, 1959, in New York, Manhattan. 

His father, Robert Redford, is a prominent actor, director, and film producer in the entertainment industry, while his mother, Lola, is a historian. Robert is of English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry, making Scott a descendant with the same heritage. Due to his untimely death, there isn’t a lot to be said about Scott, as he never got the chance to attend school or become someone. 

What Happened to Scott Anthony Redford?

Scott Anthony Redford died unexpectedly on November 19, 1959, when he was only two and a half months old. His sudden death was entirely unexpected, as he was healthy until he died. 

He died of a condition called SIDS, which stands for Sudden Infant Syndrome. SIDS is the sudden unexplained death of a baby or an infant who is younger than one year old. A diagnosis is confirmed if the cause of the baby’s death remains unknown after a thorough autopsy, death scene investigation, and clinical history review has been done. 

The condition is also called crib death, as it often happens when infants are asleep in their cribs. This was also the case for Scott, as he was healthy until he passed away quietly in his sleep. 

As the condition gives no prior warnings or signs, Robert and his wife were shocked and devastated when Scott died. The actor rarely speaks about Scott publicly because of how painful that experience was for him. However, in an interview with Esquire in November 2017, Robert took some time to speak on his first son’s death.

He said, 

“I was only 21; my wife was 20. We were just starting our lives; I was just starting my career in New York. Of course, it was traumatic, and how that plays out over time, I don’t know. We had to deal with it. You have to move on. And we had other children who came. But something like that doesn’t get completely dismissed. It probably shows up in various small ways you’re not even aware of.”

Scott is buried in Provo City Cemetery in Provo, Utah, and his parents and siblings often pay their respects on his birthday and other random occasions. 

Robert Redford’s Children

Scott was Robert’s first child, but he was not the last. He welcomed three more children with his ex-wife, Lola Van Wagenen, and is now a grandfather of seven! Let’s meet all three of them.  

Shauna Redford 

The “All Is Lost” actor welcomed his second child and first daughter, Shauna Jean Redford, on November 15, 1960, almost a year after the passing of their first child. They were reportedly scared initially but decided to keep the child and ensure she had the best life. 

She grew up to be a fantastic woman with a successful career, making her parents very proud. Shauna attended the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating with an art degree in 1985. Later that year, in October, she married her husband, Eric Schlosser, at a private ceremony at her parents’ home in Provo Canyon, Utah. 

The couple welcomed two beautiful children, Mica and Connor Schlosser, during their marriage and are still standing firm after almost 40 years of marriage. 

David James Redford

The actor’s second son was David James, born May 5, 1962. He grew up with his siblings in their parents’ home in Utah and had a close bond with his family members. 

Sadly, death struck the family again when James died on October 16, 2020. He battled many medical conditions during his time alive, which saw him undergo two transplant surgeries before his death. 

James eventually died of bile duct cancer in his home, and his wife of 32 years, Kyle Redford, announced this in a Twitter post. 

Amy Redford

Amy Redford is the family’s last child, born on October 22, 1970. She grew up between Utah and New York but now resides in San Francisco, where she studied theater at San Francisco State University. She is currently an established filmmaker and director, just like her father. 

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