Robert Redford was married twice. His first wife was Lola Van Wagenen, whom he married in Las Vegas in 1958. They had four children, and their marriage ended in divorce in the mid-1980s, commonly reported as 1985. Redford’s second wife was Sibylle Szaggars, a German artist. They were longtime partners before marrying in Hamburg in July 2009, and they remained married until Redford’s death on September 16, 2025.
Lola Van Wagenen was Robert Redford’s first wife
Robert Redford married Lola Van Wagenen in Las Vegas on August 9, 1958. Their marriage lasted more than two decades and began before Redford became one of Hollywood’s best-known actors and directors.
Redford and Van Wagenen had four children: Scott Anthony, Shauna, David James, and Amy. Their first child, Scott, died in infancy in 1959. Their son David James Redford later became a filmmaker and died in 2020. Their daughters, Shauna and Amy, pursued creative careers.
Van Wagenen also established a significant professional identity of her own. According to her biography from Clio Visualizing History, she became involved in public education, environmental and women’s issues, documentary production, and American-history education. She founded and served as president of Clio Visualizing History and was an executive producer of the PBS American Experience documentary Miss America: A Documentary Film.
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When did Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen divorce?
Redford and Van Wagenen’s marriage ended in the mid-1980s. The year 1985 is commonly reported by biographical and obituary sources, including coverage from The Guardian and Biography.com, as well as contemporary newspaper reporting.
There is some uncertainty in the available public record about the precise legal finalization details. For that reason, it is more accurate to say that they divorced in 1985, as commonly reported, rather than present a specific filing or finalization date as indisputable.
Public accounts also describe periods of separation, but the sources reviewed do not establish a definitive, on-the-record reason for the divorce. Claims about a particular cause should therefore not be treated as confirmed fact.
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Sibylle Szaggars became Robert Redford’s second wife
Sibylle Szaggars is a German artist. She and Redford had been together for years before they married, with biographical accounts placing their relationship in the 1990s and indicating that they were living together by the middle of that decade.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe exact beginning of their romance is described differently in secondary accounts, so a single first-meeting date cannot be stated confidently. The well-supported point is that Szaggars and Redford were long-term partners before their wedding.
Redford and Szaggars married in Hamburg, Germany, in July 2009. An Associated Press-linked report described a ceremony attended by family and friends, while other accounts give July 11, 2009, as the wedding date.
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They remained married until Redford died at age 89 on September 16, 2025. Following his death, obituary coverage identified Szaggars as his widow. She should therefore be described historically as Redford’s second wife or, after his death, his widow—not as his current wife.
Redford and Szaggars did not have children together. The four children associated with Redford’s family were from his first marriage to Van Wagenen.
Robert Redford’s relationship timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1958 | Robert Redford married Lola Van Wagenen in Las Vegas on August 9. |
| 1959 | The couple’s infant son Scott died. |
| 1960s–1970s | Redford and Van Wagenen raised their family as Redford’s acting career expanded. Van Wagenen later developed her own career in education, documentary production, history, environmental issues, and women’s issues. |
| Mid-1980s | Redford’s first marriage ended in divorce, commonly dated to 1985. |
| 1990s | Redford’s long-term relationship with artist Sibylle Szaggars developed; accounts place the couple living together by 1996. |
| July 2009 | Redford and Szaggars married in Hamburg, Germany. Some reports specify July 11. |
| October 2020 | Redford’s son David James, also known as James, died after a cancer-related illness. |
| September 16, 2025 | Robert Redford died at age 89. Szaggars was identified in subsequent reporting as his widow. |
What is known—and what is not—about the marriages
- Redford had two wives: Lola Van Wagenen and Sibylle Szaggars.
- Van Wagenen was his first wife and later his ex-wife. They married in 1958 and their marriage ended in the mid-1980s, commonly reported as 1985.
- Szaggars was his second wife. They married in Hamburg in July 2009 and stayed married until Redford’s death in 2025.
- The exact legal details of the first divorce are not consistently documented in the reviewed sources, so an exact filing or finalization date should be qualified.
- No definitive public reason for the first divorce is established by the authoritative sources reviewed.
- Redford and Szaggars did not have children together. Redford’s four children were from his marriage to Van Wagenen.
Further reading about Robert Redford
Readers who want a broader account of Redford’s career, personal life, and relationships may want to look for Michael Feeney Callan’s Robert Redford: The Biography. The book, published by Alfred A. Knopf, is available in print and electronic editions and is a more suitable starting point for a full biography than a short relationship summary.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Robert Redford’s first wife?
Robert Redford’s first wife was Lola Van Wagenen. They married in Las Vegas on August 9, 1958, had four children, and divorced in the mid-1980s, commonly reported as 1985.
Who was Robert Redford’s second wife?
His second wife was Sibylle Szaggars, a German artist. They were longtime partners before marrying in Hamburg, Germany, in July 2009.
Did Robert Redford and Sibylle Szaggars have children?
No. The four children associated with Redford’s family were from his first marriage to Lola Van Wagenen.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWhy did Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen divorce?
A definitive reason is not established by the authoritative sources reviewed. Public accounts document separation and the eventual divorce, but a specific cause should not be presented as confirmed fact.
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Was Sibylle Szaggars still Robert Redford’s wife when he died?
Yes. Redford and Szaggars remained married until his death on September 16, 2025. She was subsequently identified as his widow.
The Bottom Line
Robert Redford’s two wives were Lola Van Wagenen, whom he married in 1958 and divorced in the mid-1980s, and German artist Sibylle Szaggars, whom he married in Hamburg in July 2009. Szaggars remained his wife until Redford’s death on September 16, 2025.
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