The world mourned the loss of a true legend, Robert Redford, who passed away on Tuesday, September 16, at the age of 89. While Redford was a massive public figure, his family saw a different side of him. Now, his grandchildren are offering fans a rare glimpse into the private life of the beloved actor.
Conor Schlosser, Redford’s 33-year-old grandson, shared a touching tribute on social media shortly after his grandfather’s death. Conor, the son of Redford’s daughter Shauna Redford, posted an emotional message on Instagram. "He was a huge figure to the world, but to his family, he was simply that… family," Conor wrote. He ended his post with, "Rest in peace, Grandpa. 🐎 If anyone has a favorite anecdote about him they’d like to share, please DM me; I would love to collect them."
Conor’s Instagram post included several never-before-seen photos of the star. One picture showed Redford sitting behind a young Conor on horseback. Another captured Redford opening a gift, with Conor sitting next to him on the sofa. There was also a snapshot of them playing golf when Conor was a little boy. The collection also featured a couple of more recent pictures of Conor as an adult with his grandfather.
Robert Redford’s granddaughter, Lena Redford, also shared personal memories. Lena, 29, is the daughter of Redford’s late son, David James "Jamie" Redford. She posted a series of uncommon photos of her grandfather on her own Instagram account.
Lena’s post started with a photo much like Conor’s, showing Robert Redford behind her on a horse. A second photo showed Lena and her brother, Dylan Redford, on what looked like a movie set, with their grandfather seemingly directing. Other pictures in her tribute included an old photo of Redford smiling while hugging Lena, a picture of Lena with Robert and his wife, Sibylle Szaggars Redford, and an image of her, her father, and Robert together.
A statement from his publicist, Cindi Berger, to The New York Times confirmed the actor and director’s passing. She noted that he died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Utah. No specific cause of death was provided.
Redford’s amazing career began on Broadway with Barefoot in the Park. This led to a movie version in 1967 where he starred alongside Jane Fonda. He became a household name after playing the Sundance Kid in the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Redford continued to shine in many movies. These included classics like The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Brubaker (1980), and The Natural (1984).
In 1980, Redford made his directorial debut with Ordinary People. This film earned him an Oscar for Best Director. That same year, he founded the Sundance Institute, which later started the famous Sundance Film Festival.
Redford is survived by his wife, Sibylle, whom he married in 2009. They did not have children together. Robert had four children from his earlier marriage to Lola Van Wagenen. These were Scott, who passed away from sudden infant death syndrome, Shauna, David, who died in 2020, and Amy.