Robert Redford. The name alone brings a flood of images—golden hair, blue eyes, that sly smile. He was the Sundance Kid, the Great Gatsby, the man every woman wanted and every man wanted to be. But behind all the glitz, behind the Hollywood magic, Redford’s real story is raw, honest, and heartbreakingly human. And now, at 88, he’s finally letting the world in on his greatest secret: the love he never got over, and the regrets that still haunt him.

This isn’t the fairy tale Hollywood sells. This is the truth—messy, beautiful, and unforgettable.

**THE GIRL WHO CHANGED EVERYTHING**

Before he was a legend, Robert Redford was just a kid from Santa Monica. His life wasn’t glamorous. His dad worked long hours as an accountant, his mom kept the family afloat, and young Bob was more interested in tennis and painting than school. He flunked out of college, drank too much, and drifted through Europe, broke but free. He could’ve disappeared into obscurity, but the universe had other plans.

Then came Lola Van Wagenen. She was everything he wasn’t—steady, spiritual, grounded in her Mormon faith. Robert was wild, restless, a dreamer. But when their worlds collided in the late 1950s, sparks flew. They eloped in 1958, just two crazy kids running from expectations. It wasn’t easy. They lived in tiny apartments, scraping by, Robert chasing acting gigs while Lola believed in him, even when nobody else did.

Tragedy struck early. Their first son, Scott, died of sudden infant death syndrome. It nearly destroyed them. But instead of breaking apart, they clung to each other. Lola became Robert’s anchor, the one person who saw the man behind the movie star. He’s called her “the love of my life”—and you can hear the ache in his voice even now.

**FAME, FAMILY, AND THE COST OF SUCCESS**

Redford’s big break came on Broadway, and Hollywood came calling fast. Suddenly, he was everywhere—“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Way We Were,” “The Sting.” Fame exploded around him. But fame is a double-edged sword. While Robert was off filming for months, Lola was home raising their three kids—Shauna, David, and Amy. The distance grew. The pressures mounted.

Redford admits now that he was too focused on his career, too hungry to prove himself. “I wish I’d put my family first more often,” he confesses, voice heavy with regret. But back then, he couldn’t see another way. He was chasing something—maybe validation, maybe escape, maybe just the next big story.

Still, Lola was always there. She supported his wild ideas, like starting the Sundance Film Festival. Without her, there might not even be a Sundance. But by the mid-80s, the cracks were too deep. After 27 years, they divorced. It wasn’t ugly. There was no tabloid war. Just two people who’d loved as hard as they could, letting go.

**THE WOMEN WHO CAME AFTER—AND WHY NONE COULD REPLACE HER**

After Lola, Redford’s life shifted. He dated bold, brilliant women—Sonia Braga, Lena Olin, even a quiet romance with costume designer Kathy O’Rear. Each brought something new, something wild or grounding. But none could fill the space Lola left. Even Jane Fonda, his iconic co-star, once admitted she was in love with him, but their connection was always more complicated than just romance.

Redford threw himself into work—directing, producing, building Sundance into a haven for indie filmmakers. He found meaning in activism, in art, in giving new voices a shot. But the love story that shaped him—the one that defined his life—was always with Lola.

**A SECOND CHANCE AT HAPPINESS**

It wasn’t until later in life that Redford found peace. In the late 1990s, he met Sibylle Szaggars, an artist and environmental activist. She didn’t know him as a movie star, just as a man. That, he says, was the magic. They married quietly in 2009. Together, they built a life focused on art, nature, and activism—far from the Hollywood spotlight.

With Sibylle, Redford found a new kind of love. Gentle. Supportive. Real. But he never pretended it erased the past. He carries his losses with him—his son Scott, who died as a baby; his son James, who passed away from cancer in 2020. “The pain never goes away,” Redford says. “You just learn to live with it.”

**THE LEGACY HE LEAVES BEHIND**

Redford’s children and grandchildren are his pride. Shauna is an artist, Amy a filmmaker, James was a storyteller and activist. Even his grandson Dylan has stepped into the family’s creative legacy. Redford’s greatest joy? Watching them find their own voices, their own paths.

He’s starred in classics, directed Oscar-winning films, and changed the face of independent cinema. But in the end, he says, it’s the people you love that matter most.

**THE CONFESSION THAT SHOCKED HOLLYWOOD**

So why did Robert Redford keep this love story secret for so long? Maybe because he’s always been more comfortable letting his characters do the talking. Maybe because the pain was too raw, the memories too precious. But at 88, he’s ready to admit it: “Lola was the love of my life. I wouldn’t be who I am without her.”

That’s the confession that breaks your heart and heals it at the same time. The Hollywood legend, the heartthrob, the icon—he’s just a man who loved, lost, and learned to keep going.

**WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM REDFORD’S STORY**

Robert Redford’s life isn’t a fairy tale. It’s real—full of beauty, mess, heartbreak, and hope. He’s proof that even the biggest stars have regrets. That love can shape you, haunt you, and inspire you to become more than you ever dreamed.

So, what’s your favorite Robert Redford moment? Drop your memories below, share this story with someone who loves a real-life romance, and remember: behind every legend is a love story worth telling.

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