For decades, Robert Redford has captivated audiences with his charm, talent, and a life seemingly made for the silver screen.

Behind the iconic roles and red carpet appearances lies a deeply personal story of love and heartbreak that he has kept hidden until now.

At 88, the legendary actor has finally opened up about the greatest love of his life, Lola van Wagenen, and the reasons he held onto this secret for so long.

Early Life and Struggles

You probably know Robert Redford as one of the greatest actors of all time, recognized for his roles in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Way We Were.

However, long before Hollywood embraced him, Robert was just a regular kid growing up in a working-class family in Santa Monica, California.

His father was an accountant, and his mother managed the household, leading a modest life in Van Nuys.

From a young age, Robert was different.

He had a passion for art, sports, and the outdoors, often calling himself a bad student due to his inability to focus in class.

Despite his struggles in school, he excelled on the tennis court and even warmed up tennis legend Pancho Gonzalez at the Los Angeles Tennis Club.

However, his academic journey took a downturn at the University of Colorado, where he began drinking heavily, lost his scholarship, and was eventually expelled.

This setback could have marked the end of his story, but for Robert, it was just the beginning.

He drifted through Europe, soaking up life in France, Spain, and Italy, sketching and painting while figuring out who he wanted to be.

It was during this time that the seed of acting was planted.

The Love Story with Lola van Wagenen

In the late 1950s, Robert met Lola van Wagenen, who was everything he wasn’t: calm, grounded, and rooted in her Mormon faith.

Coming from Provo, Utah, their worlds were vastly different, yet they clicked instantly.

Their connection was so strong that they eloped in 1958, defying her parents’ wishes.

This young couple, barely more than kids, ran off to get married, embodying the essence of romance.

Life was not easy for them initially.

Robert was still trying to make it as an actor, and money was tight.

They lived in small apartments, scraping by on whatever work he could find.

Tragedy struck when their first child, Scott, died of sudden infant death syndrome.

This devastating loss brought them closer together, with Lola’s strength serving as a rock for Robert during this challenging time.

He later described her as the love of his life, a sentiment that speaks volumes about their bond.

As Robert’s career began to take off, starting with his breakout role in the Broadway production of Barefoot in the Park in 1963, life became busier and more complicated.

He starred in television shows like The Twilight Zone and Perry Mason, eventually becoming a full-blown movie star by the late 1960s.

Balancing Fame and Family

With fame came the pressure of balancing his skyrocketing career with family life.

Robert admitted that he regretted not prioritizing his family more often.

While he was ambitious and driven, the strain on their relationship became evident.

Despite their struggles, they shared beautiful moments, and Lola supported Robert’s decision to start the Sundance Film Festival, which became a game-changer for independent filmmakers.

However, by the mid-1980s, the cracks in their relationship were too significant to ignore, leading to their divorce in 1985 after 27 years of marriage.

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, they remained friends and co-parents, with Robert continuing to regard Lola as the love of his life.

Life After Lola

After his divorce, Robert’s life shifted significantly.

In 1987, he met Sonia Braga, a fiery Brazilian actress.

Their romance was electric, but it lasted less than a year.

Robert was busy promoting The Milagro Beanfield War, a film he directed that explored the struggles of a small New Mexico town against greedy developers.

A couple of years later, while filming Havana in 1990, Robert met Lena Olin, a stunning Swedish actress.

Their chemistry was palpable, both on and off-screen, but like many Hollywood romances, it wasn’t meant to last.

By 1991, they had parted ways.

In the mid-1990s, Robert starred alongside Michelle Pfeiffer in Up Close and Personal, a romantic drama that showcased his enduring charm.

During this time, he was linked to Cathy Oer, a costume designer nearly two decades his junior.

Their relationship was quiet and private, offering Robert a sense of stability amidst the chaos of his career.

A New Chapter with Cil Saggers

Robert’s life took another beautiful turn when he met Cil Saggers, a talented artist and environmental activist.

Their meeting was genuine and set against the natural beauty of his Sundance Mountain Resort.

Cil’s lack of knowledge about Robert’s fame made their relationship feel more human and real.

They married in 2009 in a private ceremony in Hamburg, Germany.

Together, they co-founded a nonprofit called The Way of the Rain, combining Cil’s art and Robert’s storytelling to promote environmental protection.

Robert has often said that Cil gave him a whole new life, and their shared love for the environment has brought them even closer.

Family Legacy and Personal Loss

Robert’s love for his children and grandchildren has remained unwavering.

He and Lola had four children: Scott, Shauna, James, and Amy.

Tragically, Scott passed away from SIDS when he was just two months old, a loss that left a permanent mark on Robert.

His second son, James Redford, followed closely in his father’s footsteps as a filmmaker and environmental activist, co-founding the Redford Center, which focuses on creating films that inspire environmental change.

Losing James to liver cancer in 2020 was another heartbreaking moment for Robert.

Robert’s daughters, Shauna and Amy, have also embraced their father’s creative spirit.

Shauna became an artist, while Amy has made her mark as a filmmaker, blending her father’s storytelling instincts with her own vision.