Remembering Robert Redford’s Final Love: Sibylle Szaggars, the Partner Twenty Years Younger Who Became Stepmother to His Children
Robert Redford’s death at 89 closed a remarkable chapter in cinema history. Celebrated worldwide as an actor, director, and a driving force behind independent film through the Sundance movement, he spent much of his life in the spotlight. Yet behind that public image, he guarded a far more private world. At the center of that inner circle in his later years was his second wife, German-born artist and environmental advocate Sibylle Szaggars.
Their relationship, which lasted close to thirty years, was anchored less in fame and more in shared purpose. Though their 20-year age gap often drew attention, those who knew them understood that what truly held them together was mutual respect, creativity, and a joint commitment to protecting the natural world.
A New Marriage After a Long First Chapter
Redford and Sibylle married in 2009, many years after his first marriage had ended following twenty-five years together. When they decided to officially unite their lives, Redford was already a highly established figure, with a long list of film credits and accolades. Still, he often spoke about seeking sincerity, emotional honesty, and simplicity in his personal life.
To many of his fans, his second marriage remained relatively low-profile compared with his celebrated career. While Redford was constantly visible through interviews, film festivals, and public appearances, Sibylle preferred to stay outside the usual celebrity narrative. She expressed herself primarily through her creative work and environmental projects rather than through media attention.
Their bond developed gradually, at a pace that felt natural. Over time, it became a refuge where both of them—despite coming from different countries, generations, and life histories—found understanding and a quiet sense of belonging.
Sibylle Szaggars: An Artist Guided by the Natural World
Raised in Hamburg, Germany, Sibylle Szaggars formed a deep attachment to nature early in life. Her artistic perspective emerged from observing landscapes, changing climates, and the subtle rhythms of the earth. She eventually became a multimedia artist, working across painting, installations, and performance-based projects.
Her art has been exhibited across Europe, the United States, and the Middle East, consistently reflecting themes of weather, light, and the stories humans tell about the environment. By the time she met Redford, she had already built a serious career that wove ecological awareness into creative expression—years before environmental themes took hold in mainstream culture.
For Sibylle, nature has never been simply a source of inspiration. She often speaks of it as a responsibility—something that demands care, stewardship, and attention. This sense of duty aligned naturally with Redford’s long-standing dedication to conservation and environmental activism.
How Robert Redford and Sibylle First Met
Their first meeting took place in 1996 at Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah. Sibylle had traveled there for a skiing holiday, unaware that the resort was closely tied to one of the most influential figures in American cinema. While many visitors reacted with excitement when they recognized Redford, she did not initially realize who he was or how important he was to film history.
Later, she came to understand the scale of his reputation and admitted that she had not watched his movies before they met.
Redford valued the fact that she approached him without expectations shaped by his fame. According to those familiar with their story, he was drawn to her straightforwardness and sincerity. Their early conversations focused on shared interests—not on Hollywood, but on creativity, nature, and the role of art and environmental activism in people’s lives.
This honest beginning laid the groundwork for a relationship that would last for decades, outlasting public curiosity about their age gap and centering instead on shared values.
A Private Marriage with a Shared Mission
Thirteen years after they first met, the two married in 2009 in an intimate ceremony, choosing closeness over spectacle. Even after becoming Mrs. Redford, Sibylle held firmly to her preference for privacy. She rarely stepped into the spotlight at major press events or award shows, allowing her work and charitable efforts to speak for her.
Despite her quiet public presence, her impact on Redford’s life was significant. Their shared interest in environmental advocacy became a thread running through both their work and their daily routines. Friends and colleagues often remarked that their personal life and shared mission were closely intertwined.
Though the twenty-year age difference between them drew occasional attention in the media, it was not a central concern for the couple themselves. They focused on their alignment in beliefs, their mutual support for each other’s projects, and the stability they found in each other’s company.
Becoming Stepmother to Redford’s Children
Another important part of Sibylle’s life with Redford was her role as stepmother. Redford had three children from his first marriage, and while he and Sibylle did not have children together, she chose to embrace his family as part of her own life.
Their blended family relationship evolved slowly, shaped by the normal adjustments that come with new roles, as well as by the weight of life’s difficulties. One of the most painful moments came with the passing of Redford’s son, James, in 2020 after illness. During these deeply personal times, Sibylle remained beside Redford as a steady source of comfort and strength.
In his later years, Redford was not only a legendary actor and filmmaker, but also a father, grandfather, and partner. With Sibylle, he found a home life that offered grounding, continuity, and emotional support.
The Way of the Rain: Sibylle’s Artistic Response to Climate Change
In 2015, Sibylle founded The Way of the Rain, a nonprofit organization that unites art, performance, and environmental education. The project combines dance, film, music, and visual installations to encourage people to reflect on the climate crisis and humanity’s relationship with the earth.
The initiative deeply resonated with Redford. He served as vice president of the organization, lending his voice and experience to its mission. Together, they used their combined platforms to highlight the urgency of environmental protection and the power of storytelling in raising awareness.
Through The Way of the Rain, Sibylle expanded her artistic reach, using immersive artistic experiences to prompt reflection rather than simply offering entertainment. Her work embodied a belief that creativity can help shift public consciousness and inspire more responsible attitudes toward the planet.
Robert Redford’s Peaceful Passing at 89
Redford died on September 16, 2025, at his home in the Utah mountains—an environment that was central to both his identity and his legacy. His publicist, Cindi Berger, confirmed that he passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones. The family issued a request for privacy, underscoring that, despite his fame, the loss was first and foremost a family grief.
His home at Sundance symbolized much more than his film institution and festival; it was also the place where he and Sibylle built their life together. There, he spent his final years continuing to support emerging artists, advocating for independent film, and remaining close to the landscapes that had shaped so much of his purpose.
A Career That Influenced Generations
Even though Redford never received an Academy Award for acting, his impact on film remains profound. His performances in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and Out of Africa secured his status as one of the defining screen actors of his time. As a director, he earned an Oscar for Ordinary People in 1981, underscoring his range and depth behind the camera.
Through the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, he transformed the independent film scene, creating opportunities for countless filmmakers to share distinctive stories that might otherwise never have been made or widely seen.
Considering Their Age Difference and Shared Legacy
Public discussions about their relationship often highlighted the two-decade age difference between Redford and Sibylle. But those who knew them emphasized that the real story was about a thoughtful partnership built on shared interests, artistic collaboration, and a common view of the world.
Their relationship unfolded not as a whirlwind celebrity romance, but as a steady, evolving connection grounded in purpose. They built a life shaped by environmental work, creative projects, and mutual encouragement.
In the end, the story of Robert Redford and Sibylle Szaggars reflects the idea that meaningful companionship is defined more by understanding and shared ideals than by age. Their marriage became a quiet example of chosen partnership, artistic synergy, and a lasting dedication to caring for the planet they both loved.
