ROBERT REDFORD AND HIS SECOND WIFE HAD AN UNCOMFORTABLE AGE GAP. (PHOTO).

 Robert Redford and his second wife had an uncomfortable age gap

Robert Redford’s personal life reflected two very different marriages. His first was to historian Lola Van Wagenen in 1958, when he was just 21 and she was 19. That relationship lasted until the mid-1980s but ended on difficult terms, with Redford later describing the divorce as something he needed “to save my life.” 

Despite their closeness in age, the marriage ultimately fell apart, leaving Redford to seek a new chapter later in life.

That new chapter came with German artist Sibylle Szaggars, whom he met in 1996 at his Sundance Mountain Resort. The two maintained a relationship for over a decade before marrying in Germany in 2009, when Redford was nearly 73 and Szaggars was 52. 

Their age difference of about 21 years was something Redford openly embraced, saying he appreciated her youth and European background. 

Szaggars encouraged him to remain active, and Redford credited her influence with helping him sustain energy through horseback riding, skiing, and tennis well into his later years.

Redford’s bond with Szaggars stood in contrast to his first marriage, lasting until his death in 2025. 

He often spoke about aging with dignity, refusing cosmetic surgery and dismissing concerns about his changing appearance. 

What mattered most to him was quality of life and authenticity. Szaggars, who wasn’t overly familiar with his Hollywood legacy, connected with him on a human level rather than as a celebrity. 

Their relationship demonstrated that age gaps can be secondary when mutual respect and genuine connection are at the core.