Long before the global acclaim, the Oscars, and the establishment of the Sundance Institute, Robert Redford was a struggling, unknown young artist living in Los Angeles. By his side through those foundational years was Lola Van Wagenen, a young woman from Provo, Utah, who would spend nearly three decades married to the rising Hollywood icon. While pop-culture retrospectives often label her merely as a footnote in a famous actor's timeline, Van Wagenen's actual trajectory is defined by independent academic rigor, environmental activism, and documentary filmmaking.
Born on December 19, 1938, Van Wagenen grew up in a traditional Mormon family before crossing paths with Redford in 1957. They eloped in Las Vegas on August 9, 1958, launching a complex 27-year marriage that coincided with Redford's meteoric rise to superstardom. Behind the scenes, Van Wagenen managed the pressures of sudden fame, raised a family through immense personal grief, and eventually forged a prominent scholarly identity entirely detached from her ex-husband's shadow.
Early Life and the 1958 Elopement
Lola Jean Van Wagenen grew up in Utah, deeply embedded in the cultural traditions of her upbringing. In 1957, she moved to California, where she lived in the same Los Angeles apartment building as a young, aspiring painter and actor named Charles Robert Redford Jr. She was just 19 years old; he was 20.
They married in 1958 after a brief courtship, leaving behind conventional collegiate tracks as Van Wagenen dropped out of her studies to support her husband. The newlyweds relocated to New York City, where Redford pursued theater and art. Life during these early years was financially lean. Rent was difficult to manage, and the psychological toll of scraping by in a high-pressure city weighed heavily on both of them.
Family Life and Overcoming Personal Tragedy
As Redford's career gained traction—moving from Broadway stages to television and eventually feature films—the couple welcomed four children: Scott, Shauna, James, and Amy.
Family life, however, was struck by profound tragedy early on. Their firstborn son, Scott, passed away from sudden infant death syndrome in 1959 at just a few months old. The loss left an indelible mark on the young couple, casting a long shadow over their household as they simultaneously navigated the disorienting acceleration of Redford's public fame. Despite the pressures of Hollywood, Van Wagenen maintained a domestic anchor for the children while Redford traveled extensively for film shoots.
Activism and the Founding of Consumer Action Now
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, Van Wagenen began channeling her energy into public advocacy. Far from being a passive Hollywood spouse, she emerged as a serious environmental and consumer advocate.
In 1970, she co-founded Consumer Action Now (CAN), a non-profit educational organization dedicated to environmental protection and resource conservation. Her work with CAN put her at the forefront of the early environmental movement. She subsequently served on the Task Force on Appropriate Technology with the U.S. Office of Technology Assessment in 1977 and joined the National Commission on the International Year of the Child in 1979. Through these roles, Van Wagenen established an independent public footprint focused on policy, ecology, and education.
The Separation and Divorce
After 27 years of marriage, the couple separated, leading to a finalized divorce in 1985. The dissolution of such a long-term marriage under the microscope of public attention was understandably difficult.
Redford later reflected candidly on the necessity of the split for his own survival, noting in interviews that marrying so young created an existential pressure that required a radical break. For her part, Van Wagenen fiercely guarded her privacy, declining to feed tabloid narratives and instead pivoting her focus toward higher education and professional reinvention. In 2002, she married Dr. George Burrill, founder of an international development firm, settling into a quieter chapter in Vermont.
Academic Career and Historical Scholarship
One of the most remarkable transformations in Van Wagenen's life occurred after her marriage ended. Returning to higher education in her forties, she pursued rigorous academic training that culminated in a doctorate.
- Undergraduate Studies: She earned her bachelor's degree from Vermont College in 1982.
- Graduate Studies: She completed a master's degree in public history at New York University (NYU) in 1984.
- Doctoral Research: She earned her Ph.D. in American history from NYU in 1994, focusing her doctoral research on the intersections of plural marriage and the women's suffrage movement.
Her dissertation was published by University Press of Colorado as Sister-Wives and Suffragists: Polygamy and the Politics of Woman Suffrage 1870–1896. Her scholarly work earned deep respect within academic circles, including the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Documentary Filmmaking and Public Education
Unwilling to keep her historical research locked inside academic journals, Van Wagenen expanded into visual media to make history accessible to broader audiences. In 1995, she co-founded Clio Visualizing History, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating educational films and online historical exhibits.
As an executive producer, she helped bring several major documentary projects to fruition, including Miss America: A Documentary Film for PBS (American Experience) in 2002, and The State of Marriage in 2015, which chronicled the legal battle for marriage equality in Vermont. Through Clio, Van Wagenen bridged the gap between academic research and public engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen get married?
They eloped and were married in Las Vegas on August 9, 1958, after meeting in Los Angeles the previous year. Their marriage lasted for 27 years until their divorce was finalized in 1985.
How many children did Lola Van Wagenen have with Robert Redford?
They had four children together: Scott, Shauna, James, and Amy. Their firstborn son, Scott, died in infancy, while their surviving children pursued careers in the arts, environmental advocacy, and filmmaking.
What is Lola Van Wagenen's professional background?
Van Wagenen is an accomplished American historian, author, and environmental activist. She holds a Ph.D. in American history from New York University, co-founded Consumer Action Now and Clio Visualizing History, and worked as a documentary film producer.
Did Lola Van Wagenen remarry after her divorce from Robert Redford?
Yes. In July 2002, she married Dr. George Burrill, an international development specialist and honorary consul, in Shelburne, Vermont, where she remains active in community philanthropy and scholarship.
