Robert Redford's two sons died tragically before him in very different circumstances. His first son, Scott, died at just 2½ months old in 1959 from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). His other son, James, died at the age of 58 in October 2020 from bile duct cancer, a rare form of liver cancer. James had a history of liver disease and had undergone liver transplants before the cancer was discovered while he was awaiting another transplant. These losses were deeply impactful to Redford and shaped his life and legacy as a father.