Robert Redford spent more than six decades in the public eye as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, directors, and activists. Yet, behind the fame and accolades, he found a private and enduring love with Sibylle Szaggars. According to Fox News, their story began in the Utah mountains, where Redford would later spend his final years.
The actor, who passed away at 89 in September 2025, first met Szaggars in 1996 while she was on a ski trip with friends at his Sundance Mountain Resort. What drew him in was her refreshingly modest view of his career. Szaggars admitted she wasn’t a “film person” and knew little about his movies—something Redford later said was part of the appeal. For a man who had long lived under the weight of Hollywood fame, Robert Redford found it liberating to be seen simply as himself.
A Relationship Built On Privacy And Respect
Robert Redford often reflected that Szaggars’ unfamiliarity with his career gave them an “even playing field” from the start. Rather than being defined by his success, their relationship began with two people meeting on equal terms. The couple quietly grew close, keeping their romance largely private over the decades.
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In 2009, Redford and Szaggars married in an intimate ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, attended by only 30 guests. The choice reflected their shared preference for privacy. Szaggars became stepmother to Redford’s children from his first marriage to Lola Van Wagenen, but she and Redford did not have children together. Through their partnership, they emphasized mutual respect and a shared commitment to art and activism.
A Shared Passion For Art And Activism
Beyond their love story, Robert Redford and Sibylle Szaggars built a life around creative and environmental causes. In 2015, they co-founded The Way of the Rain, an organization dedicated to promoting awareness of climate change through artistic performance. Their joint work reflected a blend of her background as an artist and his lifelong dedication to conservation.
The couple appeared publicly only on rare occasions, including a 2021 event in Monaco that honored global efforts to preserve the planet. Utah Governor Spencer Cox later highlighted Redford’s deep ties to the state, noting that he “fell in love with this place” and used Sundance to share it with the world. Redford’s personal and professional lives became inseparable from Utah, where his love story with Szaggars also flourished.