The Unseen Legacy: 7 Surprising Facts About Shauna Redford, Robert Redford's Eldest Daughter

The world recently mourned the passing of Hollywood legend Robert Redford in September 2025, bringing renewed public interest to his famously private family. Amidst the tributes from actors and filmmakers, the focus has shifted to his children, particularly his eldest daughter, Shauna Redford. Unlike her father, Shauna has deliberately carved a life away from the glare of Hollywood, establishing a distinguished career that is entirely her own. This article, updated for December 2025, delves into the life of Shauna Jean Redford, an accomplished artist, dedicated mother, and the quiet cornerstone of the Redford family's legacy outside of the silver screen. Born into one of the most famous families in American cinema, Shauna Redford has consistently chosen a path of creative authenticity over celebrity. Her story is one of forging a unique identity, blending a deep commitment to the arts with a life dedicated to family and environmental causes, all while maintaining a dignified distance from the Hollywood machine that defined her father’s career.

Shauna Redford: A Complete Biographical Profile

Shauna Jean Redford is an American professional painter and artist who gained public recognition as the eldest surviving daughter of Oscar-winning actor, director, and filmmaker Robert Redford and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen.

• Full Name: Shauna Jean Redford
• Date of Birth: November 15, 1960
• Age (as of December 2025): 65
• Place of Birth: Utah, USA
• Nationality: American
• Parents: Robert Redford (Father) and Lola Van Wagenen (Mother)
• Siblings: Scott Anthony Redford (deceased), David James Redford (deceased), Amy Hart Redford
• Spouse: Eric Schlosser (Writer and Journalist)
• Children: Anna Michaela "Mica" Redford Schlosser and Conor James Schlosser
• Profession: Professional Painter, Artist, and Philanthropist
• Education: Graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder
• Known For: Her career as a professional artist and being the daughter of Robert Redford.

The Artist's Path: Forging a Career Beyond Hollywood's Shadow

Shauna Redford’s professional identity is firmly rooted in the world of fine art, a deliberate choice that set her apart from the family business of filmmaking.

1. A Distinguished Career as a Professional Painter

Shauna is an accomplished professional painter and artist. After graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder, she chose a career that allowed for personal expression and a degree of privacy, a stark contrast to the relentless public life of her father. Her work focuses on her unique creative vision, which has been the central pillar of her professional life for decades. This decision to forgo a Hollywood career speaks volumes about her desire for a life defined by creative substance rather than celebrity status.

2. The Quiet Support of the Sundance Institute

While she avoided the spotlight, Shauna has played a quiet yet essential role in sustaining the legacy of the Sundance Institute. Founded by her father in 1981, the Institute is a non-profit organization that champions independent storytelling. Her involvement, though largely behind the scenes, shows a deep commitment to the family's philanthropic and artistic mission, ensuring that the next generation of storytellers has a platform. This connection highlights her commitment to the arts beyond her own painting.

A Private Family Life: Husband, Children, and Grandchildren

Shauna Redford has successfully maintained a private family life, focusing on her marriage and the upbringing of her children, who are now pursuing their own creative paths.

3. Married to an Acclaimed Investigative Journalist

Shauna is married to Eric Schlosser, a highly respected American investigative journalist and author. Schlosser is best known for his influential non-fiction books, including *Fast Food Nation* (2001) and *Reefer Madness* (2003). Their marriage unites two individuals who have both achieved success in creative fields while maintaining a thoughtful, low-key public presence, reinforcing their shared value of privacy.

4. Her Children Are Following Creative Paths

Shauna and Eric Schlosser have two children, both of whom have entered the creative and media industries. Their daughter, Anna Michaela "Mica" Redford Schlosser, born in 1991, is a copywriter and illustrator. Their son, Conor James Schlosser, has pursued a career in producing, with experience gained through the Sundance Institute. This next generation of the Redford-Schlosser family continues the artistic tradition, proving that the creative spirit runs deep, even as they forge distinct professional identities.

5. The Heartbreaking Loss of Two Brothers

Shauna is one of four children born to Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen, but she is one of only two surviving siblings alongside her younger sister, Amy Redford. She tragically lost her eldest brother, Scott Anthony Redford, who passed away as an infant from SIDS just 11 weeks after his birth. In 2020, her brother, filmmaker David James Redford, also passed away. These profound losses have undoubtedly shaped the family's close bond and their private approach to grief and public life.

The Recent Public Attention: The Robert Redford Legacy

The most significant and recent public event related to Shauna Redford is the passing of her iconic father, which occurred in late 2025.

6. The Passing of Robert Redford in September 2025

In a major news event that captivated the world, Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at the age of 89. This recent loss immediately brought the entire Redford family, including Shauna, back into the public eye. The news confirmed that her father’s wealth and legacy were expected to pass to his surviving daughters, Shauna and Amy, and his wife, Sibylle Szaggars. The outpouring of tributes from around the world underscored the monumental legacy she is now a part of.

7. A Grandson's Touching Tribute and Family Unity

Following Robert Redford’s death, Shauna's son, Conor Schlosser (Robert Redford's grandson), was among the family members who offered a touching public tribute to the Hollywood icon. This act of public remembrance from the younger generation highlighted the close-knit nature of the Redford family despite their preference for privacy. The family's collective statement during this difficult time demonstrated their unity and commitment to honoring the patriarch’s memory.

Shauna Redford's Enduring Legacy

Shauna Redford embodies a powerful lesson in self-determination. Born into a world of immense fame, she chose to define her own success not by her father’s spotlight, but by the quiet, enduring quality of her own creative work as a painter. Her life is a testament to the fact that true legacy is often built away from the noise, grounded in family, art, and a commitment to personal values. As the Redford family navigates the recent loss of their patriarch, Shauna continues to be a pillar, ensuring that the family's artistic and philanthropic spirit endures through her own work and the paths of her children.