James Redford – son of acting legend Robert Redford – died at his home in Marin County, California at the age of 58 on Friday following a liver cancer battle.
His family confirmed that he had died of bile-duct cancer in his liver which had been discovered while waiting for a transplant last November.
Redford had battled Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis – a rare auto-immune disease affecting the liver – for almost 30 years.
A spokesman for his father Robert, 84, said: ‘The grief is immeasurable with the loss of a child. Jamie was a loving son, husband and father. His legacy lives on through his children, art, filmmaking and devoted passion to conservation and the environment.’
She added that the actor is ‘mourning with his family during this difficult time and asks for privacy.’
On Monday morning his wife, Kyle, took to Twitter to post a gallery of photos of the filmmaker and activist to commemorate his life.
She wrote: ‘Jamie died today. We’re heartbroken. He lived a beautiful, impactful life & was loved by many. He will be deeply missed.
‘As his wife of 32 yrs, I’m most grateful for the two spectacular children we raised together. I don’t know what we would’ve done w/o them over the past 2yrs.’
Gone too soon: James Redford – son of acting legend Robert Redford – had died at the age of 58 following a liver cancer battle, as the father and son are seen in December 2018
‘He lived a beautiful life’: On Monday morning his wife, Kyle, took to Twitter by posting a gallery of photos of the filmmaker and activist to commemorate his life
James has two children with Kyle – 29-year-old actor son Dylan and actress Lena – and they were featured in a couple of photos in the tribute gallery.
His struggles with health had began from childhood as he received two liver transplants in 1993.
The philanthropist went on to found the James Redford Institute For Transplant Awareness which was a non profit with the aim of education people about organ and tissue donation.
He later founded non-profit The Redford Center with his father Robert which has the goal of producing films and even providing grants to filmmakers who focus in on the environment and climate in hopes of finding a solution to climate change.
Robert Redford and his son James attend a screening of Spin screening at the AFI Fest in 2003
Family first: James has two children with Kyle – 29-year-old actor son Dylan and actress Lena (seen second from left) – as they were featured in a couple of photos in the tribute gallery; James, Lena, Robert, and Amy Redford are seen left to right in December 2017
‘Together we will carry forward’: He later founded non-profit The Redford Center with his father Robert which has the goal of producing films and even providing grants to filmmakers who focus in on the environment and climate in hopes of finding a solution to climate change as director Jill Tidman shared this tribute on Monday
Jamie with his mother Lola Van Wagenen and father Robert in New York City in 1969
Executive director of the charity, Jill Tidman, also shared the news of his passing on Instagram writing: ‘It is with profound sadness that we grieve the loss of James Redford, our Co-Founder, our inspiration and our friend.’
‘With Jamie came love and contagious joy. He approached everything he did with kindness and warmth, and an openness that spread itself easily among others.
‘Jamie worked tirelessly to build a healthier world for us all, and particularly for those most in need of support. He always led with his enormous heart and was guided by his curiosity and creative spirit. He was a fierce protector of the natural world and believed that everyone deserved a healthy environment in which they could thrive and play.’
James – whose mother is Lola Van Wagenen – followed in the footsteps of his legendary father as a filmmaker mostly in documentaries which focused on the health and the environment.
Tremendous trio: Ever the family man, his first documentary was released in 2012 – titled The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia – and was inspired by his son Dylan’s struggles with dyslexia in high school; James, Robert, and Dylan are seen left to right at the premiere of the film in New York back in October 2012
Robert skis with his son in Utah in 1969. James had suffered with his health since childhood
Ever the family man, his first documentary was released in 2012 – titled The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia – and was inspired by his son Dylan’s struggles with dyslexia in high school.
He went on to make several films including 2013’s Paper Tigers, 2016’s Resilience, and 2017’s Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution.
His most recent film – titled Playing For Keeps – premiered this month at the Mill Valley Film Festival as it went mostly virtual.
Redford’s wife Kyle also told The Salt Lake Tribune that he was near completion of directing Where The Past Begins which is a documentary for PBS’s American Masters which traces the immigrant journey of The Joy Luck Club author Amy Tan.
Robert (left) hugs his son James (right) at a movie screening in 2003
Bond: James and father Robert seen at the HBO premiere of The Kindness Of Strangers in September 1999
