James Redford and Robert Redford
Filmmaker James Redford, the son of legendary actor Robert Redford, has passed away at the age of 58.
In an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, Redford’s wife, Kyle, confirmed that James died on Friday from bile-duct cancer in his liver.
James fought a 30-year battle with liver disease, and Kyle told the paper her husband’s liver disease returned two years ago and the cancer was discovered in November last year while he waited on a liver transplant.
Kyle also posted the sad news on Twitter with a montage of family photos (see below) of the happy life the two shared.
“Jamie died today. We’re heartbroken,” she wrote. “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.”
In 1999, James produced the HBO documentary, The Kindness of Strangers, and personally thanked the liver donor who had saved his life. He produced the film and raised its $600,000 budget from foundations, corporations, and individuals, including his parents.
Cindi Berger, publicist for Robert Redford, issued a statement yesterday saying the actor was mourning with his family during this difficult time.
Together, James and Robert Redford co-founded the Redford Center, a nonprofit focused on environmental filmmaking.
James wrote the script for the Kiefer Sutherland movie, Hearts and Bones, and adapted Tony Hillerman’s Skinwalkers for North Fork Pictures. James had most recently been working on a documentary about The Joy Luck Club’s author Amy Tan for PBS’ American Masters entitled Where the Past Begins.
The younger Redford also established the James Redford Institute in 1995 for Transplant Awareness to raise money and distribute tools to increase awareness about the shortage of organ donors.
“With Jamie came love and contagious joy,” Jill Tidman, executive director of the Redford Center, posted on Instagram. “He approached everything he did with kindness and warmth, and an openness that spread itself easily among others.”
Entertainment Hub sends condolences to the Redford family.
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