James Redford

David James Redford (May 5, 1962 – October 16, 2020) was an American documentary filmmaker and environmentalist. He was the son of actor and director Robert Redford and historian Lola Van Wagenen.

Early life and education David James Redford was born on May 5, 1962 in New York City, the son of historian Lola Van Wagenen and actor-director Robert Redford. Through the institute, he was the executive producer of the documentary, The Kindness of Strangers (1999), directed by Maro Chermayeff.

Redford directed his first documentary film, The Big Picture; Rethinking Dyslexia (2012), based on the challenges faced by his son Dylan in school. Interviewees in the documentary included Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, David Boies, and Gavin Newsom. Also in 2012, he produced Watershed. Resilience (2016), and Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution (2017).

After his death, his son Dylan, also a filmmaker, was elected chair of The Redford Center.

Redford died from bile duct cancer on October 16, 2020, at his home in Fairfax, California. He was 58 years old.