Meet Lola Van Wagenen’s Spouses: George Burrill and Robert Redford

Lola Van Wagenen, born on December 19, 1938, in Provo, Utah, grew up in a devout Mormon household, where her early life was shaped by the values and traditions of mid-20th-century Utah.

Of Caucasian ethnicity and rooted in Mormon heritage, she was the daughter of Frank Afton Van Wagenen and Phyllis Barker Van Wagenen, and shared her upbringing with two brothers, Richard Van Wagenen and Gary Van Wagenen.

Her later years reflected a deep commitment to education and scholarship. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Vermont College in 1982, a master’s in public history from New York University in 1984, and later completed her Ph.D. in American history at NYU in 1994, establishing herself as a respected historian and academic.

Beyond academics, Van Wagenen became known as a historian, activist, and documentary producer, dedicating her career to intellectual work, social advocacy, and environmental awareness.

She is 86 years old and remains admired for her contributions in these fields.

In 1958, she married actor Robert Redford, a union that lasted until 1985 and brought her into public view during his rise to Hollywood stardom.

Together, they had four children: Shauna Redford, James Redford (who passed away in 2020), Amy Redford, and Scott Anthony Redford, who died in infancy.

After her divorce, she later found lasting companionship with international development expert George Burrill, whom she married on July 17, 2002. Their partnership has been more private, rooted in shared commitments to conservation, education, and global development.

Robert Redford

Van Wagenen’s story with Robert Redford began in the vibrant chaos of 1950s Los Angeles. The two met in 1957, when Van Wagenen, then a young woman exploring life beyond her Utah roots, crossed paths with the aspiring actor.

Their connection was immediate and profound; just a year later, on August 9, 1958, they tied the knot in a spontaneous ceremony at the Laughton Hotel in Las Vegas.

At the time, Redford was far from the silver-screen legend he would become—he was a struggling artist and performer, honing his craft in theatre and early television roles. The early years of their marriage were a whirlwind of change.

As Redford’s career took off in the 1960s with breakout films like Barefoot in the Park (1967) and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), the couple relocated frequently, eventually settling in New York and later Manhattan.

Van Wagenen, ever the supportive partner, provided stability amid the glamour. Together, they welcomed four children: daughter Shauna (born 1960), son James (born 1962), daughter Amy (born 1970), and a son who tragically passed away in infancy.

Family remained at the heart of their life, even as Redford’s star ascended, earning him acclaim as one of Hollywood’s most enduring leading men. Yet, the pressures of fame took a toll.

By the early 1980s, reports emerged that the couple had been living apart for several years, with Redford immersed in his burgeoning directing career—most notably founding the Sundance Institute in 1981, which revolutionized independent filmmaking.

Their divorce was finalized around 1985, after 27 years of marriage, handled with characteristic discretion—no messy tabloid headlines, just a quiet acknowledgment of irreconcilable differences.

Van Wagenen and Redford maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship, united by their love for their children. James Redford, in particular, followed in his parents’ creative footsteps as a documentary filmmaker and environmentalist before his passing in 2020.

Redford’s influence on Van Wagenen extended beyond romance. During their marriage, she began channelling her energies into activism, co-founding Consumer Action Now in 1970 to educate the public on environmental and consumer issues.

George Burrill

After her divorce from Redford, Van Wagenen immersed herself in academia and advocacy, earning a bachelor’s degree from Vermont College in 1982, a master’s from New York University in 1984, and a Ph.D. in American History from NYU in 1994.

Her dissertation evolved into the acclaimed book Sister-Wives and Suffragists: Polygamy and the Politics of Woman Suffrage 1870–1896 (2003), cementing her status as a scholar of women’s history.

By the late 1990s, she had co-founded Clio Visualizing History, Inc., producing award-winning documentaries like Miss America: A Documentary Film (2002) and The State of Marriage (2015), which explored same-sex marriage rights.

It was in this phase of reinvention that Van Wagenen met George Burrill, a man whose life mirrored her own commitment to positive change. Burrill, a Ph.D. holder with a background in international development, co-founded Associates in Rural Development (ARD) Inc. in 1981, a Burlington, Vermont-based firm that became a global leader in environmental and economic consulting.

Born and raised in Vermont’s Champlain Valley, Burrill has dedicated decades to conservation efforts, serving on the board of The Nature Conservancy’s Vermont chapter since 2008 and actively preserving natural spaces in Shelburne, where he has lived since the mid-1980s.

As Honorary Consul from New Zealand to Vermont, he has bridged international diplomacy with local impact, including leading U.S. delegations to partnership forums. The couple’s paths converged in the late 1990s, and by July 17, 2002, they exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in Shelburne, Vermont—marking the beginning of a partnership that has lasted over two decades.

Unlike the high-profile intensity of her first marriage, life with Burrill has been a serene collaboration. Together, they have championed causes close to their hearts: In 2011, following the devastating Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, the pair organized a fundraiser that raised over $70,000 for recovery programs, showcasing Burrill’s diplomatic ties and Van Wagenen’s organizational prowess.

Their shared Vermont home has become a hub for philanthropy. In 2012, they established the New American Scholarship Fund at Champlain College to support international students, and Van Wagenen continues to serve on the Robertson Scholars selection committee for Duke University and the University of North Carolina.

Burrill’s environmental focus complements Van Wagenen’s activist roots; he has been instrumental in land preservation initiatives, ensuring that Shelburne’s natural beauty endures for future generations.

At 86, Van Wagenen and her 80-something husband remain active, embodying a quiet power couple dynamic far removed from Tinseltown’s glare.