Before Robert Redford lit up the silver screen with his signature blend of charm and quiet strength, the roots of his brilliance had already been planted — not just in Hollywood, but generations earlier, in theaters, town halls, and civic boards. As we reflect on the life of this cinematic icon who recently left us, MyHeritage takes a closer look at the lineage that helped shape the artist, activist, and storyteller the world came to love.
From orchestral stages in vaudeville theaters to the civic heart of a growing Texas town, Redford’s ancestors left behind legacies of their own that were rich with creativity, leadership, and a flair for making lasting impressions.
Music in his blood: Charles E. Redford, the vaudeville musician
Robert Redford’s paternal grandfather, Charles E. Redford (1880–1968), had a life as full of rhythm as it was of movement. A skilled violinist who also played piano, cello, and bass, Charles lived and breathed music. He performed on the B.F. Keith vaudeville circuit, an elite and eclectic stage where he shared bills with names that would go down in entertainment history: the Marx Brothers, Mae West, W.C. Fields, and even Harry Houdini.
Charles’s career as a professional musician is echoed in the 1920 U.S. Census, where he’s listed as a musician in an orchestra, and again in the 1930 Census, now a musician in a theater.
Charles E. Redford in the 1920 U.S. Census, with “Musician” listed under profession and “Orchestra” under industry (click to zoom) Source: MyHeritage
Charles E. Redford listed again in the 1930 U.S. Census as a musician, this time with “Theatre” as the industry (click to zoom) Source: MyHeritage
Born in Rhode Island to a Scottish mother, Charles was the child of immigrants and the bridge between old-world roots and new-world ambition. In 1912, he married Lena Taylor, an English-born woman, in a ceremony noted in the Norwich Bulletin. The description of the wedding — attended by close friends and capped with a train journey to Pawtucket — gives us a rare personal glimpse into the man behind the music.
Charles E. Redford’s marriage described in the Norwich Bulletin, published February 12, 1912. Source: OldNews.com
Redford’s early years: the Los Angeles household
By the time Robert Redford was born in 1936, his parents — Charles Redford Jr. and Martha Redford (née Hart) — were building a modest but stable life in Los Angeles. The 1940 U.S. Census lists the young actor as “Bobby,” just 3 years old, living at 11729 Imperial Way, while his father worked as a dairy salesman.
Robert Redford in the 1940 U.S. Census with his family at age 3, listed as “Bobby” (click to zoom) Source: MyHeritage
Ten years later, in the 1950 Census, Robert appears as “Charles R. Jr.,” now 13, residing at 11331 Homedale. His father had transitioned to work as an accountant. These snapshots of a young Redford’s upbringing provide clues into a household that valued perseverance and adaptation — qualities he would carry throughout his multifaceted career.
Robert listed in the 1950 U.S. Census as “Charles R. Jr.”. Because he appears on a sample line, we also learn that he was in 8th grade during that school year (click to zoom) Source: MyHeritage
A titan of Texas: Edwin Jeremiah L. Green
One of the most remarkable figures in Redford’s lineage is his great-great-grandfather, Edwin Jeremiah L. Green (1841–1924) — a man whose accomplishments seem almost too large for one lifetime.
Edwin was a driving force in San Marcos, Texas, serving as county clerk, school board president, alderman, mayor, and founder of the First National Bank. His fingerprints can be found on nearly every institution in the city, from the waterworks and electric light company and the First Christian Church to the U.S. Fish Hatchery, which he personally brought to the area. When Methodist College burned down, he helped rebuild it.
Edwin’s legacy wasn’t only civic — it was also entrepreneurial. He invested in silver mines, organized multiple banks, and traveled in style aboard his own private railcar.
Edwin Jeremiah L. Green. Photo repaired and enhanced by MyHeritage
And then there’s his personal life. He married 3 sisters in succession, each after the previous passed away. His first wife, Mary Ann Young, was born in 1840 and died in 1863 at the young age of 23. After her death, Edwin married her sister Eliza Jane, younger than her by 5 years, and the two remained married for 36 years until Eliza’s death — after which he married the third sister, Alice, born in 1859.
A legacy lived forward
In Robert Redford’s film roles — the silent cowboy, the investigative journalist, the weary CIA veteran — audiences saw a man of depth, often portraying characters who navigated tension between idealism and reality. In his environmental advocacy and support of the Sundance Institute, we saw a commitment to community, creativity, and future generations.
These values echo the lives of those who came before him. Whether it was his grandfather playing cello behind velvet curtains or a Texan great-great-grandfather pushing civic progress by rail and ledger, Redford’s roots reflect an enduring spirit: artistic, determined, and always reaching for more.
The post Generations of Talent: The Artistic Legacy Behind Robert Redford appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage
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