James Redford was born in New York City in 1962, where he attended the Dalton School. He later graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature. During his time at Northwestern University, where he was pursuing a Master's degree in literature, James was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a rare autoimmune disease affecting the liver. In 1993, he underwent two liver transplants, an experience that inspired him to found the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness.
James went on to produce the documentary film "The Kindness Of Strangers," which premiered at the Telluride International Film Festival and aired on HBO in 1999. The film explored the sacrifices made by organ donor families. Throughout the late 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s, James worked as a screenwriter and director, including the original screenplay for "Cowboy Up" and directing the Showtime series "Spin."
In 2009, James co-founded the Redford Center, an environmentally-focused storytelling non-profit, with his father Robert Redford. The same year, he produced "Mann V Ford," an HBO documentary film that examined the Ramapough Tribes' lawsuit against Ford Motor Company. James also produced "The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia" with Karen Pritzker, which marked his directorial debut.
In the following years, James continued to work on various documentary films, including "Watershed: Exploring a New Water Ethic for the New West" and "Toxic Hot Seat." He also co-directed and produced "Happening: a Clean Energy Revolution" with his wife Karen Pritzker.
James is married to Kyle Redford, a teacher and educational writer, and they have two children, Lena and Dylan. Lena is a digital storyteller who has worked for SuperDeluxe and Illumination Entertainment, and Dylan is a filmmaker who has worked for The Borscht Corporation. James is also a musician and plays lead and rhythm guitar for the popular cover band Olive and the Dirty Martinis.
