Robert Redfordisn’t an actor who has ventured much into the horror genre, but he appeared in one ofThe Twilight Zone’s best episodes – however, before that, he visited another classic horror TV show twice. Robert Redford is one of the best and most respected actors and filmmakers of his generation, best known for his work in the genres of drama and Western. Redford began his acting career in 1960, with an uncredited minor role in the rom-comTall Storyand one-episode appearances in different TV shows, such asMaverickandPerry Mason.
Redford became widely known after starring in the rom-comBarefoot in the Parkin 1967 and later inButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, in 1969, alongside Paul Newman. After that, Redford continued his career in the Western genre as well as in various drama movies. AlthoughRedford is best known for his career in filmas both an actor and director, he also continued to explore the world of TV in the 1960s, with one of his most notable projects beingThe Twilight Zone, but before that, he appeared twice in another classic horror TV show.
Robert Redford Appeared In 2 Episodes Of Alfred Hitchcock Presents Before The Twilight Zone
Robert Redford Returned To The Alfred Hitchcock Hour After The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zonepremiered on CBS in 1959, but four years earlier,Alfred Hitchcock Presentsarrived. Created and presented by the legendary filmmaker,Alfred Hitchcock Presentswas an anthology series that aired alternately on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965.The stories presented on the show were thrillers, mysteries, and dramas, with a touch of horror and suspense, very fitting with Hitchcock’s style. Thanks to its anthology format,Alfred Hitchcock Presentscounted on the talents of a variety of actors.
Alfred Hitchcock Presentswas retitledThe Alfred Hitchcock Hourbetween 1962 and 1965.
In 1961,Robert Redford made his first appearance inAlfred Hitchcock Presentsin season 7’s episode “The Right Kind of Medicine”, where he played a ruthless armed burglar named Charlie Marx. After Charlie kills a police officer in a shootout after a robbery in which he’s also shot, he goes to the pharmacy to get painkillers while the police look for him. Charlie decides to escape and comes across the pharmacy clerk, whom he shoots, believing he has come for him as he figured out he’s the criminal everyone is looking for.
However, it’s revealed that the clerk was sent to Charlie’s place to give him the painkillers, as they mistakenly gave him poison.Redford returned toThe Alfred Hitchcock Hourthe following year in the episode “A Piece of the Action”, where he played Chuck Marsden, the younger brother of professional gambler Duke (Gig Young).Redford returned a third time to the show in 1963, in the episode “A Tangled Web”, where he played David Chesterman, a criminal sentenced to death.
Robert Redford’s Twilight Zone Episode Is One Of The Show’s Best
“Nothing In The Dark” Ranks High Among The Twilight Zone’s Episodes
Between Redford’s second and third visits toThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour, he visited Rod Serling’sThe Twilight Zone.Redford starred in season 3’s episode “Nothing in the Dark”, where he played Harold Beldon, a young police officer who is shot outside the dark basement apartment of Wanda Dunn (Gladys Cooper). Wanda has isolated herself for years and never leaves her home, nor does she let anyone in, as she fears anyone could be Death.
When Wanda turns to Harold for help, she realizes only she can see him and understands that Harold is Death.
After a lot of hesitation, Wanda decides to bring Harold in, and she confides her fears to him. Later, a contractor knocks on her door to tell her the building will be demolished soon and she has to leave, and if she doesn’t, he will call the police. When Wanda turns to Harold for help, she realizes only she can see him and understands that Harold is Death. Harold assures her there’s nothing to fear, and when she realizes she’s standing next to her dead body, she no longer fears what’s next for her, andshe peacefully leaves her apartment with Harold.
“Nothing In The Dark” often ranks amongThe Twilight Zone’s best episodes and has been praised for its performances, story, tone, twist, and message, and while it does have some sinister elements, it’s more emotional and leans more into drama than other episodes of the show. In 2014,Redford sharedthat he had been told that “Nothing in the Dark” is the most often viewed episode ofThe Twilight Zone, and it’s easy to see why.
Robert Redford Stopped Doing TV For 60 Years After The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Robert Redford Put His TV Career On Hold For Decades
Robert Redford’s third episode inThe Alfred Hitchcock Hourwas his final TV role before taking a very long break from TV.Redford’s film career took off in the late 1960s and was unstoppable for decades after that, so it’s understandable that he didn’t return to TV until many years later. Redford voiced Bob Woodward in an uncredited cameo in one episode of the satirical political drama TV seriesWhite House Plumbers, in 2023, and that’s his most recent TV role. It’s unknown ifRobert Redfordwill return to TV in the near future, but he was part of some interesting shows in the 1960s.
