Robert Redford’s acting career began in 1960 with small roles in TV shows like Maverick, The Deputy, and Perry Mason, as well as an uncredited appearance in the rom-com Tall Story. Redford broke big when he starred in Inside Daisy Clover, which earned him a Golden Globe for best new star.

However, Redford reached stardom in the late 1960s, starting with the Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which was his first collaboration with Paul Newman. Redford went on to star in more Westerns, such as Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here and Jeremiah Johnson, but he also found great success in other genres. Before Redford became one of the biggest movie stars in film history, he appeared in various TV shows, including The Twilight Zone, where he starred in one of its best episodes.

Robert Redford Starred In The Twilight Zone's 1962 Episode "Nothing In The Dark"

“Nothing In The Dark” Aired On January 5, 1962

The Twilight Zone has gone through different revivals, but its original run was from 1959 to 1964. Created and presented by Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone mixed sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and drama, with each episode being a standalone story in which the characters deal with disturbing and even supernatural events. Most episodes of The Twilight Zone end with a moral and a surprise ending, which in many cases is also quite disturbing. The original run of the show lasted five seasons, and it brought some of the show’s best episodes.

Among them is "Nothing in the Dark", the 16th episode of The Twilight Zone season 3. Directed by Lamont Johnson and written by George Clayton Johnson, “Nothing in the Dark” starred Robert Redford alongside Gladys Cooper. “Nothing in the Dark” follows Wanda Dunn (Cooper), an old and frail woman living alone in a dark basement apartment in an abandoned tenement. Wanda hasn’t left her home in years, as she fears Death will find her and take her, as she has seen it take many forms and claim many lives.

One morning, she’s awakened by an altercation outside, in which a young police officer named Harold Beldon (Redford) is shot. Beldon begs Wanda for help, but she refuses to open as she doesn’t want Death to get her. Wanda eventually opens and, after touching Beldon’s shoulder and confirming he’s still alive, she brings Beldon in to help him. As Wanda doesn’t have a phone and doesn’t have neighbors anymore, she can’t call a doctor for Beldon, and she confides in him her fears of encountering Death.

Later, a contractor arrives to tell Wanda that she has to leave the apartment as the building will be demolished, and if she doesn’t, he will call the police. Wanda turns to Beldon for , but the contractor can’t see him. Wanda then understands that Beldon is, in fact, Death, and he explains to her that he means no harm. Death assures Wanda that there’s nothing to fear, so she gives him her hand and is relieved to see that nothing has changed as she stands next to her own dead body. Death and Wanda leave the apartment, with Wanda happy and at peace.

Before The Twilight Zone, Redford had appeared in two movies: the above-mentioned Tall Story and the war film War Hunt, where he played Private Roy Loomis. On TV, he had minor appearances (either one or two episodes long) in various shows, such as Playhouse 90, Tate, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Whispering Smith, Naked City, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

"Nothing In The Dark" Is One Of The Twilight Zone's Best & Most-Watched Episodes

“Nothing In The Dark” Ranks High Among The Twilight Zone’s Best Episodes

The Twilight Zone is now a classic of TV history and the sci-fi and horror genres, and though every version of the show has had its strong episodes, the original one has many that were very successful and even became classics. “Nothing in the Dark” is no exception, and it often ranks among The Twilight Zone’s best episodes. On IMDb, “Nothing in the Dark” has an 8.3 rating, and can be found in many lists of best The Twilight Zone episodes, often ranking among the Top 10. On top of that, “Nothing in the Dark” is one of the show’s most-watched episodes.

Redford opened up about his The Twilight Zone episode, sharing that it was “very special” and praising the story and his co-star.

Speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2014, Redford opened up about his The Twilight Zone episode, sharing that it was “very special” and praising the story and his co-star. Redford said he loved the character of Harold Beldon/Death because he had to be the opposite of Death, showing comion and kindness to the frightened Wanda. Redford itted he had no idea it would have such an impact, and he was told that “Nothing in the Dark” is one of the most-watched The Twilight Zone episodes.

The legacy of “Nothing in the Dark” isn’t surprising now given Redford’s career and talent, but back then, Redford was still a mostly unknown actor. However, “Nothing in the Dark” is one of those rare The Twilight Zone episodes with a somewhat uplifting ending – sure, Wanda was eventually taken by Death, but she learned not to fear him and what was next for her, and she was able to leave with peace and relief. Nowadays, of course, the episode stands out for being one of Redford’s earliest roles, as well as one of his last TV performances.

Robert Redford Essentially Stopped TV Acting Shortly After His Twilight Zone Episode

Robert Redford Focused On Movies & Found Great Success

After his appearance in The Twilight Zone, Robert Redford had only a couple more TV credits. Redford played Jack Parker in one episode of The Untouchables, Matthew Cordell in an episode of The Virginian, and David Chesterman in one episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, all of them in 1963. Redford’s most recent TV role is an uncredited voice cameo in the satirical political drama White House Plumbers, where he played Bob Woodward.

Shortly after The Twilight Zone, Redford’s film career took off after being cast in Inside Daisy Clover, and found even more success in the Western genre, starting with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Redford is now one of the most acclaimed actors and directors of his generation, with various awards to his name, including an Oscar for Best Director for Ordinary People and an honorary award. Robert Redford isn’t a name often associated with horror and sci-fi, but he left his mark in The Twilight Zone.