ROBERT REDFORD IN ALFRED HITCHCOCK’ S SERIES
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Before His Twilight Zone Episode, Robert Redford Appeared Twice In Another Classic Horror TV Show


Published Jun 22, 2025
Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once.
Robert Redford isn’t an actor who has ventured much into the horror genre, but he appeared in one of The 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-com Tall Story and one-episode appearances in different TV shows, such as Maverick and Perry Mason.
Redford became widely known after starring in the rom-com Barefoot in the Park in 1967 and later in Butch 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. Although Redford is best known for his career in film as both an actor and director, he also continued to explore the world of TV in the 1960s, with one of his most notable projects being The 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 Zone premiered on CBS in 1959, but four years earlier, Alfred Hitchcock Presents arrived. Created and presented by the legendary filmmaker, Alfred Hitchcock Presents was 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 Presents counted on the talents of a variety of actors.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents was retitled The Alfred Hitchcock Hour between 1962 and 1965.
In 1961, Robert Redford made his first appearance in Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 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 to The Alfred Hitchcock Hour the 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 to The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, he visited Rod Serling’s The 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, and she peacefully leaves her apartment with Harold.
“Nothing In The Dark” often ranks among The 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 shared that he had been told that “Nothing in the Dark” is the most often viewed episode of The 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 in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour was 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 series White House Plumbers, in 2023, and that’s his most recent TV role. It’s unknown if Robert Redford will return to TV in the near future, but he was part of some interesting shows in the 1960s.

Robert Redford
BirthdateAugust 18, 1936BirthplaceSanta Monica, California, United StatesHeight5 feet 10 inches
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Before His Twilight Zone Episode, Robert Redford Appeared Twice In Another Classic Horror TV Show


Published Jun 22, 2025
Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once.
Robert Redford isn’t an actor who has ventured much into the horror genre, but he appeared in one of The 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-com Tall Story and one-episode appearances in different TV shows, such as Maverick and Perry Mason.
Redford became widely known after starring in the rom-com Barefoot in the Park in 1967 and later in Butch 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. Although Redford is best known for his career in film as both an actor and director, he also continued to explore the world of TV in the 1960s, with one of his most notable projects being The 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 Zone premiered on CBS in 1959, but four years earlier, Alfred Hitchcock Presents arrived. Created and presented by the legendary filmmaker, Alfred Hitchcock Presents was 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 Presents counted on the talents of a variety of actors.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents was retitled The Alfred Hitchcock Hour between 1962 and 1965.
In 1961, Robert Redford made his first appearance in Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 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 to The Alfred Hitchcock Hour the 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 to The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, he visited Rod Serling’s The 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, and she peacefully leaves her apartment with Harold.
“Nothing In The Dark” often ranks among The 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 shared that he had been told that “Nothing in the Dark” is the most often viewed episode of The 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 in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour was 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 series White House Plumbers, in 2023, and that’s his most recent TV role. It’s unknown if Robert Redford will return to TV in the near future, but he was part of some interesting shows in the 1960s.

Robert Redford
BirthdateAugust 18, 1936BirthplaceSanta Monica, California, United StatesHeight5 feet 10 inches
Google is updating how content is shown. Don’t miss our industry-leading content, written by humans, by setting Screen Rant as a preferred source.
Follow
Like
Share
Thread
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post
This thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
Recommended

3 days ago
Alien: Earth Season 2 Is Officially Fixing Ridley Scott’s Prometheus Problem

Nov 26, 2025
Disney’s New Star Wars Movie Is Officially Fixing A George Lucas Mistake

7 days ago
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4 days ago
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Copyright © 2025 Valnet Inc.✕
