What Robert Redford Revealed About His Haunting ‘Twilight Zone’ Episode
On September 16, actor, filmmaker, and activist Robert Redford died at the age of 89. Known for his roles in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All the President’s Men, The Great Gatsby, and The Natural, to name just a few, the Hollywood icon passed in his sleep, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped not only cinema but culture itself.
Before he graced silver screens and began guiding budding filmmakers, Redford was once a young, struggling actor himself, appearing in bit parts on a vast assortment of classic shows throughout the ’50s and the ’60s.
One of the screen legend’s first roles was a bit part on Maverick, followed by a variety of small roles in Golden Era TV shows such as Playhouse 90, Perry Mason, Route 66, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. But few are as bittersweet or as haunting as his portrayal of Officer Harold Beldon on the Twilight Zone in the episode “Nothing in the Dark” from 1962.
The story follows Wanda Dunn (Gladys Cooper), an elderly recluse who has spent decades shut away from the world, terrified of Death after claiming to have once witnessed him reap a soul. When a police officer (Redford) is shot outside her door, compassion overcomes fear, and she lets him inside. As Wanda recounts her years of hiding from Death, the kind young officer reveals himself to be the personification of the Grim Reaper, there to guide her with a gentle hand, proving that death is nothing to fear and can arrive with a friendly face.
Airing 63 years ago, the heartfelt story of death incarnate resonated with viewers as it portrayed Death as a kind and compassionate guide, acting as a type of guardian angel who helps Wanda transition from her fear to acceptance.
In 2014 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Redford took a moment to talk about his appearance in the episode.
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“That was really special,” said the actor, “I had no idea that it was going to have that kind of impact. It was a wonderful script. And I had the pleasure of playing opposite Gladys Cooper, who was a wonderful English actress.”
“Twilight Zone was very popular at that time, and I think Rod Serling was one of the great giants of early television. And he had written it. And I just loved the idea of playing that character because he had to be the absolute opposite of what you would think of Mr. Death,” continued Redford. “He had to be kind, compassionate, and there was a wonderful dynamic between she and I because she was so frightened that if she ever opened the door, Death would come in.”
“It was just a wonderful script, but I had no idea that it was going to have the ongoing impact that it did until I got a note from I got a note from the company that produces that show. [They made a] little certificate saying that show is the most often viewed Twilight Zone episode there was,” concluded Redford. “That was nice.”
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