Tue Sep 23 04:10:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

This piece focuses on Robert Redford’s early role in the 1962 “Twilight Zone” episode “Nothing in the Dark.” In this episode, Redford played a charming and non-threatening incarnation of Death, tasked with escorting an elderly woman, Wanda Dunn, to the afterlife. The article emphasizes how Redford’s performance hinted at his future stardom and how the episode, written by George Clayton Johnson and directed by Lamont Johnson, explored themes of fear, mortality, and facing one’s weaknesses, all while showcasing Redford’s uncanny presence. The role also marked a turning point, essentially ending Redford’s television career as he transitioned to film.

**News Article:**

**Robert Redford’s Early Brush with Death: A Look Back at His “Twilight Zone” Role**

Sixty years after its original airing, Robert Redford’s portrayal of Death in the 1962 “Twilight Zone” episode, “Nothing in the Dark,” continues to captivate audiences. Long before he became a Hollywood icon, Redford, in his early 20s, delivered a memorable performance as a surprisingly charming and comforting emissary of the afterlife.

In the episode, now streaming on Paramount+, Redford plays a young policeman who seeks refuge in the apartment of Wanda Dunn (Gladys Cooper), an elderly woman who has been hiding from Death. What Dunn doesn’t know is that the young policeman *is* death.

The episode is considered a classic in the “Twilight Zone” canon. Written by George Clayton Johnson and directed by Lamont Johnson, “Nothing in the Dark” explores themes of fear, acceptance, and the human struggle against mortality. The article also notes that the episode inadvertently signaled a shift in Redford’s career trajectory, marking a move away from television and towards the big screen.

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