Robert Redford Returns After Six-Year Hiatus with Surprise Cameo

Robert Redford has made a long-awaited return to the screen after a six-year break. The legendary actor, now 88 years old, recently made a surprise cameo in the television series Dark Winds, according to reports from US media.

Redford, who is also a producer of the show alongside A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin, shared the screen with Martin in a brief but memorable scene. The two appeared as prison inmates engaged in a game of chess in the first episode of the series’ third season. In the scene, Martin’s character manages to checkmate Redford’s, with the assistance of the show’s protagonist, Joe Leaphorn (played by Zahn McClarnon).

A Nervous Director

As reported by Vulture, Redford’s scene was filmed on a closed set at his request. The episode’s director, Chris Eyre, admitted to feeling nervous about directing the Hollywood icon. He revealed that the idea of including both Redford and Martin in a cameo had been discussed since the show’s first season, but when it finally became a reality, he felt the pressure of working with such a revered figure.

Redford’s Last Screen Appearance

Before this latest cameo, Redford’s last on-screen appearance was in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, where he reprised his role from Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). The actor had previously declared his retirement from acting before the release of his 2018 film The Old Man & the Gun. However, at the film’s premiere, he admitted to Variety that announcing his retirement had been a misstep.

“I should never have said that,” Redford remarked at the time. “When I retire, I should just do it quietly rather than making an announcement, because it shifts attention in the wrong direction. I want the focus to be on the work and the cast.”

In recent years, Redford has remained active in the industry, primarily working behind the camera as a director and producer. Additionally, he has continued his involvement with the Sundance Institute, which he co-founded in 1981 to support independent filmmakers. His return to the screen, even in a brief cameo, is a welcome surprise for fans of the legendary actor.