Was Robert Redford in Dark Winds? All about the late actor’s role in the AMC drama

When Dark Winds Season 3 premiered on AMC earlier this year, there was barely anyone who expected to see Hollywood royalty behind those New Mexico jail bars. But there he was: Robert Redford himself! The cameo was utterly magnetic.

On September 16, 2025, the Sundance Kid, director, and actor died at the age of 89. After The Old Man & the Gun in 2018, he retired from acting and moved out of the spotlight. That gave the Sundance Institute the reins in 2019.

Even after retiring, Redford served as an executive producer on AMC's highly acclaimed neo-noir thriller Dark Winds. Most fans didn't know Redford had another trick up his sleeve until the premiere of Season 3. And it came in the form of a cameo that is always going to be his final on-screen appearance.

All about Robert Redford's Dark Winds cameo

Redford's cameo nearly didn't happen, according to Dark Winds showrunner John Wirth, who gave Variety the behind-the-scenes details.

The original concept, a comedic moment reminiscent of Men in Black, that starred alien sheep, had to be dropped because Redford's fellow executive producer, George R.R. Martin, thought it was a little too absurd.

The stars aligned months later. The plan was straightforward, as Redford and Martin were both available on April 2. The duo would play chess in adjacent jail cells without saying a word while the main story took place around them.

However, Redford's innate talent as a performer took over when he arrived on set. He concluded that, in fact, he did want to say something! The line?

"George, the whole world’s waiting. Make a move."

Ever the good sport, Martin's one-word answer was "checkmate." However, he did shoot that one word in over a dozen different ways!

As the chess game reached a climax, Zahn McClarnon's character, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, even came on stage and yelled, "Bishop to H5." Following his own guidelines from Butch Cassidy to Dark Winds, Redford's impressive on-screen career then came full circle.

What did the Dark Winds showrunner say about Robert Redford?

Redford's performance was visual poetry, as Wirth remembered.

"At the age of 88, Robert Redford still had it. His star power was intact, and no one could take their eyes off him."

After multiple takes, the legend came up with his own last line. When Martin's character announced victory, Redford cracked a smile:

"Thanks a lot."

It turned out to be the last time the world would see him on screen.

It was the ideal farewell for a man who changed American cinema over the course of a six-decade career. So, yes, it was just a private moment between two titans of creativity, filmed in a Santa Fe jail cell. Truly, it is suitable that Robert Redford got the last laugh, regardless of a brief cameo.

Trending

Watch Dark Winds on AMC or Amazon Prime Video.

NEXT UP: Season 4 gets official release date

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback