10 Celebrities You Never Knew Were on ‘The Twilight Zone’

First on our list of celebrities you never knew were on The Twilight Zone is William Shatner, the future Captain Kirk. He made not one, but two memorable appearances on the show.

His first role came in 1960 with the episode “Nick of Time.” In this episode, Shatner portrayed a newlywed captivated by a fortune-telling machine in a small-town diner. Three years later, Shatner returned in the iconic episode “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” This time, he played a salesman, recently recovered from a nervous breakdown, who spotted a gremlin on the wing of his airplane. This episode became so famous that it was remade in 1983’s Twilight Zone: The Movie.

Ultimately, Shatner’s performances in both episodes showcased his dramatic range, foreshadowing his future success in science fiction.

Dennis Hopper also made a striking appearance on The Twilight Zone. He starred in the 1963 episode “He’s Alive,” directed by Stuart Rosenberg.

Hopper played Peter Vollmer, a neo-Nazi leader who was manipulated by a mysterious figure. The episode delved into the dangers of fascism and extremism. Hopper’s intense performance captured his character’s vulnerability and fall into radicalization.

This role came years before Hopper’s breakthrough in Easy Rider. His Twilight Zone appearance gave the world an early glimpse of the intensity that would later define his career.

Another surprising name on our list of celebrities who appeared on The Twilight Zone is Robert Duvall, who was featured in a 1963 episode.

He starred in “Miniature,” playing Charley Parkes. In this episode, he played a shy, socially awkward man who becomes obsessed with a museum’s dollhouse exhibit. The story explored themes of escapism and the search for belonging.

This appearance came early in Duvall’s career, predating many of his iconic roles. It gave viewers a glimpse of the acting talent that would later earn him critical acclaim in films like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now.

Before becoming one of most iconic and handsome heartthrob’s of the 70s, Burt Reynolds made an early career appearance on The Twilight Zone. He starred in the 1959 episode “The Bard,” part of the show’s fourth season.

Reynolds played Rocky Rhodes, a dim-witted but handsome actor in this comedic episode. In the episode, a TV writer magically brought William Shakespeare to the present day to help write scripts. Reynolds’ character was chosen to play Shakespeare in a TV show, which upset the real Shakespeare.

This role, while brief, showcased Reynolds’ natural charm and comic timing. It came several years before his breakout roles in Deliverance and Smokey and the Bandit.

Another star on our list of celebrities you never knew were on The Twilight Zone is George Takei, who appeared on the show in 1964. He starred in the episode “The Encounter.”

In this episode, Takei played Arthur Takamori, a Japanese-American man dealing with post-World War II tensions. The episode explored prejudice and guilt. Interestingly, this episode proved too controversial for its time. It was rarely rebroadcast, making Takei’s appearance less well-known.

That said, Takei’s performance in this episode showcased his dramatic skills. Notably, this role came just before his famous part as Sulu on Star Trek.

Julie Newmar, best known as Catwoman from the 1960s Batman series, also made a memorable appearance on The Twilight Zone. She starred in the 1963 episode “Of Late I Think of Cliffordville.”

Newmar played Miss Devlin, a seductive devil who grants a businessman’s wish to relive his past. This early-career appearance showed Newmar’s range and screen presence. Her performance balanced allure and devilish menace, foreshadowing the skill and charisma that she later brought to her iconic Catwoman role.

Next, the youngest entry on our list of celebrities you never knew were on The Twilight Zone is Ron Howard.

He was already a child star from The Andy Griffith Show when he ventured into The Twilight Zone in 1962. He appeared in the episode “Walking Distance” at just seven years old. Howard played a small role as a boy on a merry-go-round.

The episode was centered on nostalgia and childhood, perfect for young Howard’s innocent charm. This brief appearance came during his run as Opie Taylor, showcasing his ability to step into more dramatic roles.

Leonard Nimoy appeared in The Twilight Zone before his iconic role as Mr. Spock. He played Hansen, a soldier in the 1961 episode “A Quality of Mercy.”

The story explored empathy during wartime. Nimoy’s small role hinted at his future impact as Spock, giving viewers a glimpse of his talent. His appearance in The Twilight Zone also foreshadowed his future in the genre.

Before her comedy fame, Carol Burnett made a surprising appearance on The Twilight Zone. In 1962, she starred in the episode “Cavender Is Coming,” one of the show’s rare attempts at comedy. Burnett played Agnes Grep, a clumsy woman assigned a guardian angel.

Like many other stars on this list, her appearance came before her fame. Later, her breakthrough role on The Carol Burnett Show established her as a comedy legend.

Last but not least, in 1962, a young Robert Redford also starred in The Twilight Zone. He starred in the episode “Nothing in the Dark.” Here, Redford played Mr. Death, a gentle and handsome personification of death itself.

Through this character, the episode delves deep into themes of fear and acceptance. At just 26 years old, Redford’s performance already showed the charisma and acting talent that would later define his career. This appearance came well before his breakout role in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

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