Robert Redford’s final role before his passing in late 2023 was as an executive producer and onscreen cameo participant for AMC’s crime drama Dark Winds. Now airing its fourth season on Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC and AMC+, the series focuses on the Navajo Tribal Police in the 1970s tackling crimes on their reservation. The show is set to continue with a fifth season, honoring Redford’s involvement in bringing these Indigenous stories to mainstream audiences.
Alongside Zahn McClarnon, the Native American lead actor, the cast includes Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, and Deanna Allison. Redford shared executive producer duties with famed author George R.R. Martin, both of whom also appeared together in a Season 3 cameo as characters exchanging chess moves and dialogue within a jail cell.
Experiences Working With Robert Redford on Set
McClarnon spoke candidly about his experiences with Redford on the series. Reflecting on the moments they shared during filming, he said,
I’ll hold onto those memories forever,
highlighting the profound impact Redford had on his career and life. McClarnon described the surreal nature of working alongside someone he greatly admired:
When he looked at me, I couldn’t believe I was sitting there doing dialogue with somebody like Robert Redford; somebody I looked up to so much,
he recalled.
The native actor went on to express the sense of awe that accompanied those scenes, adding,
I’ve seen just about every film he’s ever done and used to idolize him as a kid. I had to pinch myself. I’m literally there doing dialogue with my hero!
Redford’s Health and Spirit During Filming
While Robert Redford remained mentally sharp near the end of his life, according to McClarnon, physically he faced challenges. The actor noted,
Bob was completely all there, mentally.
However, Redford had difficulties walking, though this did not dampen his enthusiasm on set:
he was smiling and having fun with the cast and the crew.
Redford was more than a remote executive producer; he actively participated in the production. McClarnon shared,
He visited the set quite often,
describing Redford as
very lighthearted, and always laughing and joking. Everybody loved being around Bob. We just loved it when he came up to the set to hang out.
Championing Indigenous Voices and Storytelling
McClarnon praised Redford as a significant figure for Native American storytelling and for the entertainment industry generally, saying he was an
icon for Native storytelling, and for the whole business, in general.
The show’s roots stem from the beloved Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman, a series that spanned from 1970 to 2006. Redford had acquired the rights to these stories for around 30 years before the adaptation found a home at AMC.
Expressing gratitude for Redford’s role in his life and career, McClarnon said,
We luckily found a home at AMC. I’m so glad that Bob became part of my life.
Tributes and Memorial Plans for Redford
Season 4 marks the first season of Dark Winds without Robert Redford. The production is planning a tribute to honor his legacy, especially as the show films in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Redford lived. McClarnon explained,
Within the community outside of [the show] he was such a huge icon, and he lived down there. There’s a lot of people that were sad and mourned. I’m not quite sure what we’re doing as a production this season, but we are definitely doing something.
In addition to his on-screen and producer contributions, McClarnon recently made his directorial debut on the same season, further demonstrating the collaborative spirit fostered under Redford’s influence. He celebrated Redford as an immense talent and a meaningful figure who
just championed independent film and indigenous stories.
Lasting Legacy of Robert Redford
Reflecting on his personal highlight, McClarnon shared,
Definitely one of the highlights of my life was being in a scene with Bob. He was an American icon, and his work is going to live on forever.
The ongoing success of Dark Winds keeps Redford’s legacy alive, as the crime drama continues to tell important Native American stories and sheds light on cultural perspectives often underrepresented on television.
Viewers can watch Dark Winds Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC and AMC+.
