Rod Serling

Characters played by Rod Serling

Self - Host — The Twilight Zone (1959)

As a former pulp fiction fan turned serious television writer, he aimed to broadcast taboo themes like racism, war, and human nature on television. Despite fame in the 1950s, he frequently clashed with networks over censorship, facing restrictions that prevented him from discussing current political issues, yet he continued to challenge the medium's limitations.

Career Overview

Rod Serling has 91 screen credits in a career dating back to 1948. Their work spans 2 cinematic universes — most prominently Planet of the Apes with 1 titles. Signature works include Planet of the Apes, The Enemy Within, Seven Days in May. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Writing
Gender: male
Known Credits: 91
Birth Date: 1924-12-25
Birth Place: Syracuse, New York, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 2 universes

Planet of the Apes (1 titles)
Planet of the Apes (Original) Collection (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Martin Balsam (2 collaborations)
Al Bain (2 collaborations)
William Challee (2 collaborations)
Stanley Adams (2 collaborations)
Charlton Heston (1 collaborations)
Roddy McDowall (1 collaborations)
Kim Hunter (1 collaborations)
Maurice Evans (1 collaborations)
James Whitmore (1 collaborations)
James Daly (1 collaborations)

Credits

writing (51 credits)
- The Time Element
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2026
- The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2019
- The Twilight Zone Christmas Classics
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2014
- The Twilight Zone
  
  - Eye of the Beholder (2003) ... writer writing
  
  - One Night at Mercy (2002) ... writer writing
  
  2002
- For All Time
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2000
- A Storm in Summer
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2000
- In the Presence of Mine Enemies
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1997
- The Enemy Within
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1994
- The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1994
- The Twilight Zone
  
  - Our Selena is Dying (1988) ... story writing
  
  - The After Hours / Lost and Found / The World Next Door (1986) ... writer writing
  
  - Night of the Meek / But Can She Type? / The Star (1985) ... writer writing
  
  1985
- The Salamander
  adaptation
  
  writing
  
  1981
- Time Travelers
  story
  
  writing
  
  1976
- Requiem for a Heavyweight
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1974
- The Man
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1972
- A Storm in Summer
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1970
- Night Gallery
  
  - Something in the Woodwork (1973) ... writer writing
  
  - Finnegan's Flight (1972) ... writer writing
  
  - You Can Come Up Now, Mrs. Millikan / Smile Please (1972) ... writer writing
  
  - Rare Objects (1972) ... writer writing
  
  - The Caterpillar / Little Girl Lost (1972) ... writer writing
  
  1970
- Night Gallery
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1969
- Certain Honorable Men
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1968
- Planet of the Apes
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1968
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  teleplay
  
  writing
  
  1967
- The Doomsday Flight
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1966
- Assault on a Queen
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1966
- Planet of the Apes Test Reel
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1966
- Carol for Another Christmas
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1964
- Seven Days in May
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1964
- The Yellow Canary
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1963
- He's Alive
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1963
- Requiem for a Heavyweight
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1962
- Incident in an Alley
  story
  
  writing
  
  1962
- In the Presence of Mine Enemies
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1960
- The Velvet Alley
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1959
- The Twilight Zone
  
  - The Fear (1964) ... writer writing
  
  - The Brain Center at Whipple's (1964) ... writer writing
  
  - Mr. Garrity and the Graves (1964) ... writer writing
  
  - The Jeopardy Room (1964) ... writer writing
  
  - Sounds and Silences (1964) ... writer writing
  
  1959
- Bomber's Moon
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1958
- A Town Has Turned to Dust
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1958
- Nightmare at Ground Zero
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1958
- Saddle the Wind
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1958
- Panic Button
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1957
- The Dark Side of the Earth
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1957
- Blood Money
  story
  
  writing
  
  1957
- The Comedian
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1957
- The Rack
  teleplay
  
  writing
  
  1956
- Requiem for a Heavyweight
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1956
- Forbidden Area
  adaptation
  
  writing
  
  1956
- Patterns
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1956
- Patterns
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1955
- The Challenge
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1955
- The Strike
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1954
- Climax!
  
  - The Champion (1955) ... writer writing
  
  1954
- A Long Time Till Dawn
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1953
- Horace Mann's Miracle
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1953
- Studio One
  
  - The Arena (1956) ... writer writing
  
  - The Man Who Caught the Ball at Coogan's Bluff (1955) ... writer writing
  
  - U.F.O. (1954) ... writer writing
  
  - The Strike (1954) ... writer writing
  
  - Herman Came By Bomber (1954) ... writer writing
  
  1948
actors (31 credits)
- Patterns of Time
  Narrator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Tales of the Uncanny
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- The Twilight Zone 60th: Remembering Rod Serling
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
  Narrator (archive sound)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Mike Wallace Is Here
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- The Twilight Zone Christmas Classics
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- The Man of Miracles
  Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval
  Self (Archive Footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Preshow
  Narrator (Physical)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1994
- The Exiles
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1989
- UFOs: It Has Begun
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond
  Narrator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- The Outer Space Connection
  Narrator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- Phantom of the Paradise
  Introductory Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1974
- UFOs: Past, Present, and Future
  Narrator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1974
- In Search of Ancient Mysteries
  Narrator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1974
- The Alcoholism Film
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1974
- Deadly Fathoms
  Narrator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1973
- In Search of Ancient Astronauts
  Narrator
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1973
- Encounter with the Unknown
  Narrator (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1972
- Appointment With Destiny: The Last Days of John Dillinger
  Himself (Narrator)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1971
- Night Gallery
  Self - Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  - Hatred unto Death / How to Cure the Common Vampire (1973) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - The Doll of Death (1973) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - Whisper (1973) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - Death on a Barge (1973) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - Something in the Woodwork (1973) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  1970
- Night Gallery
  Self - Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1969
- The Movie Orgy
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1968
- The Dick Cavett Show
  
  - Rod Serling, Arthur C. Clarke, Cassie Mackin (1972) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  1968
- Ironside
  
  - Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Murder (1972) ... actor actors
  
  1967
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
  
  - Episode 155 (1963) ... Self actor actors
  
  1962
- The Man in the Funny Suit
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1960
- The Twilight Zone
  Self - Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  - The Bewitchin' Pool (1964) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - The Fear (1964) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - Come Wander with Me (1964) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - The Brain Center at Whipple's (1964) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - Mr. Garrity and the Graves (1964) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  1959
- The Red Skelton Show
  
  - Clem and the Beanstalk (1960) ... Self / Cameo (uncredited) actor actors
  
  1951
production (2 credits)
- The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
  producer
  
  production
  
  2019
- The Twilight Zone
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  - The Bewitchin' Pool (1964) ... executive producer production
  
  - The Fear (1964) ... executive producer production
  
  - Come Wander with Me (1964) ... executive producer production
  
  - The Brain Center at Whipple's (1964) ... executive producer production
  
  - Mr. Garrity and the Graves (1964) ... executive producer production
  
  1959
creators (5 credits)
- The Twilight Zone
  creator
  
  creators
  
  2019
- The Twilight Zone
  creator
  
  creators
  
  2002
- The Twilight Zone
  creator
  
  creators
  
  1985
- Night Gallery
  creator
  
  creators
  
  1970
- The Twilight Zone
  creator
  
  creators
  
  1959
crew (2 credits)
- The Trap
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2015
- One-Eyed Jacks
  additional writing
  
  crew
  
  1961