<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906CERT
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>dex99906cert.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CETIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
<TEXT>
<PAGE>


  CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 30A-2(B) UNDER THE 1940 ACT AND SECTION 906 OF
                             THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

I, George R. Aylward, President of The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the
"Registrant"), certify that:

     1.   The Form N-CSR of the Registrant containing the financial statements
          (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a)
          or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     2.   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Registrant.


Date: September 6, 2011                     /s/ George R. Aylward
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            George R. Aylward, President
                                            (principal executive officer)

I, W. Patrick Bradley, Treasurer of The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the
"Registrant"), certify that:

     1.   The Form N-CSR of the Registrant containing the financial statements
          (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a)
          or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     2.   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Registrant.


Date: September 6, 2011                     /s/ W. Patrick Bradley
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            W. Patrick Bradley, Treasurer
                                            (principal financial officer)

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
