Robert Duvall, a titan in American cinema who anchored some of the greatest films of the 20th century, has died at the age of 95.
From his portrayal of Tom Hagen, the consigliere of the Corleone family, in The Godfather, to his Oscar-winning performance as a broken country singer in Tender Mercies, Duvall was widely considered among the greatest and most versatile actors in film history.
After beginning his career on stage at the Gateway Playhouse in Long Island, New York, Duvall made his memorable film debut as Boo Radley in Robert Mulligan’s acclaimed adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. His sensitive portrayal of the classic literary character was just the beginning of a diverse range of roles, including a fruitful collaboration with director Francis Ford Coppola that included 1969’s The Rain People, the first two Godfather films, The Conversation, and Duvall’s memorable appearance as Lieutenant Colonel William “Bill” Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, delivering the now-iconic line “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
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Duvall’s other notable film roles included journalist Max Mercy in The Natural, Joseph Pulitzer in 1992’s Newsies, astronaut Spurgeon Tanner in Deep Impact, and crooked politician Tom Mulligan in Widows. He was also no stranger to television, hosting Saturday Night Live in 1998 and starring as former Texas Ranger Augustus “Gus” McCrae in the western miniseries Lonesome Dove. He won two Emmys for acting and executive producing the 2006 miniseries Broken Trail.
As a director, Duvall made five films, including the acclaimed 1997 movie The Apostle (in which he starred as a Pentecostal preacher) and 2002’s Assassination Tango, which starred his eventual fourth wife Luciana Pedraza (they married in 2005) and put a spotlight on his love of tango dancing.
In all, Duvall’s career spanned a total of seven decades, leading to seven Academy Award nominations and one win, a BAFTA, four Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. His final screen performance came in the 2022 Netflix movie The Pale Blue Eye, opposite Christian Bale.
Duvall’s wife, Luciana, announced his passing in a statement shared to social media on Monday, February 16th. “Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort,” she wrote.
“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller,” Luciana added. “To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.”
