Legendary Actor Robert Duvall Dies at 95, Known for ‘Godfather’ and ‘Tender Mercies’

Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall passed away peacefully at his Virginia home on Sunday at age 95. The versatile performer was best known for his iconic roles in 'The Godfather' films and his Oscar-winning performance in 'Tender Mercies.'

MIDDLEBURG, Va. — Acclaimed Hollywood actor Robert Duvall, who captured audiences with his memorable performances in “The Godfather” saga and earned an Academy Award for “Tender Mercies,” passed away peacefully at his Virginia residence on Sunday. He was 95 years old.

His publicist confirmed the actor’s death, with his wife Luciana Duvall sharing the news through a heartfelt message on his social media page.

“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” Luciana Duvall wrote. “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.”

Despite lacking traditional leading man features, the slender, bald performer built an extraordinary career spanning decades, transforming from character actor to Hollywood icon. His journey began in 1962 with his film debut as the mysterious Boo Radley in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” launching a career filled with remarkable character portrayals.

Throughout his career, Duvall received seven Oscar nominations, taking home the Best Actor award in 1984 for his portrayal of troubled musician Mac Sledge in “Tender Mercies.” His trophy case also includes four Golden Globe awards, including recognition for his beloved performance as a cattle-drive leader in the acclaimed 1989 miniseries “Lonesome Dove,” which he frequently mentioned as his most cherished role.

The U.S. government honored his contributions to the arts in 2005 with a National Medal of Arts.

Duvall’s breakthrough came after two decades in the business when Francis Coppola cast him as Tom Hagen in 1972’s “The Godfather.” Having previously worked with Coppola on “The Rain People,” Duvall brought subtle brilliance to the role of the Irish lawyer serving the Italian Corleone family, creating an unforgettable character who operated in the shadows while providing crucial counsel.

Film critic David Thomson praised this casting choice, writing: “Stars and Italians alike depend on his efficiency, his tidying up around their grand gestures, his being the perfect shortstop on a team of personality sluggers. Was there ever a role better designed for its actor than that of Tom Hagen in both parts of ‘The Godfather?'”

In stark contrast to his understated Godfather performance, Duvall delivered explosive energy as the unhinged Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now.” His portrayal of the surf-loving, war-obsessed officer produced one of cinema’s most quoted lines, delivered with characteristic intensity on the battlefield: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn’t find one of ’em, not one stinkin’ dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like — victory.”

Director Coppola once observed Duvall’s remarkable preparation skills, noting: “Actors click into character at different times — the first week, third week. Bobby’s hot after one or two takes.”

While earning Oscar nominations for both “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” in supporting categories, Duvall made headlines when he declined to appear in the third Godfather installment due to salary disagreements, publicly expressing frustration over receiving lower compensation than his fellow stars.

Colleagues consistently praised Duvall’s meticulous approach to his craft and intense focus. Michael Caine, who worked alongside him in 2003’s “Secondhand Lions,” shared with The Associated Press: “Before a big scene, Bobby just sits there, absolutely quiet; you know when not to talk to him.” Those who interrupted his preparation often encountered his well-documented temper, notably displayed during filming of “True Grit” when he clashed with director Henry Hathaway.

Duvall’s Oscar victory came for his leading performance as the struggling country singer Mac Sledge in “Tender Mercies,” accepting the award while wearing a distinctive cowboy tuxedo. In 1998, he earned another Best Actor nomination for “The Apostle,” a passion project about a troubled Southern preacher that he wrote, directed, produced, starred in, and largely funded himself. His dedication to authenticity led him to visit numerous rural churches and spend twelve years developing the screenplay.

His impressive filmography includes diverse characters: the outlaw leader targeted by John Wayne in “True Grit,” the notorious Jesse James in “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid,” the sanctimonious Frank Burns in “M-A-S-H,” the ruthless television executive in “Network,” Dr. Watson in “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution,” and the harsh military father in “The Great Santini.”

“When I was doing ‘Colors’ in 1988 with Sean Penn, someone asked me how I do it all these years, keep it fresh. Well, if you don’t overwork, have some hobbies, you can do it and stay hungry even if you’re not really hungry,” Duvall explained to The Associated Press in 1990.

Even in his eighties, Duvall continued working, earning another supporting Oscar nomination for 2014’s “The Judge,” playing a character facing hit-and-run accusations. His later works included “Widows” and “12 Mighty Orphans.”

Born Robert Selden Duvall in 1931 in the San Diego region, he spent his childhood moving between Navy installations in Annapolis and California as his father advanced through the ranks to admiral. This military upbringing exposed him to various regional dialects and military culture, experiences that would later inform his acting choices.

His father’s stern military demeanor reportedly inspired his portrayal of the domineering patriarch in “The Great Santini,” adapted from Pat Conroy’s novel. Reflecting on his father in 2003, Duvall said: “My dad was a gentleman but a seether, a stern, blustery guy, and away a lot of the time.” While inheriting his father’s wrestling abilities and competitive spirit, young Bobby showed more interest in his mother’s theatrical pursuits, learning guitar and performing.

Academic struggles nearly derailed his college career at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. Concerned parents, hoping to keep him enrolled and avoid the Korean War draft, suggested acting classes as a solution. “They recommended acting as an expedient thing to get through,” he remembered. “I’m glad they did.” Drama courses proved to be his calling.

“Way back when I was in college,” Duvall recalled to the AP in 1990, “there was a wonderful man named Frank Parker, who had been a dancer in World War I. We did a full-length mime play and I played a Harlequin clown. I really liked that. Then, I played an older guy in ‘All My Sons,’ and at one point I had this emotional moment, where this emotion was pouring out. Parker said at that moment he didn’t think acting can be carried any further than that. And this guy was a very critical guy. So I thought, at that moment at least, this is what I wanted to do.”

Following military service, Duvall used veterans’ benefits to attend New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse, studying alongside future stars Robert Morse, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman. His professional breakthrough came after a single performance in “A View From the Bridge,” leading to television opportunities on shows like “The Naked City” and “The Defenders.”

Between major Hollywood productions, Duvall pursued personal directing projects, creating documentaries and independent films including “We’re Not the Jet Set” about prairie life, “Angelo, My Love” focusing on gypsy culture, and “Assassination Tango,” which combined his acting with his passion for Argentine dance.

His love affair with tango began after seeing “Tango Argentina” in the 1980s, leading to numerous trips to Argentina to master the dance and understand its cultural significance. This dedication resulted in the 2003 film about a hitman who shares his passion for tango.

During the production of “Assassination Tango,” Duvall met Luciana Pedraza, an Argentine actress 42 years his junior, whom he married in 2005. His previous marriages to Barbara Benjamin, Gail Youngs, and Sharon Brophy all ended in divorce.

Source: https://srnnews.com/robert-duvall-oscar-winning-actor-and-godfather-mainstay-dead-at-95/