Robert Duvall, the acclaimed actor whose career spanned more than six decades and included iconic roles in “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now”, has died at the age of 95.
Duvall, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for “Tender Mercies”, died peacefully at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday, according to a statement released by his public relations agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana.
“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” she said. “His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.”
Tributes poured in from across the film industry following news of his death. Co-star Al Pacino, who appeared alongside Duvall in “The Godfather,” said it was an “honour” to work with him.
“He was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered,” Pacino said. “I will miss him.”
Duvall was best known for a succession of authoritative, often hard-edged roles, including the cool-headed mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II,” as well as a commanding U.S. Army officer in Coppola’s Vietnam epic “Apocalypse Now.”
Although he appeared on screen for only a few minutes in the latter, his line — “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” — became one of the most famous in cinema history.
Coppola described Duvall’s death as “a blow,” calling him “such a great actor and such an essential part of American Zoetrope from its beginning,” in a statement posted on Instagram, referring to his production company.
Duvall later revealed that his “Apocalypse Now” character had initially been conceived as far more exaggerated. “I did my homework,” he told veteran talk show host Larry King in 2015. “I did my research.”
Further tributes followed from fellow actors. Adam Sandler shared photographs from the set of the 2022 film “Hustle”, writing: “Funny as hell. Strong as hell. One of the greatest actors we ever had. Such a great man to talk to and laugh with … sending his wife Luciana and all his family and friends our condolences.”
Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis also paid tribute on Instagram, posting an image of Duvall as Tom Hagen. “The greatest consigliere the screen has ever seen. Bravo, Robert Duvall,” she wrote.
Actor Robert Patrick, who played the son of Duvall’s character in the 2013 film “Jayne Mansfield’s Car”, said he was “gutted.”
“Over the years I would call Bobby and we’d talk movies and barbecue,” Patrick said. “He loved barbecue and I’d always let him know when I was having it in Lockhart, Texas.”
“I will miss Bobby. I will always be proud that I got to play his son. Rest in peace my friend.”
In a further statement, Duvall’s wife said: “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.”
Nominated for seven Academy Awards, Duvall won Best Actor in 1983 for his portrayal of a washed-up country singer in “Tender Mercies.” His extensive body of work also included roles in “Network”, “The Great Santini”, “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Judge”.
Duvall often said his favourite role was Augustus McCrae in the television miniseries “Lonesome Dove”, based on the novel by Larry McMurtry.
He made his screen debut in the 1962 adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, playing the reclusive Boo Radley. Actor Alec Baldwin later praised the performance, saying it “just shatters you.”
Duvall frequently collaborated with screenwriter Horton Foote, who wrote “Tender Mercies” and several other films he starred in. In 1997’s “The Apostle”, which Duvall wrote and directed, he played an evangelical preacher seeking redemption after committing a crime.
British actress Jane Seymour, who worked with Duvall on the 1995 film “The Stars Fell on Henrietta”, shared a final tribute.
“We were able to share in his love of barbecue and even a little tango,” she wrote. “Those moments off camera were just as memorable as the work itself.”
