Robert Duvall, Oscar-winning actor and star of The Godfather, dies aged 95 | Arts and Culture News
Oscar-Winning Actor Robert Duvall Dies at 95
Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall, renowned for his iconic roles in films such as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has passed away at the age of 95. His wife, Luciana Duvall, announced his death in a Facebook post on Monday.
“For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented,” Luciana Duvall stated.
Duvall gained fame for his powerful performances, notably as Tom Hagen, the consigliere of the Corleone family in The Godfather. He also portrayed Lieutenant Colonel Bull Meechum in The Great Santini and the title character in Stalin. His performances in Tender Mercies and The Apostle showcased his ability to embody complex, troubled characters.
Born in Annapolis, Maryland, Duvall was the son of a U.S. Navy admiral and an amateur actress. After graduating from Principia College in Illinois and serving in the U.S. Army, he moved to New York City. During his early career, he roomed with Dustin Hoffman and formed a friendship with Gene Hackman as they navigated their struggles as aspiring actors.
Duvall made a notable entry into film with his role as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird. The part was secured through the suggestion of screenwriter Horton Foote, who was impressed by Duvall’s stage work. Foote later penned Tender Mercies, the 1983 film that earned Duvall an Academy Award for Best Actor as a washed-up country singer.
In addition to his Oscar win, Duvall received six additional nominations, including one for his performance in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now, where he delivered the memorable line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
Over the course of his career, Duvall appeared in nearly 100 films. Frustrated by Hollywood’s constraints, he took on writing and directing projects. His film The Apostle, which tells the story of a conflicted preacher, earned him another Oscar nomination. He explored his passion for tango in Assassination Tango, which was inspired by his experiences in Argentina, where he later met his fourth wife, Luciana Pedraza.
In his later years, Duvall split his time between homes in Los Angeles, Argentina, and a farm in Virginia, where he converted a barn into a tango dance hall.
