Robert Duvall Gave His Characters—and Us—Grace

Robert Duvall, born in San Diego in 1931, started his acting career like many of his peers, taking small roles on television in the 1960s. While he first appeared in a film as the enigmatic Boo Radley in 1962’s To Kill a Mockingbird, he continued to work steadily on TV shows like Route 66, The Fugitive, Outer Limits, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. However, the 1970s marked his breakthrough. He became known for playing compelling, often unlikeable characters, such as the arrogant but inept surgeon Major Frank Burns in Robert Altman’s MASH (1970), and the ruthless television executive Frank Hackett in Network (1976). Duvall brought a unique, magnetic quality to these roles, making audiences both repelled and fascinated. Even when portraying morally questionable characters like Tom Hagen in The Godfather* films, Duvall presented them with a compelling realism. He made even terrible acts seem understandable, fitting for a character whose job was to make problems disappear—and he did so in a way that felt genuinely chilling.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Just Changed The Canon Story In The Most Masterful Way

The latest episode began with the start of Dunk’s trial by combat, but it quickly became clear he was outmatched. Within the first few minutes, it was evident Dunk wasn’t a skilled fighter, answering the question of his combat ability rather definitively. Despite this, flashbacks from season five reveal Dunk’s greatest strength isn’t skill, but his incredible toughness and unwavering spirit. He may not be a great fighter, but he’s remarkably resilient.