His filmography is unmatched, featuring some of the most iconic and beloved Hollywood movies of all time, including classics like The Godfather, To Kill A Mockingbird, MAS*H, The Conversation, and True Grit.
Robert Duvall’s portrayal of the unhinged Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now included a now-iconic line. While shirtless on a war-torn battlefield, wearing a cowboy hat amidst explosions, he famously said, ‘I love the smell of napalm in the morning.’
He appears in more of the American Film Institute’s Top 100 films than any other actor.
Robert Duvall, who has passed away at age 95, disliked being called a star, even though he won an Oscar, a Bafta, four Golden Globes, and two Emmys. He’d say with a drawl, ‘Come on, don’t try to tell me that. Who really needs all that? I don’t mind being a star if the role is a good one.’
A critic once praised him as the most skilled, adaptable, and believable actor in the United States.
Someone once called him ‘the American Laurence Olivier,’ a comparison Robert Duvall appreciated. He’d actually based his early acting style on the famous British stage actor.
‘I used to go up to my room, comb my hair like Olivier and recite soliloquies,’ he said.
You might not believe it, but the actor who played that chilling, thin Nazi officer with the eyepatch in ‘The Eagle Has Landed,’ alongside Michael Caine, actually had a real passion for Shakespeare! It’s funny how actors can surprise you with hidden depths, isn’t it? He really embodied that villain, and then you find out he was quoting the Bard in his downtime – a fascinating contrast!
Luciana announced her husband’s peaceful passing at home, surrounded by loved ones. She described him as a celebrated actor, director, and storyteller to the world, but to her, he was simply everything.
Bob was incredibly dedicated to his work, but he also deeply cherished compelling characters, good food, and lively conversation. He fully immersed himself in every role he played, giving it his all.
He’d been married four times and had stepchildren, but never had any children himself. He playfully quipped, ‘I seem to be unable to have kids,’ adding that he’d tried with many different partners, both during and outside of his marriages.
He first married Barbara Benjamin in 1964. Barbara had been a dancer and announcer on The Jackie Gleason Show and already had two daughters from a previous relationship.
He and his first wife separated in 1975. In 1982, he married Gail Youngs, who came from a family of actors – all three of her brothers were also performers. He felt she helped him become more gentle, but the marriage ended in divorce after four years.
He was married to dancer Sharon Brophy from 1991 to 1995. In 1997, he met Luciana Pedraza, an Argentine woman born on the same day as him, though she was 41 years younger.
Both of them shared a passion for the tango, and in 2002, they even made a film together called Assassination Tango, which featured a hitman who was also a dancer. They later married in 2005.
What do you think made Robert Duvall’s performances so unforgettable in Hollywood history?
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Born in San Diego, California in 1931, he came from a family with a background in the arts and military service – his mother enjoyed acting, and his father was a rear admiral. Though he achieved fame in another field, his first love was music, and he dreamed of becoming a renowned tenor.
As a child, his parents encouraged him to take acting classes. He admitted they might have seen it as an unconventional hobby, but they also believed it would benefit his schoolwork. Despite his initial hesitation, he quickly discovered he had a natural talent for acting.
He spent over a year in the US Army in Korea, and later portrayed the inept surgeon Major Frank Burns in the 1970 film MAS*H, drawing on his own experiences.
Fame came slowly after he left the army, with a series of stage roles on and off Broadway.
He lived with Dustin Hoffman and the late Gene Hackman at one point, and to make ends meet between acting jobs, he worked at the post office, Macy’s department store, and as a nighttime janitor at a university.
Early in his career, the actor gained attention after being featured in a gritty role in the TV show Naked City. He played an armed robber responsible for a deadly heist, and he later credited this part – following support from playwright Arthur Miller in A View From The Bridge – as the key moment that launched his career.
These shows were soon joined by a string of other popular TV series, including classics like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone, and The Fugitive.
He later caught the attention of director Robert Mulligan, who cast him as the reclusive Boo Radley in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird, alongside Gregory Peck.
She slowly began to land larger roles, such as a supporting part in the 1966 film The Chase, alongside stars like Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, and Robert Redford. Then, in 1969, she appeared in True Grit, which would become one of John Wayne’s final iconic movies.
He explained, with his usual humility, that he was happy taking supporting roles rather than being the main star, as he didn’t want the pressure that came with it. He sees himself as fairly ordinary in most respects – of average build at 5’11” and 11.5 stone – but believes he excels as a performer.
Look, when I’m up on that stage, just being good isn’t enough for me. I have to be the absolute best. This industry? It’s brutal, a real fight for survival, and you either shine or you get lost in the crowd. I need to be on top.
I watched Robert Duvall really come into his own, becoming a major star. It was incredible seeing him nominated for an Oscar – twice, actually! – for playing Tom Hagen in both The Godfather films, alongside Marlon Brando. He even picked up Bafta and Oscar nominations in ’72 for that role. And he didn’t stop there; I remember being shocked at how brilliantly he portrayed the cutthroat Frank Hackett in Network, earning another Bafta nomination in ’77. He just consistently delivered such powerful performances.
The next year, he had the chance to act alongside Laurence Olivier, whom he greatly admired, in the film The Betsy. Following that, he appeared in Apocalypse Now, which earned him a BAFTA Award and another Academy Award nomination.
He thought to himself that he was happy fame hadn’t arrived earlier in his life. He wasn’t sure he would have been able to cope with it ten years ago, but now it felt much more manageable. He considered himself a late bloomer, and figured that might mean he’d enjoy success for a longer period of time.
A passion project soon became a success story. The film Tender Mercies was written by Horton Foote, a writer who had assisted Duvall two decades prior, and Duvall tirelessly championed its production. After facing rejection from Hollywood studios, the film was ultimately funded by a British company called Thorn EMI.
Robert Duvall portrayed Mac Sledge, a washed-up, alcoholic country singer, who finds a path to recovery through his relationship with a woman whose husband was lost in the Vietnam War (played by Tess Harper). Duvall also wrote many of the songs for the film, showcasing his passion for country music.
The movie was highly praised by critics, winning Robert Duvall an Academy Award for Best Actor and Horton Foote an Oscar for Best Screenplay.
Robert Duvall convincingly played an alcoholic, but in reality, he didn’t drink, use drugs, or smoke. He remained completely dedicated to his craft for the next four decades. In 1997, he took on a passion project, writing and directing the film The Apostle. His performance as the captivating preacher, Sonny Dewey, earned him another Best Actor nomination.
In 2003, he portrayed his great-great-grandfather, Robert E. Lee, in the film Gods and Generals, a historical drama about the Civil War. He remained active in his career well into his nineties.
He admitted, over 40 years ago in an interview with the Daily Mail, that he’d appeared in some bad movies, though he didn’t mention any specific titles—and even film experts would struggle to recall them.
I’ve always delivered good work, and that’s why people hire me. In fact, I’m hired frequently.
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2026-02-17 04:09