At 95 Years Old, Legendary ‘The Godfather’ Star Robert Duvall Has Passed Away.
Robert Duvall, an actor known for his Oscar-winning and decades-spanning career, has passed away at the age of 95. The news was confirmed on Monday via a statement from his wife, Luciana, on social media.
“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time,” Luciana’s statement reads. “Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort. To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. 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. 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.”
Duvall was born on January 5, 1931 in San Diego, California. Duvall quickly discovered that he was (in his words) “terrible at everything but acting,” ultimately earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama from Illinois’ Principia College in 1953, and appearing in theatrical productions even while serving as part of the United States Army. In 1955, he began to study at New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, becoming lifelong friends with classmates Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman.
After appearing on a handful of television series, Duvall made his feature film debut as Boo Radley in the 1962 adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. This was followed by roles in The Rain People, Bullitt, True Grit, M*A*S*H, and THX 1138.
A Legendary Career
Everything changed with Duvall’s performance as Tom Hagen in The Godfather series, with the first film earning him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His work in 1979 earned him two separate Oscar nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role for The Great Santini, and Best Supporting Actor for Apocalypse Now. The latter, which saw him play the role of Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore, led to him quoting the now-iconic line: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells like … victory.”
“Yeah, that was a wonderful line,” Duvall told NPR’s Fresh Air in a 1996 interview. “People come up to me and quote it to me like it’s this in thing between me and them. Like they’re the only ones who ever thought of it, but it happens with everyone in the same way.”
In total, Duvall was nominated for seven Academy Awards across his career, ultimately winning the Best Actor in a Leading Role prize for his work in 1983’s Tender Mercies. In 2015, he made history as the then-oldest actor to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Judge. His later work included Widows, Hustle, and The Pale Blue Eye.
Our thoughts are with Duvall’s family, friends, and fans at this time.
(featured image: Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
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