Legendary actor Robert Duvall has died at the age of 95, his wife, Luciana Duvall, confirmed Monday.
“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home,” she wrote.
Duvall’s career spanned more than six decades, during which he earned an Academy Award for Best Actor and six additional nominations. Known for his versatility, he delivered memorable performances in both leading and supporting roles and also worked as a director.
“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” Luciana Duvall said.
Duvall won his Oscar in 1983 for portraying a washed-up country singer in Tender Mercies. He is also remembered for his iconic roles as the soft-spoken consigliere Tom Hagen in The Godfather series and the larger-than-life Lieutenant Colonel William Kilgore in Apocalypse Now. His line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” became one of cinema’s most famous quotes.
Duvall’s meticulous approach to acting helped him stand out in Hollywood. For instance, the character of Kilgore was originally intended to be more exaggerated, named Colonel Carnage, but Duvall’s nuanced performance added depth.
A late bloomer in the industry, Duvall first drew attention at 31 for his role as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird. He later excelled in roles such as a corporate executive in Network, a Marine officer in The Great Santini, and his acclaimed Tender Mercies performance.
Despite a string of iconic film roles, Duvall often cited his favorite performance as Augustus McCrae in the 1989 TV mini-series Lonesome Dove, based on Larry McMurtry’s novel.
Film critic Elaine Mancini once called him “the most technically proficient, the most versatile, and the most convincing actor on the screen in the United States,” cementing his legacy as one of Hollywood’s greats.
Duvall’s passing marks the end of an era in American cinema, leaving behind a body of work celebrated for its depth, authenticity, and enduring influence.
About the Author
