Acclaimed American actor Robert Duvall, renowned for his roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has died at the age of 95.
The Academy Award winner, honoured for his performance in Tender Mercies, passed away peacefully at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday. The announcement was made through a statement issued by his public relations agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana.
“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” she said. “His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.”
His longtime colleague and Godfather co-star Al Pacino paid tribute, describing it as an honour to have worked with him.
“He was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered,” Pacino said. “I will miss him.”
Over a career spanning more than six decades, Duvall became widely associated with tough and commanding roles, including mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, both directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
He also portrayed a formidable army officer in Coppola’s Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now. Though his screen time was limited, his line in the 1979 classic — “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” — became one of cinema’s most memorable quotes.
Coppola described Duvall’s passing as “a blow.”
“Such a great actor and such an essential part of American Zoetrope from its beginning,” Coppola wrote in a statement shared on Instagram.
Originally, Duvall’s character in Apocalypse Now was intended to be more exaggerated, but the actor opted for a subtler portrayal. The character’s name was also changed from Captain Carnage to Lieutenant Colonel William Kilgore.
“I did my homework,” Duvall told veteran talk show host Larry King in 2015. “I did my research.”
Following news of his death, tributes poured in from across the entertainment industry.
American actor and comedian Adam Sandler shared photographs from their time filming Hustle in 2022.
“Funny as hell. Strong as hell. One of the greatest actors we ever had. Such a great man to talk to and laugh with ... sending his wife Luciana and all his family and friends our condolences,” Sandler wrote.
Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis also paid tribute on Instagram, posting an image of Duvall as Tom Hagen in The Godfather.
“The greatest consigliere the screen has ever seen. Bravo, Robert Duvall,” she wrote.
Actor Robert Patrick, who portrayed the son of Duvall’s character in Jayne Mansfield's Car, said he was “gutted” by the news.
“Over the years I would call Bobby and we'd talk movies and barbecue. He loved barbecue and I'd always let him know when I was having it in Lockhart, Texas.
“I will miss Bobby. I will always be proud that I got to play his son. Rest in peace my friend.”
In her statement, Duvall’s wife added: “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 (left) appeared opposite Marlon Brando in The Godfather
Duvall as Lt Col Kilgore in Apocalypse Now
Nominated for seven Academy Awards, Robert Duvall won the Best Actor Oscar in 1983 for his portrayal of a washed-up country singer in Tender Mercies.
His extensive career also included roles such as a domineering corporate executive in Network, a Marine officer in The Great Santini, and appearances in The Handmaid's Tale and The Judge alongside Robert Downey Jr..
Duvall often cited his favourite role as Texas Ranger-turned-cowboy Augustus McCrae in the 1989 TV mini-series Lonesome Dove, adapted from Larry McMurtry's novel.
He made his screen debut in the 1963 adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, portraying the reclusive Boo Radley.
“When he did To Kill A Mockingbird, he just destroyed you with his performance of Boo Radley, he used not a single word of dialogue, not a single word, and he just shatters you,” US actor Alec Baldwin said in a brief video tribute.
Many of Duvall’s films were penned by screenwriter Horton Foote, including Tender Mercies, Tomorrow, and The Chase.
In 1997’s The Apostle, which he wrote and directed, Duvall played an evangelical preacher starting a new life in Louisiana after committing a crime.
British actress Jane Seymour, who co-starred with Duvall in the 1995 film The Stars Fell on Henrietta, paid tribute on Instagram:
“We were able to share in his love of barbecue and even a little tango,” Seymour wrote alongside a photo of herself with Duvall. “Those moments off camera were just as memorable as the work itself.”
