Robert Duvall, the Academy Award-winning actor celebrated for his nuanced, deeply human performances in “The Godfather” and “Tender Mercies,” and who showed impressive versatility across decades in film, died on Sunday. He was 95.
His death was announced in a statement from his wife, Luciana Duvall: “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, 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,” her statement continued. “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.”
Over his six-decade career in film, Duvall earned seven Academy Award nominations, seven Golden Globe nominations and numerous other honors.
Here are seven of Duvall’s most celebrated performances.
Robert Duvall’s most celebrated roles
‘The Godfather’ (1972)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, Francis Ford Coppola’s Academy Award-winning adaptation of Mario Puzo‘s Mafia novel is celebrated for its moody, atmospheric cinematography, timeless themes and commanding performances from Al Pacino, Marlon Brando and Robert Duvall.
Duvall’s performance as Tom Hagen, an Irish American consigliere to the Corleone family, is quiet and nuanced, portraying a character who navigates the world of organized crime, family loyalty and difficult choices — a performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.
Where to stream “The Godfather”: Paramount+, Hulu
‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)
In his fifth consecutive Coppola-directed film — a streak including “The Conversation” and “The Godfather II” — Duvall portrays Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in “Apocalypse Now,” a psychological drama about the Vietnam War.
Duvall delivers one of the film’s most memorable lines — “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” — while leading a beach assault.
With only brief appearances in the film, Duvall’s role as the reckless U.S. Army officer is limited but impactful, earning the actor his first Golden Globe Award and his second Academy Award nomination for a supporting role.
Where to stream “Apocalypse Now”: Prime Video
‘The Great Santini’ (1979)
Leading “The Great Santini,” Duvall portrays Bull Meecham, a strict Marine pilot and domineering father whose sternness keeps his family on edge.
Duvall delivers an emotionally intense and nuanced performance, proving his versatility as an actor and earning him his third of seven Academy Award nominations.
Where to stream “The Great Santini”: Rent on Prime Video, YouTube TV, Apple TV
‘Tender Mercies’ (1983)
In “Tender Mercies,” Duvall plays Mac Sledge, a washed-up country musician seeking redemption after years of suffering from alcoholism. His sensitive, human performance earned the actor his only Academy Award and his second Golden Globe award.
“I think we set out to make a film, a very truthful film, a very good film,” Duvall said in his acceptance speech at the 1983 Academy Awards. “I think it’s a valid film, valid enough that we have gotten very much applause of a certain kind from certain members of the country western community, such as my friend Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings. And this is certainly a very high level of criticism coming from those people.”
Where to stream “Tender Mercies”: Prime Video, Tubi
‘Lonesome Dove’ (1989)
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Western novel by Larry McMurtry, the 1989 miniseries “Lonesome Dove” stars Duvall as Augustus “Gus” McCrae, a retired Texas ranger embarking on his final cattle drive. Duvall gave a reflective, emotional performance that earned him a third Golden Globe Award.
“I think the Western kind of defines us,” Duvall told True West Magazine in 2016. “The English have Shakespeare; the French, Moliere; the Russians have Chekhov. But the Western is ours.”
Where to stream “Lonesome Dove”: Peacock, Tubi, The CW
‘The Apostle’ (1997)
Duvall wrote, directed, starred in and financed “The Apostle,” a film about a Southern Pentecostal preacher whose life unravels after committing a crime of passion.
Duvall spent 15 years working on the film and self-funded the entire project, calling it his “everything” and “favorite movie” in a 1998 interview.
For his performance, Duvall earned an Academy Award nomination for best actor.
Where to stream “The Apostle”: Rent on Prime Video, YouTube TV, Apple TV
‘The Judge’ (2015)
In “The Judge,” starring alongside Robert Downey Jr., Duvall plays Joseph Palmer, a stern local judge whose strained relationship with his son is challenged when he faces murder charges. One of his late-career highlights, Duvall’s intense and nuanced performance earned him his seventh and final Academy Award nomination, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.
Where to stream “The Judge”: Rent on Prime Video, YouTube TV, Apple TV