American actor Robert Duvall, an Oscar winner and one of the prominent figures in American cinema, has passed away at the age of 95.
According to a statement released by his public relations agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana, and quoted by CNN, Duvall passed away „peacefully” on Sunday at his home in Middleburg, Virginia.
With a career spanning over six decades, Robert Duvall is best remembered by the public for his role as Tom Hagen, the consigliere of the Corleone family, in Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece, The Godfather. His portrayal in the 1972 film earned him his first of seven Oscar nominations. He reprised the role in The Godfather Part II but did not appear in the third installment of the series, citing a financial dispute.
Friend from Youth with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman
Born in San Diego into a military family – his father was a naval officer – Duvall attended Principia College and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He later moved to New York, where he studied acting under the renowned teacher Sanford Meisner. During that time, he shared an apartment with Dustin Hoffman and was close to Gene Hackman, both at the beginning of their careers, as reported by CNN.
His notable film debut was in To Kill a Mockingbird, where he played the understated yet essential role of Boo Radley. This was followed by significant appearances in films such as True Grit alongside John Wayne, M*A*S*H, and THX 1138 directed by George Lucas.
However, his definitive breakthrough came with The Godfather. Subsequently, Duvall starred in productions such as "Network" and the western miniseries Lonesome Dove.
He won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1983 for his portrayal of a country singer in Tender Mercies, a film in which he performed his own musical pieces. He received other nominations for "The Great Santini" and for his role as Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, where he delivered the famous line: "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
In addition to his acting career, Duvall was also a director and screenwriter.
He remained active late in his career, receiving another Oscar nomination at the age of 84 for his role in The Judge. He also appeared in productions such as Jack Reacher and Widows.
Throughout his career, he portrayed historical figures, including Robert E. Lee in "Gods and Generals," Joseph Stalin in the HBO film "Stalin," and Adolf Eichmann in "The Man Who Captured Eichmann."
Discreet Funeral
Married four times, his last wife was Argentine actress and director Luciana Pedraza, whom he married in 2004.
His representatives announced that there will be no public ceremony. The family encourages those who wish to honor his memory to do so "in a way that reflects the life he lived: by watching a great film, telling a good story around a table with friends, or taking a country walk to appreciate the beauty of the world."