Robert Duvall. Photo Reuters.
According to the Russian service of the BBC, Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor, passed away in his home in Virginia on Sunday. His wife, Luciana, confirmed this sad news.
Duvall became known for his roles in iconic films such as "The Godfather," "Apocalypse Now," and many others. Throughout his career, he was nominated for an Oscar seven times, including a win in 1984 for his portrayal of a country musician in the film "Tender Mercies."
Additionally, he was nominated for an Oscar six times for supporting roles, including his performances in "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now." His last nomination came in 2014 when Duvall was recognized for his role in the film "The Judge."
In "Apocalypse Now," directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the actor played the memorable Colonel Bill Kilgore, who commands a helicopter attack on a village during one of the most famous scenes in film history, set to Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries."
Despite his character appearing on screen for only a few minutes, the line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" made him iconic. Interestingly, Kilgore was originally meant to be more eccentric, but Duvall made changes to his character himself.
One of Robert's favorite roles was that of Augustus McCrae, a Texas ranger turned cowboy, in the 1989 miniseries "Lonesome Dove."
His film debut was 63 years ago in the adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird."
In "The Godfather," Duvall played Tom Hagen, the advisor to the mafia boss.
