His wife, Luciana Duvall, confirmed that the actor passed away at his home on a horse farm in Fauquier County, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.
Duvall, who recently turned 95, leaves behind nearly a hundred films made over a 70-year career in Hollywood. His last screen appearance was in the film "The Way Back," released in 2022.
According to The New York Times, Robert Duvall was a master of transformation, capable of playing a wide variety of roles: from a mob lawyer to a veteran pilot in Vietnam, from a country singer to a mysterious Southern recluse.
Australian director Bruce Beresford, who worked with Duvall on the 1983 film "Tender Mercies," noted that his ability to completely disappear into a character was astonishing.
In this film, Duvall played Mac Sledge — a country star who has lost his fame and finds new meaning in life through marriage to a widow. This role earned him his only Oscar in his career, although he was also nominated for the statuette six times.
Beresford claimed, "He became his character; this is not just Duvall." However, the actor himself disagreed, stating that he always remains himself, simply adapting to the role.
Audiences and critics noted that despite his unconventional appearance and voice, Duvall always managed to create completely new characters. His career began in the early 1960s, and he was remembered for his attention to detail, which stemmed from his childhood in a military family.
To prepare for the role of Mac Sledge, he spent time with a country band and researched accents throughout East Texas. Additionally, he interacted with street criminals while preparing for one of his most famous roles — Tom Hagen in "The Godfather."
Duvall also worked with detectives to prepare for the role of an investigator in the film "True Confessions," and spoke with former inmates to prepare for a theatrical role in "American Buffalo."
His mastery was evident in roles such as Lieutenant Colonel Bull Meechum in "The Great Santini" and Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now," which led to comparisons with Laurence Olivier when critic Vincent Canby called him "the American Olivier."
Duvall's debut film, "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962), was memorable to audiences for his role as the reclusive neighbor Boo Radley, after which Harper Lee even sent him a congratulatory telegram.
Among Duvall's favorite roles was that of Texas Ranger Augustus McCrae in the miniseries "Lonesome Dove," for which he received an Emmy nomination.
The actor also directed and created the film "The Apostle" (1997), for which he was again nominated for an Oscar. Duvall always advocated for his vision of roles, stating that he only accepts direction if it aligns with his ideas.
Francis Ford Coppola, who made Duvall famous, also became a subject of his disputes, especially regarding fees.
Robert Selden Duvall was born on January 5, 1931, in San Diego, to Rear Admiral William Duvall. His acting career began at Principia College, and after serving in the army, he moved to New York, where he studied under Sanford Meisner.
Duvall lived on a ranch in Virginia with his fourth wife, Luciana Pedraza, whom he met in Buenos Aires. Additionally, he was known for his political views, supporting Republicans and receiving accolades such as the National Medal of Arts from President George Bush in 2005.
Although major roles became less frequent in recent years, Duvall continued to portray strong characters in films such as "The Paper" (1994) and "The Judge" (2014). He always valued supporting roles, emphasizing that they can be even more engaging than leading roles.
