{"id":115754,"date":"2026-02-17T11:02:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=115754"},"modified":"2026-02-17T11:02:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:02:17","slug":"one-of-the-greatest-actors-we-ever-had-hollywood-mourns-robert-duvall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=115754","title":{"rendered":"\u2018One of the greatest actors we ever had\u2019: Hollywood mourns Robert Duvall"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'>\n                <div class=\"twp-read-time\">\n                \t<i class=\"booster-icon twp-clock\"><\/i> <span>Read Time:<\/span>5 Minute, 29 Second                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div><div>\n<p>The Godfather and Apocalypse Now star Robert Duvall has been hailed as \u201ca giant\u201d and \u201cone of the greatest actors we ever had\u201d following his death at the age of 95.<\/p>\n<p>Tributes have been paid by Hollywood figures including The Godfather co-star Al Pacino, who said his \u201cphenomenal gift will always be remembered\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Adam Sandler\u00a0posted photographs from their time shooting 2022 film Hustle, writing: \u201cFunny as hell. Strong as hell. One of the greatest actors we ever had. Such a great man to talk to and laugh with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Viola Davis\u00a0recalled filming Widows with Duvall. \u201cI was in awe,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve always been in awe of your towering portrayals of men who were both quiet and dominating in their humanness. You were a giant\u2026 an icon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Oscar winner added: \u201cGreatness never dies. It stays\u2026 as a gift. Rest well, sir. Your name will be spoken\u2026 May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Godfather Part II star Robert De Niro said: \u201cGod bless Bobby. I hope I can live till I\u2019m 95. May he rest in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his tribute, Pacino wrote: \u201cHe was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered. I will miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During his impressive six-decade career, Duvall was nominated for seven Oscars and played roles includingthe mafia consigliere in Francis Ford Coppola\u2018s The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, and a forceful army officer in Coppola\u2019s Vietnam epic Apocalypse Now.<\/p>\n<p>He only had a few minutes of screen time but his famous line in the 1979 classic, \u201cI love the smell of napalm in the morning\u201d, became legendary.<\/p>\n<p>Coppola called his loss \u201ca blow\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSuch a great actor and such an essential part of American Zoetrope from its beginning,\u201d the director said in a statement on Instagram, referring to his production company.<\/p>\n<p>His Apocalypse Now character was originally meant to be even more over the top but Duvall toned it down and the name was changed from Captain Carnage to Lieutenant Colonel William Kilgore.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI did my homework,\u201d Duvall told veteran talk show host Larry King in 2015. \u201cI did my research.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Others paying tribute included Fallout actor\u00a0Walton Goggins, who appeared in 1997\u2019s The Apostle, which Duvall directed, wrote and starred in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe celestial light just lost its glow. It certainly did for me,\u201d Goggins wrote. \u201cBobby Duvall, the greatest storyteller of all time just left us.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was my friend. My mentor\u2026 The privilege of getting to work with this man, to know this man is still the most important experience of my life. He was my North Star, my hero. He knew it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The pair \u201cmaintained a deep friendship for years after\u201d making the film, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe didn\u2019t have to do that. But he did. He had that effect on a lot of people\u2026 but this was my story. I love you, Bobby. Thank you for changing my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Michael Keaton, who starred with Duvall in 1994 drama The Paper, said: \u201cAnother friend goes down. Acted with and became friends.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShared a great afternoon on my front porch talking about horses. He was greatness personified as an actor. RIP RD.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Josh Gad\u00a0posted: \u201cAnother day. Another iconic and irreplaceable loss. Duvall was simply one of the greatest to ever do it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom the Godfather films to Apocalypse Now, from The Apostle to To Kill a Mocking Bird, he wasn\u2019t just in film, he defines it through the ages. RIP.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Oscar winner\u00a0Jamie Lee Curtis\u00a0also posted a tribute on Instagram with a picture of Duvall as Tom Hagen in The Godfather.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe greatest consigliere the screen has ever seen. Bravo, Robert Duvall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Duvall died \u201cpeacefully\u201d at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday, according to a statement sent by his PR agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,\u201d she said. \u201cHis passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601.png\" alt=\"'One of the greatest actors we ever had': Hollywood mourns Robert Duvall\" class=\"wp-image-10032979651\" title=\"'One of the greatest actors we ever had': Hollywood mourns Robert Duvall\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-533x300.png 533w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-233x131.png 233w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-218x123.png 218w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-754x424.png 754w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-330x186.png 330w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-225x127.png 225w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-217x122.png 217w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-340x191.png 340w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-267x150.png 267w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1601-55x31.png 55w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure>\n<p>Duvall won the Oscar for best actor in 1983 for playing a washed-up country singer in Tender Mercies.<\/p>\n<p>His other roles included a bullying corporate executive in 1976\u2019s Network, and a Marine officer in 1979\u2019s The Great Santini, as well as parts in 1990\u2019s The Handmaid\u2019s Tale and 2014\u2019s The Judge alongside Robert Downey Jr.<\/p>\n<p>Duvall often said his favourite role was as the Texas Ranger-turned-cowboy Augustus McCrae in Lonesome Dove in the 1989 TV mini-series, based on the novel by Larry McMurtry.<\/p>\n<p>He made his screen debut in the 1963 film adaptation of Harper Lee\u2019s To Kill A Mockingbird, playing the reclusive Boo Radley.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen 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,\u201d US actor Alec Baldwin said in a short video tribute to Duvall.<\/p>\n<p>The screenplay was written by Horton Foote, who also wrote several other films Duvall starred in, including Tender Mercies, Tomorrow and The Chase.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"517\"src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600.png\" alt=\"'One of the greatest actors we ever had': Hollywood mourns Robert Duvall\" class=\"wp-image-10032979649\" title=\"'One of the greatest actors we ever had': Hollywood mourns Robert Duvall\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-768x388.png 768w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-594x300.png 594w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-233x118.png 233w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-150x76.png 150w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-218x110.png 218w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-840x424.png 840w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-330x167.png 330w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-225x114.png 225w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-217x110.png 217w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-340x172.png 340w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-297x150.png 297w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-1600-55x28.png 55w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure>\n<p>In 1997\u2019s The Apostle, which he wrote and directed, Duvall played an evangelical preacher who begins a new life in Louisiana after committing a crime.<\/p>\n<p>British actress Jane Seymour, who worked with Duvall on the 1995 film The Stars Fell on Henrietta, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were able to share in his love of barbecue and even a little tango,\u201d Seymour wrote alongside a photo of herself with Duvall. \u201cThose moments off camera were just as memorable as the work itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Robert Patrick, who played the son of Duvall\u2019s character in 2013 film Jayne Mansfield\u2019s Car, said he was \u201cgutted\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOver the years I would call Bobby and we\u2019d talk movies and barbecue. He loved barbecue and I\u2019d always let him know when I was having it in Lockhart, Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will miss Bobby. I will always be proud that I got to play his son. 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95.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":115755,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12579,1910,117,10,9,17030],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-115754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hollywood","category-international","category-news","category-politics","category-popular","category-robert-duvall"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=115754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115754\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/115755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=115754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=115754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=115754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}