Legendary actor Robert Duvall, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in “Tender Mercies,” has died. He was 95 years old.
His wife, Luciana Duval, shared the news of his death Facebook on MondaySaying that he died “peacefully” on Sunday at his home, “surrounded by love and comfort.”
“To the world, he was an Oscar-winning actor, director and storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” Luciana Duvall said.
“In keeping with Duvall’s wishes, no formal ceremony will be held,” a statement from Duvall’s representative said.
“Instead, 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 movie, telling a good story around a table with friends, or taking a trip out into the countryside to appreciate the beauty of the world,” the statement continued.
Robert Duvall’s career spanned seven decades of roles in film, television, and theater. He is best known for his roles in “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.”
Robert Duvall brought a distinct naturalness to the roles he played, an understated style that infused his countless characters with a quiet strength—a contrast to his admittedly often hot-headed disposition on set—and earned him a reputation as one of the finest actors of his generation. Robert Duvall made his memorable film debut as Boo Radley in 1962’s To Kill a Mockingbird, in which he did not utter a word, and went on to appear in more than 90 films over the next seven decades, working with some of Hollywood’s most iconic filmmakers and performers.
Duvall shared the screen role of outlaw Ned Pepper opposite John Wayne in the 1969 film “True Grit.” He also originated the role of Major Frank Burns in Robert Altman’s 1970 black comedy “M*A*S*H,” and starred in the title role in George Lucas’s 1971 “Star Wars” directorial debut, “THX 1138.” Duvall also played Corleone family advisor Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather and The Godfather Part II opposite his co-star Marlon Brando, and had a pivotal role as ruthless Network VP Frank Hackett in the 1976 satirical film Network.
As shirtless cowboy-hat-wearing Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War epic “Apocalypse Now,” Duvall delivered the film’s most quotable line: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” Four years later, Duvall won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Mac Sledge, an alcoholic country music star trying to make amends in “Tender Mercies.”
“Time teaches you a lot of things,” said Duvall, then 72. “It gets a little easier as you get older.” ABC News’ Charlie Gibson in 2003which reflects in his craft. He went on to quote a line from his beloved “Lonesome Dove” character, Gus McRae: “The older the violin, the sweeter the music. Maybe that applies somewhere.”
ABC News contributed to this story.
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