Legendary ‘Godfather’ Star & Movie G
Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor whose career spanned more than seven decades, has died at age 95. His wife, Luciana Duvall, confirmed he passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, surrounded by love and comfort.
Known for his quiet intensity and commanding screen presence, Duvall became one of Hollywood’s most respected performers. He earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for Tender Mercies and received additional Oscar nominations for The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Great Santini, The Apostle, and A Civil Action.
His portrayals of Tom Hagen in The Godfather and Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now remain among the most iconic performances in film history. The latter delivered the unforgettable line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
A graduate of New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse, Duvall trained alongside Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. He landed his first major film role as Boo Radley in 1962’s To Kill a Mockingbird after being recommended by screenwriter Horton Foote.
Duvall never seriously considered retiring. In 2005, he married Luciana Pedraza, his partner since 2002, with whom he shared a birthday. At age 84, he earned his seventh Oscar nomination for The Judge, making him the oldest acting nominee at that time.
He continued working into his late 80s and 90s, appearing in Widows, 12 Mighty Orphans, and the 2022 basketball comedy Hustle alongside Adam Sandler. Beyond acting, he also directed and produced films, including The Apostle.
His wife’s farewell captured the sentiments of fans worldwide: “Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time.” Duvall leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable performances spanning generations.
