Robert Duvall, the acclaimed American actor celebrated for his role as Tom Hagen in “The Godfather,” has died at the age of 95. His passing occurred on February 15 at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, as confirmed by his wife, Luciana Duvall.
In a heartfelt statement, Luciana described Duvall’s multifaceted contributions to the world, saying, “For the world, he was an actor, an Oscar-winning director, and a storyteller. For me, he was simply everything.” The actor’s legacy was also honored by his co-star Al Pacino, who referred to working with Duvall as a “privilege” and acknowledged him as a “born actor” whose talent will be forever remembered.
Duvall began his film career in 1962 with the adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” portraying the reclusive Boo Radley. Over the next six decades, he became synonymous with tough-guy roles, most notably as the mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in “The Godfather” and Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” (1979). His iconic line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” remains etched in cinematic history, despite his brief screen time in the film.
In addition to his memorable performances, Duvall earned seven Academy Award nominations throughout his career, winning the Oscar for Best Actor in 1983 for his role as a washed-up country singer in “Tender Mercies.” Other notable performances include a corporate executive in “Network” (1976), a Marine officer in “The Great Santini” (1979), and a role in “The Judge” (2014) alongside Robert Downey Jr. Duvall often cited his portrayal of Texas Ranger Augustus McCrae in the miniseries “Lonesome Dove” (1989) as his personal favorite.
Robert Duvall, renowned for his roles in classics like 'The Godfather' and 'Apocalypse Now,' has died at 95. His legacy includes an Oscar win and numerous iconic performances.
Source: BBC