Robert Duvall, the prolific actor known for his quiet intensity and transformative performances, celebrates a remarkable seven-decade career as he approaches his 95th birthday. from iconic roles in “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” to an Academy Award win for “Tender Mercies,” Duvall’s dedication to his craft has cemented his place among cinema’s greatest talents. This profile delves into the life and career of the actor, exploring his early influences, enduring legacy, and the philosophies that have guided his work.
“When you create a character, it’s like making a chair, but instead of wood – you make it from yourself. That’s the craft of the actor – to use yourself to create a character,” his teacher Sanford Meisner once said.
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor, director, and producer, born January 5, 1931, in San Diego, California. Now 95 years old, he is widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time – boasting a seven-decade career and accolades including an Academy Award, four Golden Globes, and two Emmy Awards.
Duvall grew up in a military family – his father was a U.S. Navy admiral, and his mother was an amateur actress. The family moved frequently.
He graduated with a drama degree from Principia College in 1953. Duvall served two years in the Army during the Korean War before moving to New York City to study acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.
Early in his career, Duvall worked as a postal clerk to make ends meet and befriended future stars Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman – the three shared an apartment and often found themselves in adventures. This trio represents a fascinating chapter in the history of American acting, launching three iconic careers from humble beginnings.
He debuted on Broadway and in television in the 1950s and 60s, with his first significant film role coming as the enigmatic Boo Radley in the classic “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962).
In the 1970s, Duvall cemented his reputation as a master of supporting roles. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the calm and collected Mafia lawyer Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” (1972) and “The Godfather Part II” (1974) – a performance that earned him his first Oscar nomination.
Other notable roles from this period include Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in “Apocalypse Now” (1979) – forever remembered for the line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning!”
He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in “Tender Mercies” (1983) for his portrayal of a down-on-his-luck country singer who finds redemption.
He also delivered a beloved performance as Augustus McCrae in the miniseries “Lonesome Dove” (1989), earning him an Emmy Award.
Duvall is known for his ability to inhabit everyday people – workers, soldiers, cowboys – with a quiet depth and authenticity. He also directed films, including “The Apostle” (1997), in which he starred as a preacher and received another Oscar nomination.
Even in his later years, Duvall remained active, receiving an Oscar nomination for “The Judge” (2014) alongside Robert Downey Jr., and appearing in films like “Widows” (2018).
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WORLD LITERARY LEGENDS
Table of Contents
- At 50, the author of "The Godfather" still considered himself a failure
- Francis Ford Coppola in Cannes: You can’t create art without taking risks
- Gene Hackman: I couldn’t let those bastards shake me up…
- The tall short man Dustin Hoffman – at 85
- Coppola thought of drugging him for his role in "Apocalypse Now"
In 2005, he received the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush.
Duvall owns a ranch in Virginia and is a philanthropist, co-founding a children’s fund in Argentina with his wife, Luciana Pedraza (married since 2004). He has been married three times prior, and has no children.
Robert Duvall is a testament to an actor’s dedication – naturalistic, versatile, and consistently convincing. His legacy includes decades of classic roles that continue to inspire generations of performers.
Duvall is known for his thoughtful reflections on acting, life, and film. He rarely gives interviews, but when he does, his words are sincere, humble, and full of wisdom.
In an interview with Terry Gross for NPR/Fresh Air (1996, and rebroadcast in 2024), Duvall discussed his roles in “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.” He spoke about the enduring quote, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” and how people constantly repeat it to him.
In an intimate interview at age 83, he spoke about his youth, his friendship with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman, and acting as a “game.”
Duvall often speaks about acting as a craft, his love for the profession, and life outside of Hollywood. “When you create a character, it’s like making a chair, but instead of wood – you make it from yourself. That’s the craft of the actor – to use yourself to create a character,” his teacher Sanford Meisner once said.
Robert Duvall in David Mamet’s “American Buffalo” on Broadway in January 1977.
Photos: Getty Images
“I’ve always considered myself a character actor. I try to be versatile to show different sides of the human experience,” Duvall confessed.
“What keeps me going? I love my profession. I love doing it.”
“Acting is a game – you dress up, you play, you get paid, and you go home.”
“Start from zero and finish at zero. You don’t have to go anywhere, you don’t have to strive for a result,” Duvall explained.
Regarding “Lonesome Dove”: “To this day, I still think that’s my best role.”
Robert Duvall and Shirley MacLaine at Sardi’s around 1984 in New York.
Photos: Getty Images
Duvall is known for his deep thoughts on acting, life, and film. He rarely gives interviews, but when he does, his words are sincere, modest, and full of wisdom.
In a 1996 interview with NPR, he shared: “Lonesome Dove is still my favorite role.”
"Acting is a craft – you use yourself to create a character."
"When you don't know anything, you think you can do everything. As you get older, you get wiser."
"Hollywood sometimes patronizes the inside of the US. Many people from New York don't know what's happening beyond South Jersey."
Duvall hasn’t appeared in a new film since 2022 (“Hustle” and “The Pale Blue Eye”), but remains an icon. At 95, he exemplifies graceful aging – quiet, yet inspiring.
Often called “the American Olivier” or compared to Spencer Tracy and Marlon Brando for his naturalistic style and depth. Colleagues, directors, and critics praise him for his authenticity, versatility, and ability to become the characters without being intrusive.
Francis Ford Coppola (director of “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now”) says: “Robert Duvall is one of the four or five greatest actors in the world.” Coppola repeatedly emphasizes his talent and praises his work on “The Godfather,” where Duvall is “the glue” of the film.
Bruce Beresford (director of “Tender Mercies,” for which Duvall won an Oscar): “He *is* the character – it’s not Duvall at all. You just have to look into his eyes. It’s terrifying, the transformation is complete. A lot of actors imitate people, have technical tricks, but Bob *becomes* the character he’s playing.”
He is often described as the most versatile actor (even in the “Guinness Book of World Records”) – transforming into cowboys, soldiers, preachers.
His father was a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy, and on his mother’s side, he is a distant relative of the legendary Confederate General Robert E. Lee, whom he later played in the film “Gods and Generals.” His father wanted him to attend the Naval Academy, but Duvall admitted he was a poor student and “bad at everything except acting.”
Instead of the Navy, he joined the Army after the Korean War (1953-1954), serving only a year as a private and never seeing combat. However, the media repeatedly spread rumors that he fought in “Frozen Chosin” against the communists. Duvall often jokes about this and clarifies that he was “barely qualified with an M-1 rifle.”
Robert Duvall on set.
Photos: Getty Images
In the early 60s in New York, while poor and unknown actors, Duvall shared an apartment with Dustin Hoffman and was close friends with Gene Hackman. The three were known for their wild side: Hoffman and Duvall – for their successes with women, and Duvall and Hackman – for frequent brawls in bars, due to their explosive temperaments. They also played pranks on each other. These stories are rarely mentioned, but show how wild and difficult their path to fame was.
Robert Duvall in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1970 film “THX 1138.”
Photos: Getty Images
Duvall became passionate about Argentine tango in the early 90s after seeing the show “Tango Argentino” on Broadway. This led him to Buenos Aires frequently, where he met his future wife, Luciana Pedraza, in a bakery in 1997 – she invited him to a party.
They married in 2004 (his fourth marriage) and share the same birthday – January 5th. Duvall directed, wrote, and starred in the film “Assassination Tango” (2002), dedicated to this passion – he dances with real professional tango dancers there, and Luciana also participates.
Despite his four marriages, Duvall has no children (he jokes that he “shot blanks”). Together with Luciana, he founded the Robert Duvall Children’s Fund in 2001, which helps poor children and families in northern Argentina.
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