Robert Duvall, who played the smooth mafia lawyer in ‘The Godfather’ and stole the show with his depiction of a surfing-crazed colonel in ‘Apocalypse Now’, passes away at the age of 95, his wife Luciana Duvall, confirmed in a statement on Monday.“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home,” she wrote.“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” Luciana Duvall said. “His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.”
Robert Duvall’s career highs
Duvall won an Oscar for best actor and was nominated six other times. Over his six decades-long career, he shone in both lead and supporting roles, and eventually became a director. He kept acting in his 90s.Duvall won his Academy Award in 1983 for playing a washed-up country singer in ‘Tender Mercies’. But his most memorable characters also included the soft-spoken, loyal mob consigliere Tom Hagen in the first two installments of ‘The Godfather’ and the maniacal Lieutenant Colonel William Kilgore in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War epic ‘Apocalypse Now’.
Hollywood stars pay tribute
Following his demise, tributes of love and remembrance poured in from all corners. Al Pacino, who starred with Duvall in ‘The Godfather’, said in a statement, “It was an honor to have worked with Robert Duvall. He 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.” Viola Davis, also a former co-star, took to her Instagram handle to write, “I’ve always been in awe of your towering portrayals of men who were both quiet and dominating in their humanness. You were a giant … an icon … Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, To Kill a Mockingbird, Tender Mercies, The Apostle, Lonesome Dove … etc … Greatness never dies. It stays … as a gift. Rest well, sir. Your name will be spoken.”
Adam Sandler, who starred with Duvall in ‘Hustle’, tweeted, “Funny as hell. Strong as hell. One of the greatest actors we ever had. Such a great man to talk to and laugh with. Loved him so much. We all did. So many movies to choose from that were legendary. Watch them when you can. Sending his wife Luciana and all his family and friends our condolences.” Michael Keaton, who starred alongside the star in ‘The Paper’, also paid emotional tribute in a post that read, “another friend goes down. acted with and became friends. shared a great afternoon on my front porch talking about horses. he was greatness personified as an actor.” Rob Schneider“Powerful yet gentle as a bird in his unforgettable turn in “The Lonesome Dove,” Bob had the ability to make you forget instantly the conceit that you were watching a performance and gripped us with the sincerity and emotion of a consigliere as Tom in “The Godfather.” Equally hilarious as the surfer loving Army Officer in “Apocalypse Now,” he never gave a moment for the audience to not believe.” — the actor, on Facebook.Jamie Lee Curtis, on the other hand, wrote in her post, “The greatest consigliere the screen has ever seen. Bravo, Robert Duvall.”The SAG-AFTRA also released a statement, honouring the legacy of Robert Duvall. The note read, “We celebrate the legacy of Robert Duvall, a true acting legend whose work shaped generations. Twice honored with SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards, his influence on the craft will endure. Our thoughts are with his wife, Luciana, and all who loved him.” British actress Jane Seymour, who worked with Duvall on the 1995 film “The Stars Fell on Henrietta,” took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to the star. “We were able to share in his love of barbecue and even a little tango,” Seymour captioned a photo of herself with Duvall. “Those moments off camera were just as memorable as the work itself.”US actor Alec Baldwin made a short video tribute to Duvall, speaking about the late star’s career. “When 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,” Baldwin said.Film critic Elaine Mancini once described Duvall as “the most technically proficient, the most versatile, and the most convincing actor on the screen in the United States.”
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