Robert Duvall, acclaimed actor of such iconic films as Apocalypse Now and The Godfather, died Sunday night at age 95 at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, surrounded by family members, his widow, Luciana Duvall, said Monday.
“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, dear friend and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort. To the world, he was an Oscar-winning actor , director and storyteller. To me, he was everything,” wrote Duvall’s Argentinian-born wife in an emotional statement on Facebook.
The seven-time Oscar nominee, who won the Oscar for playing a homeless country singer in 1983’s Tender Mercies, had an extensive career, first on stage, then on television and later in film, where his roles marked the history of the seventh art.
“His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for his characters, exquisite food and his ability to conquer the heart. In each of his many roles, Bob gave his all for his characters and the authentic human essence they represented,” his widow said in her message, along with a photo of the two.
According to Luciana Duvall, her dedication to her art leaves her audience with “something lasting and unforgettable”.
“Thank you for the years of support you gave Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves us with,” he added.
Robert Duvall, born in San Diego on January 5, 1931, made his film debut with To Kill a Mockingbird (Robert Mulligan, 1962), while maintaining his television roles.
His role as ‘advisor’ to the Corleone family in The Godfather saga (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972), which earned him his first Oscar nomination, and The Godfather II (1974), launched him to international fame.
With Ford Coppola he would repeat as Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now (1979). His now legendary line: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” became one of the most famous in the history of cinema.
In addition to an Oscar, Duvall has won a BAFTA, four Golden Globes, two Emmys and a Screen Actors Guild SAG Award.
In 2005, he received the National Medal of Arts from then President George W. Bush at the White House.
Among his latest screen appearances were the films released in 2022 by the Netflix platform: Hustle and The Pale Blue Eye (The Crimes of the Academy), reported Agencia EFE.
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