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The Godfather actor Robert Duvall dies at 95 after iconic performances in Apocalypse Now and The Great Santini
Daily Mail UK ^ | February 16, 2026 | HEIDI PARKER

Posted on 02/16/2026 10:28:32 AM PST by Morgana

Hollywood icon Robert Duvall has died at the age of 95.

He was best known for playing Tom Hagen opposite Al Pacino and Marlon Brando in The Godfather.

The actor's wife, Luciana, announced the news Monday on Facebook, writing, '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, surrounded by love and comfort.'

She added ... 'To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented.

'In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.'

he San Diego native worked as an actor for seven decades.

Duvall began his career on TV with minor roles in the 1960s on The Defenders, Playhouse 90 and Armstrong Circle Theatre.

He made his feature film acting debut portraying Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

Other early roles include Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), Bullitt (1968), True Grit (1969), M*A*S*H (1970), THX 1138 (1971), Joe Kidd (1972), and Tomorrow (1972).

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: lonesomedove; robertduvall; truegrit
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To: PTBAA

And The Apostle, wonderful film


101 posted on 02/16/2026 11:42:28 AM PST by Persevero (You cannot comply your way out of tyranny. )
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To: Swirl
I just found out The Apostle was a vanity project for Duvall("It's a deeply personal project").
He wrote and directed it and also financed it when the studios passed it over.
102 posted on 02/16/2026 11:43:04 AM PST by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
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To: ek_hornbeck

There are a lot of Robert Duvall movies that didn’t appear much to me, but nearly without fail, I enjoyed watching his character protrayals in even those.


103 posted on 02/16/2026 11:44:02 AM PST by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
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To: Morgana

Yesterday, Duvall playing General Robert E. Lee popped into my head.


104 posted on 02/16/2026 11:45:48 AM PST by yesthatjallen
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To: rlmorel
Another example of how great acting can make a mediocre (or worse) movie still tolerable was Jayne Mansfield's Car. It was a barely coherent mess of a movie, but Robert Duvall, along with a couple of other acting greats such as the late John Hurt, still created some memorable scenes.

Another obscure movie that isn't very good but where Duvall gives a memorable performance is The Light Ship - where he plays an effeminate dandy who happens to be a modern-day pirate ringleader.

105 posted on 02/16/2026 11:48:46 AM PST by ek_hornbeck
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To: Maine Mariner

Robert Duvall - Oscar Winner
Tommy Lee Jones - Oscar Winner
Chris Cooper - Oscar Winner
Anjelica Huston - Oscar Winner

As well as Frederic Forrest, Diane Lane, Danny Glover (I know, I know), Barry Corbin and many great character actors in supporting roles...


106 posted on 02/16/2026 11:51:56 AM PST by Rummyfan (Ok In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support lthe civilized man.👨 so t tv)
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To: Morgana

I like the scene in Deep Impact where he reads to the blind guy.


107 posted on 02/16/2026 11:52:34 AM PST by missthethunder (Since the 1980 Rona Barrett interview. IYKYK. )
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To: Blood of Tyrants

“Second Hand Lions is one of my favorites.”
Very under rated film. But one of His best.


108 posted on 02/16/2026 11:53:10 AM PST by rellic (No such thing as a moderate Moslem or Democrat )
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To: Morgana

I sure hate to hear it. Every part he played was good.


109 posted on 02/16/2026 11:54:49 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: DennisR; Morgana; rlmorel
Maybe it is just me, but the adoration, worship, and deification of people in the entertainment industry is sick.

You'll be relieved to know that Duvall largely avoided the Hollywood social scene, and just concentrated on giving the highest-quality performances, understanding the characters he played, and showing their humanity. His conservatism and Christianity shone through in many of his roles.

He did not live in California, but on a large horse farm outside of Middleburg, Virgina. I walked for almost a mile along one side of its split rail fence one time when my car broke down. He bought a tiny restaurant on a two-lane road in the Virginia countryside and frequently went there for lunch or dinner with his wife, but didn't court attention from the other diners, and they didn't intrude on his privacy, either, the several times I went there just to get a look at his back.

In person, he was surprisingly short statured, for a man who played such enormous, unforgettable characters. There's not a fan on this thread who cannot quote at least one of his memorable lines, if not many, as if he had said those things directly to you. He was a great, great artist and lived accordingly.

110 posted on 02/16/2026 11:54:52 AM PST by Albion Wilde (Yesterday only comes one time. —Sorrells Pickard)
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To: basalt

I know a lot of people don’t like Apocalypse Now, and for valid reasons, but...it is a guilty pleasure movie for me, if only for Robert Duvall’s brilliant performance in it!


111 posted on 02/16/2026 11:55:15 AM PST by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
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To: Morgana

He was in one of my favorite sports movies “The Natural”.


112 posted on 02/16/2026 11:56:40 AM PST by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
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To: Morgana

RIP!! He was truly one of the greats!


113 posted on 02/16/2026 11:56:54 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182 ("Either we fight back or they will kill us" Elon Musk)
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To: Reily

I always get that one mixed up with Gettysburg where Lee was played by...ugh...Martin Sheen.


114 posted on 02/16/2026 11:57:48 AM PST by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
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To: Rummyfan

Forest and Corbin had great roles in that series. As I said, excellent casting. Thanking for pointing out all the Oscar Winners!


115 posted on 02/16/2026 11:58:15 AM PST by Maine Mariner
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To: Rummyfan
“I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.”
116 posted on 02/16/2026 11:58:49 AM PST by Licensed-To-Carry (John 14:6 Romans 10:9 Hebrews 9:27)
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To: rlmorel

havent seen it in awhile..ima watch it tonight!!


117 posted on 02/16/2026 12:00:36 PM PST by basalt (Y ou new to this??)
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To: Lakeshark

I really liked him in a little known movie called Assassination Tango.


118 posted on 02/16/2026 12:00:44 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Morgana

RIP.

I met him once while he was on a shoot in NC. The crew stayed in a new hotel where my wife worked.

A super nice man. Signed a bunch of photos for us. Stills from the movie.

He was more interested in us than we him. Talked for a while.


119 posted on 02/16/2026 12:02:51 PM PST by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: Morgana

He was among the elite of actors but not an elitist. I liked him in Joe Kidd as Frank Harlan and all of the others he’s so well known for. Let the Robert Duvall movie marathon begin! RIP


120 posted on 02/16/2026 12:03:15 PM PST by equaviator (Nobody's perfect. That's why they put pencils on erasers!)
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