Luciana Duvall announced the death of her husband, Robert Duvall, on Monday. She shared the news via a statement on Facebook.
Luciana stated, “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.” The actor died on Sunday at his residence in Middleburg, Virginia.
Early Life and Beginnings
Robert Duvall entered the world on January 5, 1931, in San Diego, California. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Afterward, Duvall studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. He debuted on Broadway in the 1950s and transitioned to film with a role in To Kill a Mockingbird in 1962.
Breakthrough Roles
Duvall gained recognition through collaborations with director Francis Ford Coppola. He portrayed Tom Hagen in The Godfather in 1972 and its sequel in 1974. Additionally, Duvall delivered a memorable performance as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now in 1979. Critics praised his line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
Awards and Accolades
The Academy honored Duvall with an Oscar for Best Actor in Tender Mercies in 1983. He earned six other nominations, including for The Great Santini and The Apostle. Furthermore Duvall won Emmy Awards for his work in television miniseries like Lonesome Dove.
Later Career and Legacy
Duvall continued acting into his 90s, appearing in films such as The Judge in 2014. Luciana added in her statement, “To the world, he was an Academy Award winning actor, a director, a storyteller.”
Industry peers remembered him for his versatility across genres. Duvall left behind a career spanning over 70 years and four marriages, with Luciana as his wife since 2005.
