Robert Duvall, best known for the iconic films The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, passed away aged 95.
The news of his passing was shared by his wife, Luciana Duvall. In a post shared on the social media, she wrote, “Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.
“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.”
In Apocalypse Now, Duval, who portrayed the role of cavalry-hatted Kilgore, gave the world two of the most famous lines in cinema history, “Charlie don’t surf!” and “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
In addition to this iconic performance, Duvall treated the world with the role of consigliere Tom Hagen in The Godfather and The Godfather II.
In the earlier days of his stunning career, he played Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as plenty of other roles that helped cement his place in the world of film.
Over the course of his years on film, he was nominated for the Oscar seven times and won one, for best actor in 1984’s Tender Mercies, in which he played a country singer battling alcoholism.
He also received nominations for The Godfather (1973), Apocalypse Now (1980), The Great Santini (1981), The Apostle (1998), A Civil Action (1999), and later for The Judge (2015).
According to NBC News, Duvall did not want a formal service, with his family asking from his fans to honor his memory by “watching a great film, telling a good story around a table with friends, or taking a drive in the countryside to appreciate the world’s beauty.”
His Oscar nominations spanned over four decades, exemplifying a career that was both consistent and diverse.
Tributes from fellow colleagues and fans poured in, honoring his legacy.
Al Pacino, his “Godfather” co-star, said in a statement to The Associated Press, “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.”
Adam Sandler wrote on Instagram, “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.”
Viola Davis called it an honor to work alongside Duvall on Windows. She added that she had always admired his presence on screen, referring to him as a giant and an icon, mentioning his long list of classic films.
Michael Keaton Douglas posted, “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 RIP RD.”
Duvall was married four times, but had no children, and that wasn’t something he really spoke about openly.
According to the Mail, a source said that while Duvall had previously acknowledged that having children “wasn’t in the cards for him,” he didn’t look back at it as a regret, saying he had “lived an incredible life” and that his 95 years were “well spent.”