Robert Selden Duvall
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Awards
Robert Duvall earned his first Oscar nomination for playing Tom Hagen in The Godfather 1972 and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Tender Mercies 1983. He played Lt. Col. Kilgore in Apocalypse Now 1979 and Gus McCrae in Lonesome Dove 1989. Duvall directed and starred in The Apostle 1997, earning another Best Actor nomination.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Robert Duvall — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Robert Duvall by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Robert Duvall — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
San Diego-born Robert Selden Duvall came from a military family; his father William Howard Duvall was a Navy admiral. He graduated from Principia College in 1953, served two years in the army, then studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse on the G.I. Bill alongside Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. His early stage work led to his first major film role as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird 1962, a part recommended by playwright Horton Foote.
Duvall’s portrayal of mob lawyer Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather 1972 earned him his first Academy Award nomination. He followed with a turn as the surf-obsessed Lt. Col. Kilgore in Apocalypse Now 1979, delivering the line I love the smell of napalm in the morning. He won the Oscar for Tender Mercies 1983, then struggled to find leading roles until he wrote, directed, and starred in The Apostle 1997, earning another Best Actor nomination.
Duvall married Barbara Benjamin in 1964 divorced 1975, then Gail Youngs in 1982 divorced 1986, then Sharon Brophy in 1991 divorced 1996. In 2004, he married Luciana Pedraza, who is 41 years his junior. He has no children. He has homes in Virginia and Argentina, is an avid tango dancer, and speaks Spanish fluently.
He received the National Medal of Arts in 2005. His filmography includes To Kill a Mockingbird 1962, The Godfather films, Network 1976, and Apocalypse Now 1979. His role in Lonesome Dove 1989 remains a high point, and he is the last surviving adult cast member of To Kill a Mockingbird.
The complete filmography of Robert Duvall — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Robert Duvall — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Robert Duvall — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Being a Star Is an Agent’s Dream, Not an Actor’s.
One Guy Asked Me, How Can You Be an Actor and Be a Republican?. I Can Vote Either Way. but How Can You Boil It Down to Political Affiliation? All the Atrocities Against Blacks in the South Were Committed by Democratic Sheriffs.
Everybody Likes to Win. One of the Biggest Disappointments Was When I Didn’t Get an Emmy for Lonesome Dove. It’s Political. It Can Be a Popularity Contest.
I Always Considered Myself as a Character Actor. I Always Try to Be Versatile to Show Different Sides of Human Experience.
Well, Our Hero, Coming Up, Was Brando. He Kinda Squandered It. but He Was so Revolutionary in so Many Ways.
The Way Hollywood Speaks Out Is Absolutely Beyond Me. Some People Are so Ill-informed. I Mean, Why Be so Outspoken About It Anyway? Does It Help Sean Penn’s Career to Go Over to Iraq? Did It Help Jane Fonda to Go Over to Vietnam Years Ago? I Don’t Know. but Sometimes When These Guys Speak Out… I Get Embarrassed.
Because My Parents Were so Religious, I Attended Church Regularly. I’ve Always Been a Believer.
When I Knew Nothing, I Thought I Could Do Anything.
A Friend Is Someone Who Many Years Ago Offered You His Last $300 When You Broke Your Pelvis. a Friend Is Gene Hackman.
Making the First Godfather Was More Laughs Than Making Godfather II. That’s Because Jimmy Caan Was in the First Godfather.
A Young Actor Once Asked Me, What Do You Do Between Jobs? I Said, Hobbies, Hobbies, and More Hobbies. It Keeps You off Dope.
Sometimes, When You Look Back on It, the $10-Million-and-under Movies Are Some of Your Favorites.
I Feel Like Our Country Is Just a Big Giant Kid with Tremendous Talent – Like an Athlete. a Big Giant Kid That’s Made Mistakes, but There’s a Lot of Potential.
You Never Know How Reality Is Going to Coincide with Your Dreams. You’re Optimistic, and You Go from There.
Virginia Is the Last Station Before Heaven.
Getting Together with Friends and Holding Court Over a Meal Is One of the Great Things in Life.
I’m Not Perceived as a Traditional Leading Man, but I Never Aimed at That Sort of Thing Either. I Never Straightened My Front Teeth, or Whatever. I Wan’t Cut Out for That. Even If I Did a ‘Big’ Movie, I’d Still Want to Make It a Real Character.
Method Acting Is a Way of Working Internally as a Substitute If Something Isn’t Happening for You; If You Don’t Need It, It’s Like Walking on a Good Leg Instead of Using a Crutch or Cane.
I Think Studying Professionally Helped Although I Had Already Done Summer Theater and Had a Lot of Experience. I Got Right into Acting and Then Studied. the Best Thing About the Playhouse Was That I Really Learned to Improvise, to Change Things, in Films. Not in an Indulgent Way, but in a Beneficial Way. so from That Point of View, Sndy Was Good for Me. I Might Have Learned It Eventually – You Learn from Other Actors, Directors. the Problem Is so Many People Study but They Don’t Get Any Better. It’s up to the Individual. and I Don’t Think a Teacher Can Manufacture Talent. I Guy Can Study All His Life on a Violin Ad Never Play It Well.
Little-known facts about Robert Duvall — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
He roomed with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman while all were struggling stage actors in New York. Hoffman and Duvall were known for their ways with women, while Duvall and Hackman had short fuses leading to bar fights. They bonded over elaborate practical jokes.
His large estate in rural Virginia was the site of Civil War skirmishes; he found shells and artifacts on the property. Some scenes in Gods and Generals 2003 were filmed there.
He considers his role as Texas Ranger Augustus McCrae in the miniseries Lonesome Dove 1989 the work he is most proud of.
With the death of Rosemary Murphy in 2014, he became the last surviving credited adult cast member of To Kill a Mockingbird 1962.
He speaks Spanish fluently.
Fractured several ribs after falling off a horse while rehearsing for a role in Open Range 2003.
He has appeared in eight films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: To Kill a Mockingbird 1962, MASH 1970, The Godfather 1972, The Conversation 1974, The Godfather Part II 1974, Network 1976, Apocalypse Now 1979, and Tender Mercies 1983. The Godfather and The Godfather Part II won.
Studied under Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse for two years with Dustin Hoffman, James Caan, and Gene Hackman as classmates.
Received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia in 1998.
He has directed one Oscar-nominated performance: his own in The Apostle 1997.
Descended from Robert E. Lee, he can trace his family back to President George Washington. He played Lee in Gods and Generals 2003.
Travels to Argentina at least five times a year and has a home there.
Resided with Luciana Pedraza for seven years before marrying her on October 6, 2004. She is 41 years younger than him.
His favorite city is Buenos Aires, Argentina; he is an avid tango dancer.
Put up $5 million of his own money to finance The Apostle 1997 after studios rejected it.
Appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird 1962 and Tender Mercies 1983, both written for the screen by Horton Foote, who won Oscars for both.
Considered for the role of Police Chief Martin Brody in Jaws 1975, which went to Roy Scheider.
Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard on September 18, 2003.
Considered for the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs 1991, which went to Anthony Hopkins.
Played his ancestor Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals 2003 after Martin Sheen could not reprise the role.
Watched Broken Trail 2006 with President George W. Bush at a White House screening on June 11, 2006.
Publicly criticized director Steven Spielberg for flying to Cuba in October 2002 and vowed never to work for Dreamworks again.
Worked as a postal clerk while a struggling actor but quit after six months because he did not want to be there 20 years later.
A huge soccer fan, he supports the Argentinian national team.
His performance as Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies 1983 is ranked #14 on Premiere magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time 2006.
Born to William Howard Duvall, a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, and Mildred Virginia Hart, an amateur actress.
Served in the U.S. Army from August 19, 1953 to August 20, 1954, achieving Private First Class and receiving the National Defense Service Medal.
A staunch lifelong supporter of the Republican party; he attended George W. Bush’s inauguration in 2001.
Was director Robert Altman’s first choice for a country singer in Nashville 1975, but scheduling conflicts forced Henry Gibson to be cast instead.
His performance as Lt. Colonel Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now 1979 is ranked #59 on Premiere magazine’s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
Narrated a video supporting John McCain for the 2008 Republican National Convention.
Has English, German, Swiss-German, French, Welsh, and Scottish ancestry; his French Huguenot ancestors immigrated in the 1700s.
Named My Life as a Dog 1985 as one of his favorite movies.
Has a family connection to two 2008 presidential hopefuls: ancestor Mareen Duvall is also an ancestor of Barack Obama, and John McCain’s family worked with George Washington, to whom Duvall is related by adoption.
The middle of three brothers; elder brother William and younger brother John both appeared as singers in his film Angelo My Love 1983.
Attended Principia College in Illinois, earning a Liberal Arts degree while participating in campus theatrical productions.
Hosted a fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani at his Hollywood home and later endorsed John McCain after Giuliani dropped out.
Appeared in eight films selected for the National Film Registry: To Kill a Mockingbird, Bullitt, MASH, The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Network, and Apocalypse Now.
No relation to Shelley Duvall, despite a popular misconception.
Considered for the role of Mitch Leary in In the Line of Fire 1993, which went to John Malkovich.
As of 2018, co-starred with eight Oscar-winning acting performances: Gregory Peck, John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Beatrice Straight, Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, and Jeff Bridges.
Although he played Laurence Olivier’s grandson in The Betsy 1978, he is only 23 years younger than Olivier in real life.
Played his ancestor Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals 2003; Martin Sheen originally played Lee in Gettysburg 1993. Duvall and Sheen co-starred in Apocalypse Now 1979.
Made his film debut in To Kill a Mockingbird and gradually worked his way up to starring roles and directing.
Studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse and later appeared in A View From the Bridge and Tomorrow at St. Mark’s Playhouse.
Was the subject of a false death report on August 19, 2019.
Awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2005.
In response to Duvall’s criticism of his trip to Cuba, Steven Spielberg defended himself by saying he went with U.S. government permission as a cultural ambassador.
Ex-brother-in-law of John Savage and Jim Youngs.
Kirsty Mitchell’s breakthrough performance came as Robert Duvall’s daughter in A Shot at Glory 2000.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Robert Duvall.
Celebrities similar to Robert Duvall — same craft, ranked by reach.
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