Veteran actor Robert Duvall, known for his role as mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic movies The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, has died aged 95.
Duvall starred in several classic American films, including Apocalypse Now (1979), MASH, and To Kill a Mockingbird. He is also remembered for his role as the reclusive Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird at the beginning of his career, playing several supporting and character roles for decades.
In a message on Facebook, his wife Luciana Duvall made the announcement, “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.”
Duvall was nominated seven times for an Oscar, winning once, for best actor in 1984 for Tender Mercies, in which he played a country-music singer trying to overcome alcoholism.
Duvall was born in San Diego, California, in 1931, and studied drama at college in St Louis, Missouri. He later joined the army briefly during the Korean War. In 1955, he enrolled at the Neighbourhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York, alongside fellow actors James Caan, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman. The Godfather actor worked steadily in TV and theatre.
A statement from Duvall’s representative said, “In keeping with Duvall’s wishes, no formal service will be held.
“Instead, the family encourages those who wish to honour his memory to do so in a way that reflects the life he lived 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.”
