Robert Duvall, Oscar-winning actor of 'Tender Mercies,' dies at 93

Robert Duvall has died at 93

Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall died on Thursday at his home in Virginia, his family confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 93.

Duvall’s career spanned over seven decades, earning him a reputation as one of the most versatile and respected actors of his generation. He won an Oscar for Best Actor in 1984 for his role as a washed-up country singer in Tender Mercies.

A career of iconic roles

Duvall was known for his chameleonic ability to inhabit vastly different characters. He earned his first Oscar nomination for playing the steely, loyal consigliere Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather in 1972.

He reprised the role in 1974's The Godfather Part II. Duvall famously turned down a role in The Godfather Part III because the financial offer was, in his view, disrespectful compared to co-star Al Pacino's salary.

From military men to cowboys

His other iconic performances included the napalm-loving Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, who famously declared, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." He earned another Oscar nomination for his portrayal of an abusive fighter pilot father in The Great Santini.

On television, he won an Emmy and critical acclaim for his role as the aging cowboy Gus McCrae in the beloved miniseries Lonesome Dove.

Later work and legacy

Duvall remained a prolific actor well into his later years. He received his sixth and final Oscar nomination in 2015 for his supporting role in The Judge, opposite Robert Downey Jr.

His final film role was in the 2022 western 12 Mighty Orphans. Duvall's career is defined by a profound authenticity, whether he was playing a corrupt preacher, a Texas Ranger, or a broken-down musician.

He is survived by his fourth wife, Luciana Pedraza, whom he married in 2005.