Pierra Willix
Published February 16, 2026 6:06pm
Updated February 16, 2026 8:25pm
Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook
Comment now
Comments
The Godfather star Robert Duvall has died (Picture: Geoff Robins/ AFP via Getty Images)
Legendary Hollywood actor Robert Duvall has died at age 95.
The American star had a career spanning seven decades. In that time he was awarded an Oscar, a Bafta, four Golden Globes, two Emmys and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Some of his best known roles were in To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather and its sequel The Godfather Part II, and Apocalypse Now, as well as Days of Thunder, Jack Reacher and Hustle.
News of his death was announced by his wife Luciana on Facebook on Monday.
She wrote, as per TMZ: ‘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.’
‘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,’ she continued.
The American actor had a career spanning seven decades (Picture: John Shearer/ Invision/ AP)
He played Tom Hagan in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 gangster movie The Godfather (Picture: THA/ Shutterstock)
‘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. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.’
Within an hour of Duvall’s death being announced, his Widows co-star Viola Davis shared the following tribute on social media: ‘I had the honor of working alongside you in Widows. I was in awe. I’ve always been in awe of your towering portrayals of men who were both quiet and dominating in their humanness.
‘You were a giant… an icon… Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, To Kill a Mockingbird, Tender Mercies, The Apostle, Lonesome Dove… etc… Greatness never dies. It stays… as a gift. Rest well, sir. Your name will be spoken… May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest ❤️❤️❤️.’
Adam Sandler, who appeared alongside Duvall in the 2022 film Hustle, went on to pay tribute too, writing: ‘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.’
Meanwhile Michael Keaton, who starred with Duvall in Ron Howard’s 1994 workplace comedy The Paper, wrote: ‘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.’
Walton Goggins, who appeared in a small role in 1997’s The Apostle, which Duvall directed and starred in, shared a lengthy tribute on Instagram too. It read: ‘The celestial light just lost its glow…it certainly did for me. Bobby Duvall, the greatest storyteller of all time just left us. He was my friend. My mentor.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DU1IhniEk5r/?img_index=6
https://www.instagram.com/p/DU1NqCRiChK/?hl=en&img_index=1
‘The privilege of getting to work with this man, to know this man is still the most important experience of my life. He was my North Star, my hero. He knew it. He gave me permission, afforded me the privilege of never having to leave his side while we were working… we maintained a deep friendship for years after.
‘He didn’t have to do that. But he did. He had that effect on a lot of people… but this was my story. I love you Bobby. Thank you for changing my life.’
Born in San Diego, California, in 1931, Duvall was the son of an amateur actress and a rear admiral in the US Navy.
He primarily grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, site of the United States Naval Academy and once called himself a ‘Navy brat’.
Duvall once said his father had also expected him to attend the Naval Academy, but that he was ‘terrible at everything but acting…I could barely get through school’.
He initially graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, but joined the US Army in 1953, where he served for a year.
Duvall’s first feature film role was playing Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird (Picture: Silver Screen Collection/ Getty Images)
Following this, he went on to attend the Duvall attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City, where Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman and James Caan were among his classmates.
His acting career began on stage, working with the Gateway Playhouse in Long Island before then working on shows off-Broadway.
In 1959 he made his first ever TV appearance in an episode of Armstrong Circle Theater, with other guest roles at this time including in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Naked City, The Untouchables, Route 66, The Twilight Zone, The F.B.I., and The Mod Squad.
Duvall’s film debut came playing Boo Radley in the critically acclaimed To Kill a Mockingbird in 1962.
He also played Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in 1979’s Apocalypse Now (Picture: CBS via Getty Images)
However, it was the following decade that his career soared to new hights, firstly when playing Major Frank Burns in the film M*A*S*H and the title role in THX 1138 in 1971 where he plays a fugitive trying to escape a society controlled by robots.
But it was being cast as Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 gangster drama The Godfather, and its sequel, The Godfather Part II that marked his first major critical success. The former earnt him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.
It was in the subsequent years that Duvall gained a reputation for being a top character actor, with People once describing him as ‘Hollywood’s number one number two lead’.
He then received another Oscar nomination for best supporting actor and won both a Bafta and Golden Globe for his role as Lt. Colonel Kilgore in Coppola’s 1979 psychological epic war film Apocalypse Now.
Although he only appeared on screen for a few minutes, his line, ‘I love the smell of napalm in the morning’ is often regarded as one of the most iconic in cinematic history.
He won the best actor Oscar in 1984 for his role in Tender Mercies (Picture: Bob Riha, Jr./ Getty Images)
Coppola also once praised him as ‘one of the four or five best actors in the world’.
Meanwhile Bruce Beresford said of him: ‘Duvall has the ability to completely inhabit the person he’s acting. He totally and utterly becomes that person to a degree which is uncanny.’
In 1989 he appeared in the miniseries Lonesome Dover, once calling the role of Captain Augustus ‘Gus’ McCrae, his personal favourite. It earnt him both a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination,
Soon after he declined to reprise his role in The Godfather Part III, unless he was paid a salary comparable to his co-star Al Pacino’s. That request was denied.
A few years later he explained during an interview on 60 Minutes: ‘If they paid Pacino twice what they paid me, that’s fine, but not three or four times, which is what they did.’
Later roles came in Days of Thunder, Newsies, Falling Down, The Paper, Phenomenon, Something to Talk About, Sling Blade and Deep Impact.
He’d been married to wife Luciana Pedraza since 2005 (Picture: Kevork Djansezian/ Getty Images)
From the 1990s onwards he also periodically worked in TV, winning a Golden Globe for playing Joseph Stalin in the 1992 television film Stalin. He also won an Emmy in 2006 for his role in the Western miniseries Broken Trail.
More Trending
-
Tehran producer Dana Eden found dead aged 52 in hotel room while filming series
Channel: TV TV 11 hours ago By Danni Scott - Rock drummer Tim Very dies aged 42 as band shares their 'absolute disbelief'
- James Van Der Beek's family GoFundMe passes $2,000,000 as Steven Spielberg donates $25,000
- The Voice star Ifunanya Nwangene dies aged 26 after being bitten by a snake
One of his best-known roles in his later years came in 2014’s The Judge – in which he starred alongside Robert Downey Jr and was nominated for a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Academy Award for his supporting role – the latter which saw him become the oldest actor ever nominated in that category.
His final two film roles came in 2022 – in the sports comedy drama Hustle and the period gothic thriller The Pale Blue Eye.
Deals of the Day
The Traitors is over – but Claudia Winkleman’s shoes are everywhere
Craving sun, city streets or theme parks holdays? This £99 mystery deal has it all
This easy concealer trick transformed how my makeup looks and lasts all day
Tour Emily in Paris Season 6 Rome hotspots with a getaway from just £79pp
Maya Jama fronts Rimmel’s new Turbocharged Glow collection at Boots now
Duvall was married four times. Firstly, to Barbara Benjamin from 1964 until 81, to Gail Youngs from 1982 until 1986, and to Sharon Brophy from 199 until 1995. He married Luciana, with whom he’d been with since 1997 and starred alongside in his film Assassination Tango, in 2005. He had no children.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Arrow MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables
Arrow MORE: Callum Turner’s James Bond comments confirmed my worst fears
Arrow MORE: Winter wedding guest dress guide 2026 – with chic picks from H&M, ASOS, M&S and more
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source Puzzles NewsletterGet your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!
Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy