Robert Duvall has died at the age of 95, at his ranch in Virginia. The actor had won an Oscar for his role in ‘Thanks and Favors’, in which he played an alcoholic country music singer in 1983, and achieved several nominations on other occasions.
Two of them were for his roles as Tom Hagen in ‘The Godfather’, and Colonel Kilgore in ‘Apocalypse Now’, two of Coppola’s masterpieces. He was also nominated for ‘The Gift of Courage’, ‘Road to Heaven’, ‘Civil Action’ and ‘The Judge’. He won 4 Golden Globes.
Also well remembered was his role in the adaptation of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, Harper Lee’s classic. One of his great supporters, Horton Foote, was in charge of the script. Among dozens of films, he also appeared in ‘The Road’, ‘A Family Affair’ and ‘Days of Thunder’. He was one of the last representatives of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
His wife Luciana Duvall has stressed that for her “a narrator or a director has not died”, but that “he was everything” and has recalled that “his passion for his craft was only comparable to his deep love for the characters, exquisite food and his ability to conquer the heart.”
He continues: “In each of his many roles, Bob gave his all to his characters and the authentic human essence they represented. By doing so, he leaves us with something lasting and unforgettable. Thank you for the years of support you have given Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves us.”
