The man who once said “I Love the smell of napalm in the morning” has now taken his final bow. The legendary actor Robert Duvall passed away at the age of 95, his wife Luciana Duvall confirmed in a heartfelt Facebook message.
“Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort,” she wrote. “For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented.”
Duvall’s career stretched across decades, genres and generations. Many first noticed him as the quiet and mysterious Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird. Years later, he delivered one of cinema’s most quoted lines in Apocalypse Now as Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” It smelled “like victory”, as his character was declared.
He also left a strong mark as Tom Hagen in The Godfather and its sequel, playing the calm and steady consigliere to the Corleone family. Over time, he earned seven Academy Award nominations and won Best Actor for Tender Mercies, portraying a country singer battling his past.
Whether he played strict military men, broken preachers or thoughtful cowboys, Duvall brought honesty to every part. He once said his role in the mini-series Lonesome Dove was among his favourites, feeling he had captured “a very specific individual guy who represents something important in our history.”
He even stepped behind the camera, directing films like The Apostle and Assassination Tango, the latter reflecting his love for Argentina where he met Luciana Pedraza.
Director Francis Ford Coppola called his passing “such a blow,” while co-stars remembered his gift and presence. His impact clearly went beyond awards.
Robert Duvall appeared in nearly 100 films. He lived between Los Angeles, Argentina and his Virginia farm. The actor had no children but he leaves behind a body of work that will continue to speak for him.
And perhaps that is the best kind of farewell.
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source https://lehren.com/oscar-winning-legend-robert-duvall-passes-away-at-95/
