He died at the age of 95 Robert Duvall, one of the greatest actors of his generation, a performer who has marked the history of American cinema with his profound and natural style. The news of his passing was confirmed by his wife, Luciana Duvall, with a touching announcement published on Facebook: «Yesterday we said goodbye», she wrote, «Bob went home peacefully, surrounded by affection. To the world he was an Oscar winner, a storyteller, a director. For me it was everything.”
Marlon Brando and Robert Duvalll in a scene from Godfather
A long and intense career
Born in 1931 in San Diego, Duvall has built a career spanning more than six decades, characterized by unforgettable roles and an understated but intense presence on the screen. He made his film debut in the early sixties, and already in his first roles as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird he showed a rare talent, capable of embodying the interiority of the characters with truth and depth.
The roles that made history
Artistic consecration came with films that became classics: like Tom Hagen in The Godfather And The Godfather – Part IIa character with a calm face but a faithful heart, and as the reckless Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Nowwith the famous line now part of the collective cinematographic imagination.
The Oscar and the redemption of Tender Mercies
But it was in 1984 that Duvall reached the pinnacle of his career by receiving the Oscar for Best Actor for Tender Mercies – A tender thank youthe heartwarming tale of a country singer seeking redemption. His interpretation of Mac Sledge, a man marked by life yet capable of opening up to love and hope, remains one of the most intense and sincere tests of modern cinema.
An indelible legacy
In addition to his iconic roles, Duvall had often worked as a director and screenwriter, staging stories that reflected his profound attention to the human soul. His passing leaves a great void in the world of culture, but his artistic legacy remains as testimony to a total dedication to the art of acting, a dedication that was able to touch the depths of stories and people,
