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OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
11:51 AM – Monday, February 16, 2026
Robert Duvall, widely referred to as a “titan” of American cinema, whose career spanned over six decades, died on Sunday. He was 95 years old.
His wife, Luciana Duvall, confirmed the news in a Facebook post on Monday, stating that the actor and director passed away peacefully at his home in Virginia “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,” Luciana’s post reads. “His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. 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.”
Duvall’s most celebrated film as a director, “The Apostle,” tells the story of a Pentecostal preacher. He reportedly made the film out of a long-standing passion to “authentically portray the power and vitality of Pentecostal preaching,” which he found compelling after witnessing it firsthand in Arkansas. Duvall also made the movie to counter Hollywood’s typical depiction of preachers as hypocrites, ultimately financing the project himself after studios refused to fund it. Duvall felt it was his responsibility to bring this story, about a “flawed but sincere” preacher seeking redemption, to the screen with the respect it deserved, using real-life ministers and congregation members for authenticity. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination.
A longtime fixture in conservative circles, Duvall was also a prominent supporter of the Bush administration and famously narrated the “Country First” tribute video for the 2008 Republican National Convention. However, his allegiance shifted significantly in 2014 when he publicly distanced himself from the GOP, declaring himself an independent. In his later years, Duvall maintained this centrist stance, preferring to keep his political views private.
Duvall is celebrated for his unparalleled versatility and his ability to disappear into characters. Whether playing a silent neighbor or a boisterous military commander, Duvall brought a trademark intensity to every frame.
Some of Duvall’s most notable roles include:
- Tom Hagen in “The Godfather” (1972) and “The Godfather Part II” (1974). However, Duvall refused to reprise his iconic role in “The Godfather Part III” (1990). At the time, he reportedly felt it was an insult that he was offered significantly less than Al Pacino, stating, “If they paid Pacino twice what they paid me, that’s fine, but not three or four times.”
- Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in “Apocalypse Now” (1979)
- Mac Sledge in “Tender Mercies” (1983)
- Boo Radley in “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)
Born on January 5, 1931, in San Diego, California, Duvall was the son of Rear Admiral William Howard Duvall of the United States Navy. A self-described “Navy brat,” he grew up amid frequent relocations due to his father’s career. After graduating from Principia College in 1953 with a degree in drama, he served approximately two years in the U.S. Army.
Duvall then used his G.I. Bill benefits to move to New York City and study acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre under Sanford Meisner. There, as struggling young actors in the mid-to-late 1950s, he roomed with Dustin Hoffman and was close friends with actor Gene Hackman, with whom he also shared living arrangements at times and worked odd jobs alongside.
All three, Duvall, Hoffman, and Hackman, remained lifelong friends and went on to become iconic figures who helped redefine Hollywood acting in the late 1960s and beyond.
Those who knew him personally say Duvall’s career was marked by a relentless work ethic. He worked as a night janitor and a postal clerk to support his early theater career before transitioning into television and, eventually, becoming a cornerstone of film history.
In his later years, Duvall also focused on his philanthropic work through the Robert Duvall Children’s Fund (RDCF), which he co-founded with his wife, to assist impoverished families in Argentina. The RDCF was a deeply personal mission for Duvall, stemming from his profound connection to Argentina and marriage to Argentine actress and director Luciana Pedraza (now Duvall). The couple met on a street in Buenos Aires in 1996.
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