February 16, 2026 12:55 pm
RIP To An Acting Legend…
Such sad new for movie lovers….Robert Duvall has died at the age of 95…his family says he passed away peacefully….
He was an Oscar-winning Actor who could do it all: action films, drama, romantic comedies and more….I love so many of his films and will mention a few but first – my favorite picture of him of all time:
Yes, he’s holding Marlon Brando’s lines for “The Godfather” on cue cards! I mean, hilarious – he played Tom Hagen, who was taken in by the Coreleone family and became the Consiglieri to The Godfather – only to be replaced by Michael…
Duvall is brilliant in the role – it is my #1 favorite film of all time…here are some of the best behind-the-scenes stories about it!
Also in my top ten of all time is this prescient film about network television news:
“Network”
One of the best and most incisive looks at the power of media – with one of the cinema’s most iconic lines:
“I’m Mad As Hell, And I’m Not Going To Take It Anymore!”
Peter Finch posthumously won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of a network news Anchorman who has a breakdown live on TV – check out the trailer:
William Holden and Faye Dunaway were both nominated as well, and Dunaway won for her portrayal as a “tough as nails” Network Executive who has no boundaries when creating hits…here is the iconic photo of her the following morning at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel:
A brilliant film that is so prescient – because TV News is now wildly out of control – Duvall plays the new Bureaucrat who comes in to clean house – and his performance is so powerful and real…
Here’s the brilliant moment when he takes over:
What acting!
He also made a number of great action films, like this one, where he reunited with James can, also in “The Godfather”:
“The Killer Elite”
James Caan is great as a government Agent who’s betrayed by his co-worker, beautifully played with evil relish by Duvall. Check out the vintage trailer:
Duvall and Caan are both great actors to watch, and there are several terrific action sequences as well – the film was directed by Sam Peckinpah, the visionary behind “The Wild Bunch”, “The Getaway” and more….
Duvall delivered one cinema’s most iconic lines when he appeared in the brilliant “Apocalypse Now”:
He reunited with “The Godfather” Director Francis Ford Coppola, who went into the jungle and came back with this anti-war masterpiece about America’s folly in Vietnam.
Here is the trailer for one of the greatest films ever made:
One of the film’s most powerful scenes involves the bombing of a small camp along a river – and Duvall plays the commander who wants to surf the river after the battle is over…here is his most iconic line:
Brilliant.
He also appeared in this terrific film:
“The Paper” is a comedy about the team that puts out a daily newspaper in New York, with Duvall as the gritty Editor-In-Chief…click here for a look at the trailer and more – it’s a terrific movie!
My blogging friend Lisa Marie Bowman did a beautiful tribute, including more of his great films…read it here:
RIP Robert Duvall…
Posted by johnrieber
Categories: 70's Cinema, Academy Awards, Action Films, Art, Awards, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, James Caan, Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities, Uncategorized
Tags: 1972 Best Picture, 1974 Academy Awards, 70's movies, Academy Awards, Al Pacino, Al Pacino movies, best films of all time, blu-ray new releases, books, classic 70's movies, cue cards, Diane Keaton, Diane Keaton movies, Diane Keaton roles, Director Francis Ford Coppola, don corleone, entertainment, great 70's movies, great movies ever made, Jack Woltz, James Caan, James Caan roles, Luca Brasi, marlon brando, Marlon Brando best actor, Marlon Brando makeup, movies, new blu-ray releases, Oscars, Paramount Pictures, photography, RIP Robert Duvall, Robert Duvall, Robert Duvall movies, Robert Duvall RIP, Robert Duvall roles, Robert Evans, severed horse heads, The Conversation, The Godfather, The Godfather behind-the-scenes, The Godfather blu-ray, The Godfather BTS, The Godfather cast, The Godfather Part 2, The Godfather Part 3, travel
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Such a legend! I didn’t know he lived not far from where I live. Anyway, The Great Santini is my favorite Duvall performance for personal reasons: my dad is exactly like the character in the film, minus the military service. I still call my dad “Great Santini,” behind his back, of course. RIP.
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By Eric Binford on March 3, 2026 at 3:51 am
Yes a great choice indeed…thanks for sharing this insight!
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By johnrieber on March 3, 2026 at 8:58 am
I have to confess to not having seen any of these movies! There has been great press over his passing, showing a lot of these iconic scenes 🙂
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By Tandy (Lavender and Lime ) on February 19, 2026 at 10:28 pm
He was an iconic Actor…he is only in Apocalypse Now for that one sequence which is a masterpiece of acting…
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By johnrieber on February 20, 2026 at 8:11 am
Such a great actor. RIP, Robert Duvall.
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By Jennie on February 18, 2026 at 4:32 pm
I was just thinking the other day what a great performance Duvall gave in “To Kill a Mockingbird” as Arthur “Boo” Radley. Some people may not remember that he played in that movie.
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By Dawn Pisturino on February 18, 2026 at 6:56 am
Yes, great point…I didn’t include it because the link to Lisa’s tribute covered it extensively but it is a great point and in hindsight I should have- it’s iconic!
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By johnrieber on February 18, 2026 at 7:10 am
Two additional ones: The Great Santini and A Civil Action with John Travolta. And of course Tender Mercies.
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By Anonymous on February 17, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Yes to all! His body of work was so impressive – thanks for sharing those!
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By johnrieber on February 18, 2026 at 5:56 am
He never gave a bad performance. Not that I saw, anyway. One of my favourite roles he had was later in his career, in ‘Open Range’ (2003) as Boss Spearman. He was perfectly cast in that film.
Best wishes, Pete.
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By beetleypete on February 17, 2026 at 5:31 am
Great actor. I loved The Godfather Part 1. R.I.P Mr Duvall.
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By Stevie Turner on February 17, 2026 at 5:01 am
Yes, he was an Icon in cinema…sadly we have a number of them well into their 80’s and beyond so we will be seeing more of them leaving us…thanks for the note!
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By johnrieber on February 18, 2026 at 6:21 am
A shame a great actor and we are losing too many these days. chuq
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By lobotero on February 16, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Yes there are many who are late in life sadly…we will always have the films at least to remember and respect them for
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By johnrieber on February 18, 2026 at 6:21 am
TRue. chuq
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By lobotero on February 18, 2026 at 9:31 am
I absolutely love him, one of my favorite actors – such a loss
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By beth on February 16, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Got to meet him in Cannes, thanks to you. Does anyone remember a film he did with De Niro called true confessions where they played brothers? De Niro was a priest and Duvall was a cop. I should find it and check it out again.
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By Anonymous on February 16, 2026 at 6:13 pm
Yes that’s a really good film but I always thought they should have played each other’s roles…I think they did that on purpose…thanks for the reminder!
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By johnrieber on February 18, 2026 at 6:22 am
So many great movies. A life well-lived.
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By WritingfromtheheartwithBrian on February 16, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Indeed!
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By johnrieber on February 18, 2026 at 6:23 am
A sad loss, and a nice tribute.
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By Clive on February 16, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Thank you for this – early morning here and the first news opened came up with the sad facts. Have seen all of the films you have mentioned and very much respected and enjoyed his work and talent. You used a beautiful photo at the end . . . I guess 95 is a fair span of living . . . but one always wishes for a little more . . . pace . . .
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By Eha Carr on February 16, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Duvall was amazing (very briefly) in Slingblade.
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By Anonymous on February 16, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Great point – thanks for mentioning that!
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By johnrieber on February 18, 2026 at 6:25 am