Robert Duvall, Oscar-winning actor and ‘Godfather’ mainstay, dead at 95

Robert Duvall, renowned for his performances in classic films like "The Godfather," "The Godfather Part II," "M*A*S*H," "Apocalypse Now," and "Tender Mercies," for which he won an Academy Award, has passed away, as announced by his wife on social media Monday. He was 95.

"To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything," she expressed. "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."

As one of the finest actors of his generation, with a career spanning nearly seven decades, Duvall was lauded for his nuanced performances, fully embodying characters facing moral dilemmas or ethical challenges.

His most notable roles included Tom Hagen, the Corleone family's consigliere, in the first two "Godfather" films; Mac Sledge, a country singer seeking redemption, in "Tender Mercies"; and his debut film role as Boo Radley, a reclusive man who befriends young Scout, in the 1962 adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird."

However, Duvall also excelled in larger-than-life performances, such as his portrayal of Lt. Col. Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now," leading a helicopter assault on a Vietnamese village to create a safe zone for surfing; Bull Meechum, the domineering Marine pilot and father in "The Great Santini"; and Frank Hackett, a corporate TV executive who dominates a news division in "Network."

Working with directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, Sidney Lumet, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman, and Dennis Hopper, Duvall was one of the most prominent and reliable actors in the 1970s and '80s. He brought depth and a touch of subversion to films like "True Confessions," "The Stone Boy," "Rambling Rose," "The Natural," "Colors," "The Handmaid's Tale," and "A Civil Action."

As he transitioned into mentor roles — such as the pit crew chief for race car driver Tom Cruise in "Days of Thunder"; a hostage negotiator opposite Denzel Washington in "John Q."; Michael Keaton's editor-in-chief in "The Paper"; and an astronaut leading his team to save the planet in "Deep Impact" — Duvall maintained a commitment to grounding a story in reality. In total, he received seven Oscar nominations.