Robert Duvall, the Academy Award-winning actor known for his nuanced portrayals in films like “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II,” died on Monday at the age of 95, his wife Luciana Duvall announced. The news prompted an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood colleagues, including Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, who reflected on their experiences working with the veteran actor.
Al Pacino, who starred alongside Duvall in both “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II,” described him as a “born actor.” “It was an honor to have worked with Robert Duvall,” Pacino said in a statement to the Press Association. “His connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered. I will miss him.”
In Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather,” Duvall portrayed Tom Hagen, the Corleone family’s consigliere and adopted brother. While his character was often positioned as a key advisor, a pivotal moment in the film sees Pacino’s Michael Corleone assertively define Hagen’s role, stating, “You are not a wartime consigliere, Tom.”
Robert De Niro, who played a young Vito Corleone in “The Godfather Part II” but did not share any scenes with Duvall, also offered his condolences. “God bless Bobby,” De Niro wrote. “I hope I can live till I’m 95. May he rest in peace.” The two actors later collaborated on the 1981 film “Fesseln der Macht” (The Score).
Duvall’s wife, Luciana, shared a statement on Facebook, describing him as “everything” to her. “To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” she wrote. She noted his passion for his craft, characters, and enjoying a good meal.
Viola Davis also shared her admiration for Duvall, recalling her experience working with him on the 2018 thriller “Widows.” “It was an honor to appear alongside Robert Duvall in ‘Widows’,” Davis wrote on Instagram Threads. “I was in awe…I’ve always been in awe of your towering portrayals of men who were both quiet and dominating in their humanness.”
Duvall’s death has resonated throughout Hollywood, with many acknowledging his significant contributions to cinema over a career spanning six decades. He received an Academy Award for his performance in “Tender Mercies” (1983).