Remembering Robert Duvall: Celebrated Actor’s Legacy Shines in Iconic and Lesser-Known Films Alike

Celebrated actor Robert Duvall, known for his remarkable contributions to cinema, passed away at the age of 95 at his Virginia ranch. Born in California, Duvall’s life was as rich and vibrant as the characters he portrayed. He leaves behind his wife, whom he met in the 1990s during the creation of a film centered on his beloved passion, the tango. This dance, filled with both discipline and sensuality, mirrors the dedication and grounded intensity Duvall brought to his roles.

As tributes pour in, they recall his most iconic roles, each showcasing his ability to embody complex characters. Duvall played a range of memorable figures, from the fanatically devout Frank Burns in M*A*S*H (1968) to the ruthless TV exec Hackett in Network (1976), and the exuberant Colonel Kilgore in 1979’s Apocalypse Now. While many remember his famous line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” it’s his poignant “Someday his war’s gonna end” that resonates deeper for some. He also masterfully portrayed Tom Hagen, the cunning lawyer of the Corleone family in the first two Godfather films. Duvall’s career began with his touching performance as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, avoiding typecasting to explore diverse roles. His lead performances were equally powerful, earning him a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of a recovering alcoholic singer in the 1983 film Tender Mercies. His work in the miniseries Lonesome Dove and his magnum opus, 1997’s The Apostle—which he also wrote and directed—further cemented his legacy.

In this homage, we delve into five lesser-known films that highlight Duvall’s exceptional talent, compassion, and generosity towards fellow actors. These films, though not extensively covered in mainstream obituaries, are a testament to his artistry.

1. The Rain People (1969) is a standout film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, following his early work with Roger Corman. This gripping story follows a pregnant housewife (Shirley Knight) who embarks on a road trip with a troubled ex-college football player, played by James Caan, a future Godfather co-star and Duvall’s former roommate. The film is thick with tension, resembling a crime thriller. Duvall’s role as a highway patrol officer who stops Knight’s character is notable for its depth. His chilling line, “Take the license out of your wallet, miss,” and his unsettling invitation to his trailer where he dismisses his daughter, reveals layers of his character’s loneliness and volatility. His portrayal of a man haunted by past trauma is both terrifying and captivating.

   Where to watch The Rain People

   WHere to watch the outfit

3. Robert Duvall as Sherlock Holmes’ Doctor Watson? Don’t mind if I do. The 1976 The Seven Percent Solution is not Conan Doyle canon — it’s adapted from a delightful pastiche/tribute by Nicholas Meyer, in which the world’s first consulting detective is behaving so erratically it’s determined he needs a brain doctor. “Holmes must be weaned of his cocaine addiction,” he pronounces. “And there is only one man in Europe in a position to help us.”  THE brain doctor of the day — Sigmund Freud himself. Freud is played as a bit of an amiable zany by Alan Arkin, Holmes by an incredibly manic Nicol Williamson, Moriarty by a befuddled Laurence Olivier. (The character is here a mathematician who’d disturbed by Holmes’ obsession with him) Heavy hitters all, but Duvall has perhaps the most demanding role. While the rest of the cast seem to have tacit permission to act as if they know they’re in a sendup of some sort, the movie’s overall credibility depends on at least one true believer. And so Duvall pitches the always slightly obtuse Watson straighter than straight. His British accent is entirely credible, thick and a touch nasal, and he speaks slowly, deliberately (reflecting his character’s occasional obtuseness) and with a slight lisp. He anchors the movie beautifully. 

   Where to watch the seven per cent solution

4. In James Gray’s 2007 We Own The Night the crucial plot points are out of a 1930s Warner gangster melodrama — two brothers on opposite sides of the law. Mark Wahlberg’s the cop and Joaquin Phoenix is his insolently dissolute nightclub-owner sibling. And Duvall is both the patriarch and NYPD Deputy Chief who only has to squint to signal his disappointment and disapproval of his prodigal son. Yet he treats Phoenix’s character with a tenderness he knows Wahlberg’s character doesn’t need. Check out the way he whispers, “Move over, move over,” as he sits next to Phoenix in a church pew. When Phoenix considers turning informer, Duvall balks at giving him a particular assignment: “It’s too dangerous for him, he’s my son.” The character is as tough as nails, but as he tries to bring his two sons together, he registers a profound sense of tiredness. And some doubt as to whether his efforts in both the professional and personal realms are worth it. Which makes his character’s ultimate tragedy all the more jarring. 

   WHere to watch we own the night

5. Duvall is on screen for mere minutes in 2009’s Crazy Heart, directed by Scott Cooper, whose 2025 Springsteen portrait Deliver Me From Nowhere stirred up mild controversy (hey, it got this Jersey boy back into Nebraska, what can I tell you?). Cooper’s a genuine appreciator of music and musicians, there’s no doubt of that. Heart tells the story of Bad Blake, a country singer who’s hunched over a toilet puking almost more often than he’s slurring into a microphone. He’s a bad drunk who can’t get it together. In this respect, the movie is a kind of bookend to Tender Mercies. Late in the movie Bridges saunters into a bar owned by Duvall’s Woody, an old pal. Woody likes playing the character — he indulges in some good natured bigotry by pretending to forget the name of his cleanup guy. “Juan, Jesus, whatever.” He takes one look at the shape Blake’s in and says “Lord, not again.” While he doesn’t get Blake to an AA meeting, he does take him fishing, which provides a moment of respite for Bridges. While they’re on the water, Duvall applies his still-sweet tenor voice to a Billy Joe Shaver song. It’s just a moment, but it’s one that can take your breath away. One of Duvall’s specialties, as it happens. 

   Where to watch tender mercies

Veteran critic Glenn Kenny reviews‎ new releases at RogerEbert.com, the New York Times, and, as befits someone of his advanced age, the AARP magazine. He blogs, very occasionally, at Some Came Running and tweets, mostly in jest, at @glenn__kenny. He is the author of the The World Is Yours: The Story of Scarface, published by Hanover Square Press, and now available for at a bookstore near you.