Robert Duvall at 95: Remembering One of My Favorite Actors

Robert Duvall is one of the most quietly commanding actors in American film history. With a career spanning more than six decades, he has moved seamlessly between crime epics, intimate dramas, sweeping Westerns, and character-driven indies.

Duvall passed away at the age of 95 on February 16th, 2026. He was one of my favorite actors. 

I’m not a movie critic, but I love a good movie. What I like is typically not what wins awards. 

Take, for instance, Days of Thunder, which ranked #8 on my all-time favorite sports movies list. I watched it tonight when I learned of Duvall’s passing. His portrayal of Harry Hogge, the seasoned crew chief who mentors Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise), is my favorite of all the roles he played.

What follows are the Duvall movies for which he was nominated or won an Academy Award. 

The Godfather (1972)

Academy Award Nomination: Best Supporting Actor

Francis Ford Coppola’s landmark crime saga follows the rise of Michael Corleone within his powerful mafia family. Robert Duvall’s Tom Hagen is the calm, strategic consigliere whose loyalty and intellect steady the Corleones amid chaos. His understated performance earned him his first Oscar nomination and helped anchor a film that won Best Picture and reshaped American cinema.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Academy Award Nomination: Best Supporting Actor

This Vietnam War epic descends into psychological and moral darkness as Captain Willard journeys upriver to confront Colonel Kurtz. Duvall’s Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore is unforgettable—bold, fearless, and absurdly confident, delivering one of the most quoted lines in movie history about “the smell of napalm.” His scene-stealing turn earned him another Oscar nomination and remains one of the film’s defining performances.

The Great Santini (1979)

Academy Award Nomination: Best Actor

In this intense family drama, Duvall plays Bull Meechum, a domineering Marine pilot whose rigid discipline fractures his family life. He portrays a man torn between pride and vulnerability, capturing the complexity of authority and insecurity. His powerful leading performance earned him a Best Actor nomination and solidified his reputation as one of the era’s finest dramatic actors.

Tender Mercies (1983)

Academy Award Win: Best Actor

A quiet story of redemption, the film follows Mac Sledge, a washed-up country singer seeking sobriety and second chances. Duvall delivers a restrained, deeply human performance marked by humility and emotional honesty. His portrayal earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, the only Oscar win of his career. The film is celebrated for its simplicity and emotional depth.

The Apostle (1997)

Academy Award Nomination: Best Actor

Written and directed by Duvall, this drama centers on Sonny Dewey, a charismatic but flawed preacher rebuilding his life after a scandal. Duvall brings spiritual intensity and raw humanity to the role, portraying both conviction and moral weakness. His layered performance earned him another Best Actor nomination and is often cited as one of his most personal projects.

The Judge (2014)

Academy Award Nomination: Best Supporting Actor

This courtroom drama explores the strained relationship between a high-powered lawyer and his father, a respected judge accused of murder. Duvall plays Judge Joseph Palmer with sharpness, dignity, and quiet vulnerability as he confronts aging and illness. His performance earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination more than four decades after his first Oscar nod, highlighting his remarkable longevity.

Every Robert Duvall Movie

Below is a chronological list of Robert Duvall’s feature films (theatrical releases), from earliest to most recent. This excludes television films, miniseries, and documentaries.

1962 — To Kill a Mockingbird

1963 — Captain Newman, M.D.

1966 — The Chase

1968 — Countdown

1969 — True Grit

1969 — The Rain People

1971 — Lawman

1971 — THX 1138

1972 — The Godfather

1972 — Tomorrow

1974 — The Godfather Part II

1976 — Network

1976 — The Eagle Has Landed

1977 — The Greatest

1978 — The Betsy

1979 — Apocalypse Now

1979 — The Great Santini

1981 — The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper

1981 — True Confessions

1983 — Tender Mercies

1984 — The Natural

1985 — The Lightship

1988 — Colors

1989 — In Country

1989 — Breaking In

1990 — Days of Thunder

1991 — Rambling Rose

1992 — Newsies

1993 — Falling Down

1993 — Geronimo: An American Legend

1994 — Wrestling Ernest Hemingway

1996 — Phenomenon

1997 — The Apostle

1998 — Deep Impact

1998 — A Civil Action

2000 — Gone in 60 Seconds

2002 — Assassination Tango

2003 — Gods and Generals

2003 — Open Range

2004 — Secondhand Lions

2005 — Thank You for Smoking

2006 — Lucky You

2007 — We Own the Night

2009 — Get Low

2011 — Seven Days in Utopia

2012 — Jayne Mansfield's Car

2012 — Jack Reacher

2014 — The Judge

2015 — Wild Horses

2018 — Widows

2022 — Hustle