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Robert Duvall

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Robert Duvall
Duvall at the Tribeca Film Festival, May 2007
Born
Robert Selden Duvall
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1959-present
Spouse(s)Barbara Benjamin (1964-1975)
Gail Youngs (1982-1986)
Sharon Brophy (1991-1996)
Luciana Pedraza (2004-present)

Robert Selden Duvall (born January 5, 1931) is an Academy Award-, two-time Emmy Award-, and four-time Golden Globe Award-winning American film actor and director. He is best known for his roles in To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Apocalypse Now, Network, THX 1138, MASH, The Great Santini, Tender Mercies, Lonesome Dove, and The Apostle[citation needed].

Biography

Early life

Duvall was born in San Diego, California, the son of Mildred Virginia (née Hart), an amateur actress and relative of American Civil War General Robert E. Lee, and William Howard Duvall, a Virginia-born U.S. Navy admiral.[1][2] Duvall's father was a Methodist and his mother was a Christian Scientist, and Duvall was raised in the Christian Science religion.[3] Duvall grew up in a military family, living for a time in Annapolis, Maryland near the United States Naval Academy. He attended Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland and The Principia in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated, in 1953, Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. He served in the United States Army (service number 52 346 646) from 19 August 1953 to 20 August 1954, leaving as Private First Class. While stationed at Camp Gordon in Georgia, Duvall acted in an amateur production of the comedy "Room Service" in nearby Augusta.

After leaving the Army, Duvall studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York under Sanford Meisner. While working to become an actor, he worked as a Manhattan post office clerk. Duvall is friends with actors Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman whom he knew during their years as struggling actors.[4] At one point, Duvall roomed with Hoffman while they were looking for work.

Career

Duvall's screen debut was as Boo Radley in the critically acclaimed To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Duvall later played the notorious malefactor Ned Pepper in True Grit (1969), and Major Frank Burns in the film version of MASH (1970), but his breakout role was that of Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in A Civil Action and for his role as Lt. Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now (1979). He also received a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in The Great Santini as Lt. Col. "Bull" Meechum who was loosely based on world famous Marine Aviator, Colonel Donald Conroy. He won Oscar's Best Actor in Tender Mercies (1983). His line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" from Apocalypse Now is now regarded as iconic in cinema history. The full text is as follows:

You smell that? Do you smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for twelve hours. When it was all over I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like... victory.

(Pause)

Some day this war is going to end...

President George W. Bush stands with recipients of the 2005 National Medal of Arts on November 9, 2005, in the Oval Office. Among those recognized for their outstanding contributions to the arts were, from left: Leonard Garment, Louis Auchincloss, Paquito D'Rivera, James De Preist, Tina Ramirez, Robert Duvall, and Ollie Johnston.

He directed the critically acclaimed The Apostle, about a preacher on the run from the law, and Assassination Tango (2002), a thriller about one of his favorite hobbies, tango. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 18, 2003.[citation needed]

Duvall portrayed General Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals in 2003 and is actually a relative of the Confederate general. He has stated in several forums, including CBS Sunday Morning, that his favorite role was that of Augustus "Gus" McCrae in Lonesome Dove.

In 2005, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush at the White House.[5]

Personal life

Duvall is close friends with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman, both of whom he has known since their struggling actor days. He has been married four times, the first to Barbara Benjamin, from 1964 until 1975. He then married Gail Youngs (1982–1986) and Sharon Brophy (1991–1996).

In 2005, Duvall married Luciana Pedraza, granddaughter of famous Argentinian aviator Susana Ferrari Billinghurst. He met Pedraza on a street in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They were both born on January 5, but Duvall is 41 years older. They have been together since 1997. Duvall and Luciana have been active supporters of Pro Mujer, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Latin America's poorest women help themselves through micro-credit, business training and health care linkages.

Duvall speaks fluent Spanish and maintains a farm in The Plains in Fauquier County, Virginia. He has the same birthday as Godfather co-star Diane Keaton who was born in 1946. His favorite city is Buenos Aires. He is an avid Tango dancer and soccer fan.[citation needed] Duvall faxed a message of support to Dumfries club Queen of the South ahead of the team playing in the 2008 Scottish Cup Final.[6] Duvall became acquainted with the club in filming scenes in 1999 for 'A Shot at Glory'.

Duvall's political views are variously described as libertarian or conservative.[4] He was personally invited to Republican President George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001. On September 5, 2007, Duvall announced his support for Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.[7]

Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes
1962 To Kill a Mockingbird Arthur 'Boo' Radley
1963 The Twilight Zone Charley Parkes Episode #110, "Miniature"
Captain Newman, M.D. Capt. Paul Cabot Winston
1964 The Outer Limits Adam Ballard Episodes #42, 43, "The Inheritors"
1964 The Outer Limits Louis Mace Episode #31, "The Chameleon"
1965 Nightmare in the Sun Motorcyclist
1966 T.H.E.Cat Laurent 2 episodes, 1966-1967 TV series
The Chase Edwin Stewart
1968 The Detective Nestor
Countdown Chiz
Bullitt Weissberg
1969 True Grit Ned Pepper
The Rain People Gordon
1970 M*A*S*H Frank Burns
The Revolutionary Despard
1971 THX 1138 THX 1138
Lawman Vernon Adams
1972 The Godfather Tom Hagen Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; Nominated - BAFTA Award
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid Jesse James
Tomorrow Jackson Fentry
Joe Kidd Frank Harlan
1973 The Outfit Earl Macklin
Badge 373 Eddie Ryan
Lady Ice Ford Pierce
1974 The Conversation The Director uncredited
The Godfather: Part II Tom Hagen
1975 Network Frank Hackett
Breakout Jay Wagner
1976 The Eagle Has Landed Oberst Max Radl
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution Dr. Watson
Network Frank Hackett Nominated - BAFTA Award
1977 The Greatest Bill McDonald
1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers Priest on swing uncredited
The Betsy Loren Hardeman III
1979 Apocalypse Now Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore BAFTA Award; Golden Globe Award; Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
The Great Santini Bull Meechum Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor
Ike Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower TV mini-series
1981 True Confessions Thomas Spellacy
1983 Tender Mercies Max Sledge Academy Award for Best Actor; Golden Globe Award
1984 The Natural Max Mercy
1986 The Lightship Calvin Caspary
1988 Colors Officer Bob Hodges
1989 Lonesome Dove Augustus "Gus" McCrae Golden Globe Award; Nominated - Emmy Award, stated this was his favorite role
1990 A Show of Force Howard
Days of Thunder Harry Hogge
The Handmaid's Tale The Commander
1991 Rambling Rose Daddy Hilyer
Convicts Soll
1992 Stalin Josef Stalin Golden Globe Award; Nominated - Emmy Award
Newsies Joseph Pulitzer
1993 Falling Down Prendergast
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway Walter
Geronimo: An American Legend Al Sieber
1994 The Paper Bernie White
1995 Something to Talk About Wyly King
The Stars Fell on Henrietta Mr. Cox
The Scarlet Letter Roger Chillingworth
1996 Sling Blade Karl's father
The Man Who Captured Eichmann Adolf Eichmann Nominated - Emmy Award
A Family Thing Earl Pilcher Jr.
Phenomenon Doc Brunder
1997 The Apostle Euliss 'Sonny' Dewey - The Apostle E.F. Writer/Director Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor
1998 The Gingerbread Man Dixon Doss
A Civil Action Jerome Facher Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; Nominated - Golden Globe Award
Deep Impact Capt. Spurgeon 'Fish' Tanner
2000 Gone in 60 Seconds Otto Halliwell
The 6th Day Dr. Griffin Weir
A Shot at Glory Gordon McLeod
2002 John Q Lt. Frank Grimes
Assassination Tango John J. Anderson Writer/Director
2003 Gods and Generals Gen. Robert E. Lee
Secondhand Lions Hub
Open Range Boss Spearman
2005 Kicking & Screaming Buck Weston
Thank You for Smoking Doak "The Captain" Boykin
2006 Broken Trail Prentice "Print" Ritter Emmy Award; Nominated - Golden Globe Award
2007 Lucky You Mr. Cheever
We Own the Night Albert Grusinsky
2008 Four Christmases Howard post-production
The Road Old Man post-production

References

  1. ^ Roberts, Gary Boyd. "A Third Set of Ten Hollywood Figures (or Groups Thereof), with a Coda on Two Directors". New England Historic Genealogical Society. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  2. ^ "The Novak Zone: Interview With Robert Duvall". Saturday Morning News. 2003-02-15. CNN. {{cite episode}}: External link in |transcripturl= (help); Unknown parameter |transcripturl= ignored (|transcript-url= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ The Religious Affiliation of Robert Duvall. Adherents.com.
  4. ^ a b Charlie Rose (8 September 2004). "Robert Duvall Does The Tango". CBS News. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/images/20051110-2_d-0221-1-515h.html
  6. ^ http://icdumfries.icnetwork.co.uk/dumfriesgalloway/sport/tm_headline=a-supporting-role-from-hollywood%26method=full%26objectid=20961769%26siteid=77296-name_page.html#story_continue
  7. ^ "Academy Award-Winning Actor Robert Duvall Supports Rudy Giuliani". joinrudy2008.com. September 5, 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

1977-The Eagle has Landed

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Duvall.
Template:S-awards
Preceded by BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor
1980
for Apocalypse Now 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
1980
for Apocalypse Now 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
1983
for Tender Mercies 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or TV Film
1990
for Lonesome Dove 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or TV Film
1993
for Stalin 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor
1998
for A Civil Action 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

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