Robert Duvall

Birthday: 5 January 1931, San Diego, California, USA

Birth Name: Robert Selden Duvall

Height: 177 cm

Veteran actor and director Robert Selden Duvall was born on January 5, 1931, in San Diego, CA, to Mildred Virginia (Hart), an amateur actress, and William Howard Duvall, a career military officer who later became an admiral. Duvall majored in drama at Principia College (Elsah, IL), then served a two-year hitch in the army after graduating in 1953. He began attending The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre In New York City on the G.I. Bill in 1955, studying under Sanford Meisner along with Dustin Hoffman, with whom Duvall shared an apartment. Both were close to another struggling young actor named Gene Hackman. Meisner cast Duvall in the play "The Midnight Caller" by Horton Foote, a link that would prove critical to his career, as it was Foote who recommended Duvall to play the mentally disabled "Boo Radley" in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). This was his first "major" role since his 1956 motion picture debut as an MP was in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), starring Paul Newman.Duvall began making a name for himself as a stage actor in New York, winning an Obie Award in 1965 playing incest-minded longshoreman "Eddie Carbone" in the off-Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge", a production for which his old roommate Hoffman was assistant director. He found steady work in episodic TV and appeared as a modestly billed character actor in films, such as Arthur Penn's The Chase (1966) with Marlon Brando and in Robert Altman's Countdown (1967) and Francis Ford Coppola's The Rain People (1969), in both of which he co-starred with James Caan.He was also memorable as the heavy who is shot by John Wayne at the climax of True Grit (1969) and was the first "Maj. Frank Burns", creating the character in Altman's Korean War comedy MASH (1970). He also appeared as the eponymous lead in George Lucas' directorial debut, THX 1138 (1971). It was Francis Ford Coppola, casting The Godfather (1972), who reunited Duvall with Brando and Caan and provided him with his career breakthrough as mob lawyer "Tom Hagen". He received the first of his six Academy Award nominations for the role.Thereafter, Duvall had steady work in featured roles in such films as The Godfather: Part II (1974), The Killer Elite (1975), Network (1976), The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976) and The Eagle Has Landed (1976). Occasionally this actor's actor got the chance to assay a lead role, most notably in Tomorrow (1972), in which he was brilliant as William Faulkner's inarticulate backwoods farmer. He was less impressive as the lead in Badge 373 (1973), in which he played a character based on real-life NYPD detective Eddie Egan, the same man his old friend Gene Hackman had won an Oscar for playing, in fictionalized form as "Popeye Doyle" in The French Connection (1971).It was his appearance as "Lt. Col. Kilgore" in another Coppola picture, Apocalypse Now (1979), that solidified Duvall's reputation as a great actor. He got his second Academy Award nomination for the role, and was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most versatile actor in the world. Duvall created one of the most memorable characters ever assayed on film, and gave the world the memorable phrase, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning!".Subsequently, Duvall proved one of the few established character actors to move from supporting to leading roles, with his Oscar-nominated turns in The Great Santini (1979) and Tender Mercies (1983), the latter of which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Now at the summit of his career, Duvall seemed to be afflicted with the fabled "Oscar curse" that had overwhelmed the careers of fellow Academy Award winners Luise Rainer, Rod Steiger and Cliff Robertson. He could not find work equal to his talents, either due to his post-Oscar salary demands or a lack of perception in the industry that he truly was leading man material. He did not appear in The Godfather: Part III (1990), as the studio would not give in to his demands for a salary commensurate with that of Al Pacino, who was receiving $5 million to reprise Michael Corleone.His greatest achievement in his immediate post-Oscar period was his triumphant characterization of grizzled Texas Ranger Gus McCrae in the TV mini-series Lonesome Dove (1989), for which he received an Emmy nomination. He received a second Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in Stalin (1992), and a third Emmy nomination playing Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in The Man Who Captured Eichmann (1996).The shakeout of his career doldrums was that Duvall eventually settled back into his status as one of the premier character actors in the industry, rivaled only by his old friend Gene Hackman. Duvall, unlike Hackman, also has directed pictures, including the documentary We're Not the Jet Set (1977), Angelo My Love (1983) and Assassination Tango (2002). As a writer-director, Duvall gave himself one of his most memorable roles, that of the preacher on the run from the law in The Apostle (1997), a brilliant performance for which he received his third Best Actor nomination and fifth Oscar nomination overall. The film brought Duvall back to the front ranks of great actors, and was followed by a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for A Civil Action (1998).Robert Duvall will long be remembered as one of the great naturalistic American screen actors in the mode of Spencer Tracy and his frequent co-star Marlon Brando. His performances as "Boo Radley" in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), "Jackson Fentry" in Tomorrow (1972), "Tom Hagen" in the first two "Godfather" movies, "Frank Hackett" in Network (1976), "Lt. Col. Kilgore" in Apocalypse Now (1979), "Bull Meechum" in The Great Santini (1979), "Mac Sledge" in Tender Mercies (1983), "Gus McCrae" in Lonesome Dove (1989) and "Sonny Dewey" in The Apostle (1997) rank as some of the finest acting ever put on film. It's a body of work that few actors can equal, let alone surpass. Hide

[on Governor Sarah Palin] About a year ago, I first saw this wonderful woman speak. I didn't know wh Show more [on Governor Sarah Palin] About a year ago, I first saw this wonderful woman speak. I didn't know who it was. And I said who is this woman? And a year later, I said to myself about three or four weeks ago, why isn't she up for the vice presidency? Hide

A friend is someone who many years ago offered you his last $300 when you broke your pelvis. A frien Show more A friend is someone who many years ago offered you his last $300 when you broke your pelvis. A friend is Gene Hackman. Hide

[1983 comment on Francis Ford Coppola] Coppola's talented. I'm pissed that he cut a scene that would Show more [1983 comment on Francis Ford Coppola] Coppola's talented. I'm pissed that he cut a scene that would have given the audience an insight into my character in Apocalypse Now (1979), but he's talented. Hide

[on other actor/co-stars] Brando was more of a respected actor than Wayne although Wayne wasn't as b Show more [on other actor/co-stars] Brando was more of a respected actor than Wayne although Wayne wasn't as bad as some supposedly serious actors I've seen who trained at the Actors Studio and all that. The thing with Brando is that he reads his lines. He has for 14 years, He's a real method. Wayne was interesting to be around. He was pleasant and outgoing. I once took a part with Muhammed Ali because - not that he was a good actor - I wanted to be in his movie. I like to be around people who are famous to see what makes them tick. I worked with Olivier twice, and that was interesting. I wanted to work with De Niro again, so I did True Confessions (1981). Hide

Because my parents were so religious, I attended church regularly. I've always been a believer. Because my parents were so religious, I attended church regularly. I've always been a believer.

[on the reason he did not appear in The Godfather: Part III (1990)] If they paid Pacino twice what t Show more [on the reason he did not appear in The Godfather: Part III (1990)] If they paid Pacino twice what they paid me, that's fine, but not three or four times, which is what they did. (Francis Ford Coppola) came to my farm, parked his car... went in the kitchen. (I) said: "I know you always wanted the crab cake recipe, let me cook it for you." Oh, he loves to eat, so I cooked the crab cake... and he wrote it down... and he forgot it, so he called twice. He was... more concerned that he forgot the crab cake recipe than would I be in Godfather III. [January 8, 2004] Hide

I feel like our country is just a big giant kid with tremendous talent - like an athlete. A big gian Show more I feel like our country is just a big giant kid with tremendous talent - like an athlete. A big giant kid that's made mistakes, but there's a lot of potential. Hide

I got into acting because I wanted to act, not to become a star. The word 'star' is so strange, espe Show more I got into acting because I wanted to act, not to become a star. The word 'star' is so strange, especially in this country, I think, I don't know. It has something to do with a whole scene. Like with The Great Santini (1979), when I shook the producer's hand for the first time - before I could even sit down in the chair - he said, "They're talking about Oscars." We hadn't even started rehearsals yet. I mean, the whole industry is so geared to that - Oscars, the star system. Hide

I always considered myself as a character actor. I always try to be versatile to show different side Show more I always considered myself as a character actor. I always try to be versatile to show different sides of human experience. Hide

[on Lonesome Dove (1989)] I think I nailed a very specific individual guy who represents something i Show more [on Lonesome Dove (1989)] I think I nailed a very specific individual guy who represents something important in our history of the western movement. After that, I felt I could retire, that'd I'd done something. Hide

Well, our hero, coming up, was Brando. He kinda squandered it. But he was so revolutionary in so man Show more Well, our hero, coming up, was Brando. He kinda squandered it. But he was so revolutionary in so many ways. Hide

I think studying professionally helped although I had already done summer theater and had a lot of e Show more I think studying professionally helped although I had already done summer theater and had a lot of experience. I got right into acting and then studied. The best thing about the Playhouse was that I really learned to improvise, to change things, in films. Not in an indulgent way, but in a beneficial way. So from that point of view, Sndy was good for me. I might have learned it eventually - you learn from other actors, directors. The problem is so many people study but they don't get any better. It's up to the individual. And I don't think a teacher can manufacture talent. i guy can study all his life on a violin ad never play it well. Hide

One guy asked me, "How can you be an actor and be a Republican?". I can vote either way. But how can Show more One guy asked me, "How can you be an actor and be a Republican?". I can vote either way. But how can you boil it down to political affiliation? All the atrocities against blacks in the South were committed by Democratic sheriffs. Hide

Sometimes, when you look back on it, the $10-million-and-under movies are some of your favorites. Sometimes, when you look back on it, the $10-million-and-under movies are some of your favorites.

Getting together with friends and holding court over a meal is one of the great things in life. Getting together with friends and holding court over a meal is one of the great things in life.

[on Bueno Aires] There's a place called La Biela, it's my favorite corner in the world. It's a coffe Show more [on Bueno Aires] There's a place called La Biela, it's my favorite corner in the world. It's a coffee shop near the Recoleta where Evita's buried. You can go there and sit in the evening, at three in the morning there are hundreds of people in the streets. And you can get up at eight and go back and have your espresso. Going to Argentina, going to Buenos Aires, I like it more there than anyplace else. Hide

I'm not perceived as a traditional leading man, but I never aimed at that sort of thing either. I ne Show more I'm not perceived as a traditional leading man, but I never aimed at that sort of thing either. I never straightened my front teeth, or whatever. I wan't cut out for that. Even if I did a 'big' movie, I'd still want to make it a real character. Hide

When I knew nothing, I thought I could do anything. When I knew nothing, I thought I could do anything.

[on James Dean] I don't think he was that great. He was good, but there was Brando, and there was fo Show more [on James Dean] I don't think he was that great. He was good, but there was Brando, and there was founding member Steven Hill in the Actors Studio, those were the two guys. James Dean came in third. Dean was talented, obviously. But he died at a good time. Hide

[on Hollywood political activists] They should keep their mouths shut. [on Hollywood political activists] They should keep their mouths shut.

Everybody likes to win. One of the biggest disappointments was when I didn't get an Emmy for Lonesom Show more Everybody likes to win. One of the biggest disappointments was when I didn't get an Emmy for Lonesome Dove. It's political. It can be a popularity contest. Hide

Being a star is an agent's dream, not an actor's. Being a star is an agent's dream, not an actor's.

You never know how reality is going to coincide with your dreams. You're optimistic, and you go from Show more You never know how reality is going to coincide with your dreams. You're optimistic, and you go from there. Hide

[on Jeff Bridges] There's the Actors Studio in New York, everybody sitting around talking about Stan Show more [on Jeff Bridges] There's the Actors Studio in New York, everybody sitting around talking about Stanislavski, but that's not Jeff. This is a guy off the beaches of L.A. He learned from his father (Lloyd Bridges), that was his mentor, and he always seems so loose and relaxed -- but he's always prepared, and he brings so many surprises, like good actors do. Hide

The way Hollywood speaks out is absolutely beyond me. Some people are so ill-informed. I mean, why b Show more The way Hollywood speaks out is absolutely beyond me. Some people are so ill-informed. I mean, why be so outspoken about it anyway? Does it help Sean Penn's career to go over to Iraq? Did it help Jane Fonda to go over to Vietnam years ago? I don't know. But sometimes when these guys speak out... I get embarrassed. Hide

Marlon Brando had an innate shrewdness, finding ways to do things better than everyone else. One of Show more Marlon Brando had an innate shrewdness, finding ways to do things better than everyone else. One of the great tragedies is that Brando never developed his tremendous potential. He really was the godfather to young actors coming up in the seventies and even today. He was the guy, really, more than [Laurence Olivier], or anybody. Hide

Making the first Godfather was more laughs than making Godfather II. That's because Jimmy Caan was i Show more Making the first Godfather was more laughs than making Godfather II. That's because Jimmy Caan was in the first Godfather. Hide

Virginia is the last station before heaven. Virginia is the last station before heaven.

Method acting is a way of working internally as a substitute if something isn't happening for you; i Show more Method acting is a way of working internally as a substitute if something isn't happening for you; if you don't need it, it's like walking on a good leg instead of using a crutch or cane. Hide

A young actor once asked me, What do you do between jobs? I said, Hobbies, hobbies, and more hobbies Show more A young actor once asked me, What do you do between jobs? I said, Hobbies, hobbies, and more hobbies. It keeps you off dope. Hide

Robert Duvall's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (194) as Director (1) as Creator (1)

Wild Horses