Legendary actor Robert Duvall of ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’ dies at 95

Legendary actor Robert Duvall, who was nominated for seven Academy Awards, died on Sunday, his wife announced on social media. He was 95.

“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” Luciana Duvall wrote in a social media post on Monday. The post said he died “peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.”

Duvall was perhaps best known for his roles in “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now,” which earned him best supporting actor Oscar nominations.

But the only time he took home an Academy Award was in 1984 for best actor in “Tender Mercies.”

“Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind,” his wife said while announcing his death.

Duvall was born in San Diego on Jan. 5, 1931.

Most of his early acting credits were in 1960s television series. His movie career took off in the 1970s, including a notable performance as Maj. Frank Burns in “M*A*S*H” in 1970.

His first Oscar nomination came for his role as Tom Hagen, the trusted adviser to mafia boss Don Vito Corleone in 1972’s “The Godfather.” He reprised the role in “The Godfather Part II.”

His second nod came for 1979’s “Apocalypse Now.” He made huge impression in the relatively small role of Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore with an intense performance that included the iconic line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”

“Apocalypse Now” director Francis Ford Coppola once commented about Duvall: “Actors click into character at different times — the first week, third week. Bobby’s hot after one or two takes.”

Robert Duvall’s only Oscar was for lead role in small film

Duvall’s Oscar breakthrough came in the small 1983 film “Tender Mercies.” Duvall showed off his range as Mac Sledge, a singer-songwriter seeking redemption after alcoholism derailed his career and personal life, to earn his only gold statuette.

He also won a slew of other awards during his 60-plus-year career, including two Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes. In 2005, Duvall was awarded a National Medal of Arts.

Between his high-paying jobs in major productions, Duvall devoted himself to directing personal projects, including a documentary about a prairie family, “We’re Not the Jet Set”; a film about gypsies, “Angelo, My Love”; and “Assassination Tango,” in which he also starred.

Duvall had been a tango dancer since seeing the musical “Tango Argentina” in the 1980s and visited Argentina dozens of times to study the dance and the culture. The result was the 2003 release about a hit man with a passion for tango.

His co-star was Luciana Pedraza, 42 years his junior, whom he married in 2005. Duvall’s three previous marriages — to Barbara Benjamin, Gail Youngs and Sharon Brophy — ended in divorce.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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