The late, great Robert Duvall was iconic in everything that he did.
This past weekend, the Academy Award-winning actor passed away at the age of 95. Duvall was known for the countless films and television shows he starred in during his career that got started in 1960. Some might know him from classic movies like The Godfather, Days of Thunder and Apocalypse Now. Others might remember him for his more comedic roles in Kicking and Screaming and Four Christmases.
He’s a name that will go down in the history books as one of the best actors of all time, and his wife, Luciana, shared this message earlier today letting the world know that Robert Duvall had passed on:
“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort. To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.
For each of his many roles, 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.”
Undoubtedly a long life that was well lived.
Duvall leaves behind quite the legacy, and part of that legacy is the role he played in the 1983 film Tender Mercies. In that movie, the Hollywood legend played a former country music star named Mac Sledge. The end of the movie proposes a “What life will he choose?” moment after an opportunity to get back into country music presents itself just as Duvall’s character becomes happy with a life outside of music.
Ironically, the film was considered to be a box office bomb as it racked up Oscar nominations. It’s also widely regarded as Duvall’s best ever performance, and much of that was a result of the intensive preparation that the actor put into the movie. Anytime you hear Robert Duvall sing in the movie… it’s actually him. He trained tirelessly and studied artists like Lefty Frizzell in order to familiarize himself with a southern sound.
And as this post below shares, he drove through the Lone Star State to get a better grip on the dialect of the region, and dropped in to play with bands. By the time he shot the movie, Duvall wasn’t just acting… he was pulling from prior experience. That’s evident as you watch the film, which truly stands out as some of the best work of his entire, impressive career:
“To prepare for his role in ‘Tender Mercies’ (1983), Robert Duvall drove over 600 miles throughout Texas to record regional accents and play in country music bands across the state. His performance earned him an Oscar for ‘Best Actor.'”
RIP Robert Duvall.
