American actor Robert Duvall, who won an Oscar for the film "Tender Mercy" and was nominated for roles in the films "The Godfather," "Apocalypse Now" and "The Great Santini," has died at the age of 96, Variety magazine reports.
News of Robert Duval's death was announced on Facebook, via a statement from his wife, Luciana Duval.
Variety writes that Duval's rough naturalism became a hallmark of the acting style of a generation that also included Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman, in films such as "The Network" and "Apostle," which Duval also directed.
The magazine states that while he may never have been as big a star as De Niro, Duval's unobtrusive ability to fully embrace the characters he portrayed earned him respect among both his peers and critics.
His first major film role, and one of his most memorable, was the terrifying Boo Radley in the 1962 film "To Kill a Mockingbird." Although Duvall's career took time to fully develop despite a strong start, by the early and mid-1970s he had found his full expression, combining a knack for impeccable character acting with occasional strong forays into larger, more prominent roles, writes Variety.
In 1969, he collaborated with young director Francis Ford Coppola on the intimate drama "Rain People," and the following year he landed the role of Frank Burns in Robert Altman's "Mesh." He also starred in George Lucas' experimental film "THX 1138," and Variety reports that he has done some interesting things on the stage.
But the film that turned everything around was 1972's "The Godfather," in which he played the patient and cunning consigliere Tom Hagan, a role that earned him his first Oscar nomination. He reprised the role in 1974's "The Godfather Part II." He also appeared in Coppola's "The Conversation," as well as playing Dr. Watson in Herbert Ross' "The Seven Percent Solution."
In 1976, he had a notable role as a ruthless television executive in the film "Network," and three years later, as Colonel Kilgore, he uttered the famous line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" in Coppola's film "Apocalypse Now," earning his second Oscar nomination.
In 1977, he and Ulu Grosbard teamed up to produce David Mamet's play "American Buffalo" on Broadway, to mixed critical reception. That same year, he made a rural documentary called "We Are Not Jet Set," and in the early 1980s, he directed the small but notable film "Angel, My Love."
However, it was not until the film "The Great Santini," in which he played the title role - a flamboyant, militaristic father - that he solidified his status as a leading actor in film, earning his first Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category in 1980. The following year, he received praise at the Venice Film Festival, starring opposite Robert De Niro in "True Confessions."
Then in 1984, his quiet, detailed performance in the film "Tender Mercy," written by Horton Foote and directed by Bruce Beresford, won him an Oscar for Best Actor.
Duval gained widespread attention with the 1997 film "Apostle," which he directed and starred in. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a womanizing Texas preacher who must start over after committing an act of violence. At the Independent Spirit Awards, "Apostle" won Best Picture, as well as two nominations for Duval - for acting and directing.
The following year, Duval received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a brilliant but eccentric lawyer in the courtroom drama "Civil Litigation."
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