Robert Duvall, known for "The Godfather", "Apocalypse Now", dies

Robert Duvall, known for his roles in classics like "The Godfather," "The Godfather Part II," "M*A*S*H," "Apocalypse Now," and "Tender Mercies," for which he won an Academy Award, has passed away, his wife announced on social media Monday. He was 95.

Luciana Duvall mentioned in a statement that her husband died Sunday at their 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," she expressed. "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."

As one of the finest actors of his generation, with a career spanning almost seven decades, Duvall was acclaimed for his subtle performances, immersing himself in characters that embodied moral dilemmas or ethical challenges.

Among his most memorable roles were Tom Hagen, the Corleone family's consigliere, in the first two "Godfather" films; Mac Sledge, a country singer seeking redemption, in "Tender Mercies"; and his debut film role as Boo Radley, a shy man who befriends young Scout, in the 1962 adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird."

However, Duvall could also deliver larger-than-life performances, as seen in his portrayal of Lt. Col. Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now," who leads a helicopter assault on a Vietnamese village to create a safe zone for surfing; Bull Meechum, the domineering Marine pilot and father in "The Great Santini"; and Frank Hackett, a corporate TV executive who dominates a news division in "Network."

Working with directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, Sidney Lumet, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman, and Dennis Hopper, Duvall was one of the most prominent and reliable actors in the 1970s and '80s. He brought depth and a hint of subversion to films like "True Confessions," "The Stone Boy," "Rambling Rose," "The Natural," "Colors," "The Handmaid's Tale," and "A Civil Action."

As he transitioned into mentor roles — such as the pit crew chief for race car driver Tom Cruise in "Days of Thunder"; a hostage negotiator opposite Denzel Washington in "John Q."; Michael Keaton's editor-in-chief in "The Paper"; and an astronaut leading his team to save the planet in "Deep Impact" — Duvall maintained a commitment to grounding a story in reality. Overall, he received seven Oscar nominations.

Even in minor roles, he could captivate an audience. In 2004, he explained to CBS' "60 Minutes II" that, whether his characters were heroic or villainous, down-to-earth or determined, there was always a part of Robert Duvall in them. "Has to be. It's you underneath," he stated. "You interpret somebody. You try to let it come from yourself."