Explore the extraordinary life and career of Robert Duvall, one of American cinema's most enduring and celebrated actors. Born in San Diego in 1931 during the Great Depression, Duvall grew up in a disciplined military household in Annapolis, Maryland, where his father served as a United States Navy admiral. After earning a degree in history and political science from Principia College and serving in the Army during the Korean War, Duvall made the pivotal decision to pursue acting in New York City. His silent yet unforgettable film debut as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird showcased his remarkable ability to convey emotion without dialogue. The 1970s transformed Duvall into a movie star with iconic roles in M A S H, THX 1138, and most notably as Tom Hagen in The Godfather and The Godfather Part Two, earning his first Academy Award nomination. His portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now gave audiences one of cinema's most quoted lines about napalm in the morning. Duvall finally claimed his Oscar for Best Actor in 1983 for Tender Mercies, where he played a washed-up country singer rebuilding his life. His portrayal of Gus McCrae in the television miniseries Lonesome Dove became a cultural phenomenon and earned him a Golden Globe. Beyond acting, Duvall founded Butchers Run Films and wrote, directed, and starred in The Apostle, earning another Oscar nomination. His accolades span Oscars, Golden Globes, and Emmys across film and television. Even into his nineties, Duvall continued appearing in major productions including Hustle and The Pale Blue Eye. This episode chronicles how a military kid from Maryland became a living legend whose six-decade career reflects the evolution of American cinema itself.
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Feb 16 202619 mins