Duvall, Robert (1931– )

US film actor and director. Regarded as one of the finest character actors in cinema, he was impressive in The Godfather (1971) and The Godfather, Part II (1974) and won an Academy Award for Tender Mercies (1983). He received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Apostle (1997), a film which he also wrote and directed.

He was born in San Diego, California. He began as a stage actor and made his film debut in To Kill a Mockingbird (1963). He is much sought after by such respected directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, but, despite many excellent performances, he has failed to land the top roles many feel he has deserved. Other films include Apocalypse Now (1979), The Natural (1984), Falling Down (1993), The Paper (1994), The Sixth Day (2000), John Q (2002), Gods and Generals (2003), and Assassination Tango (2003, also writer and director).