Robert Duvall, the veteran actor and filmmaker celebrated for roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has died at 95, leaving a seven-decade career and a long list of honors behind.

Robert Duvall’s passing marks the end of a remarkable run across stage and screen. He built a reputation for deep, rugged performances and a steady presence in films that became cultural touchstones. Over more than 140 screen credits, he moved between supporting turns and leading roles with equal commitment.

Duvall first drew attention playing Arthur “Boo” Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, a brief but memorable part that hinted at his gift for subtle character work. He later anchored some of the most famous films of the 1970s, including The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, where his performances earned major awards and critical notice. Those films helped define a generation of American cinema and cemented his place among the era’s most reliable actors.

He was also a theater actor long before Hollywood fully noticed him, training at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and earning an Obie for his stage work. His early years included significant time with regional companies and off-Broadway productions, where he honed a technique that translated cleanly to camera. That stage background kept his acting disciplined and focused, whether he was in a small part or carrying a film.

Duvall died at his home on February 15, according to a Facebook post by his wife, Luciana Pedraza. The brief public notice was followed by a private remembrance that spoke to the personal side of a man many knew first as an actor. Colleagues and fans alike noted the warmth he brought to interviews and the thoughtfulness he brought to his roles.

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.

Duvall was born in San Diego, California to parents Mildred and Rear Admiral William Howard Duvall. He was the second of three children. His mother was a relative of Civil War General Robert E. Lee and a member of the Virginia Lee family.

Born in San Diego and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, Duvall often described himself as a “Navy brat.” He attended Severn School and later graduated from Principia College in 1953, then served in the Army for a year before committing to training as an actor. Those early moves gave him a quiet self-discipline that showed up in every part he tackled.

In New York he studied alongside future stars like Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, and James Caan, forming lifelong friendships that would echo through his career. He returned to regional theater and then to the Off-Broadway stage, building a resume that moved the attention of filmmakers. By the mid-1960s he was making Broadway appearances and earning recognition for heavyweight dramatic roles.

His Hollywood breakthrough came in the late 1960s and 1970s, with thoughtful supporting turns that lasted beyond the credits. He was nominated for multiple Academy Awards and won an Oscar, along with Golden Globes and a BAFTA, for performances that were marked by physical precision and emotional honesty. The roles ranged from men of authority to quietly troubled characters, always grounded in human detail.

Duvall was also a filmmaker who directed and wrote, including projects like The Apostle and Angelo My Love. Those efforts showed a different side of his artistry: a willingness to take risks and to tell small, character-driven stories. His directing work earned praise for its sincerity and for giving voice to overlooked people and places.

Throughout his life he received formal recognition, most notably the National Medal of Arts in 2005. He maintained public political ties at times, attending events and showing support for figures across the conservative spectrum, but his primary legacy remained creative. For fans and collaborators, the measure of his life was the work he left behind.

In later years he married Luciana Pedraza in 2005; the couple shared a life away from constant publicity. He had no children and kept a private domestic life that contrasted with the public intensity of his performances. When he stepped in front of the camera, though, he always brought the kind of presence that few actors could match.

Robert Duvall’s career spanned seven decades and left a long list of credits across film and television. His performances will continue to be studied for their craft, and the films he helped define will remain part of cinematic history. He walked a path from theater stages to Hollywood screens with a steady, unmistakable voice.