Robert Duvall, singular figure of New Hollywood, has died

Robert Duvall, in Los Angeles, on February 2, 2015. JOHN SHEARER/INVISION/AP

Robert Duvall, a singular presence in New Hollywood – a fascinating and unsettling figure, teetering on the edge of madness, hubris and violence – died on Sunday, February 15, at the age of 95 at his ranch in Middleburg, Virginia. He lived a venerable life marked by an exceptionally long and prolific career in cinema. From 1962 to 2022, he worked on more than 100 films as an actor, though his ambition also led him to write, produce and direct. He rarely took lead roles, but he brought an intensity and power to his supporting performances that made a significant impact.

Born on January 5, 1931, in San Diego, California, Duvall had French Huguenot roots from Nantes through his father, William Howard Duvall, who served as an engineer officer in the US Army, and Southern roots through his mother, who was an actress.

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