- Primary Subject: Robert Duvall
- Key Update: The legendary Oscar-winning actor, best known for his roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, passed away peacefully at his home in Virginia at age 95.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 17, 2026
- Quick Answer: Robert Duvall's best performances include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather, and Apocalypse Now, to name just a few. Here's where to watch all his most iconic movies.
Only a few Hollywood actors have managed to build a career as enduring and versatile as Robert Duvall.
Known for his intense yet naturalistic acting style, the legendary performer brought a wide range of characters to life throughout an illustrious career spanning seven decades.
Now that Hollywood has lost another icon, revisit Duvall’s remarkable legacy through some of his most iconic films.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Robert Duvall made his big-screen debut unforgettable when he portrayed Boo Radley, the mysterious recluse, in Robert Mulligan’s adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Thanks to legendary playwright Horton Foote, who had seen Duvall perform on stage, the then-young actor was recommended for the complex role.
Despite having no dialogue, Duvall fully embodied the character, making his presence felt through subtle physical and emotional expression.
His screen time may have been brief, but the performance left a memorable mark on cinematic history.
- Where to Stream: Tubi, Netflix, Hoopla, JustWatchTV
The Godfather
Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, and James Caan may be the names most associated with Francis Ford Coppola’s crime masterpiece The Godfather, but Robert Duvall’s portrayal of Tom Hagen completes the picture.
As the consigliere to Michael Corleone (Pacino), he demonstrated the traditional role of an ally and advisor to Vito Corleone (Brando) as the family’s adopted son and trusted lawyer.
Though his character wasn’t as explosive as others, Duvall played it with elegance, restraint, and intelligence, navigating a violent world while leaving a lasting impression.
His performance earned him an Oscar nomination, thus laying down another marker in film history.
- Where to Stream: Paramount+, Fubo, Hulu
The Godfather II
Robert Duvall returned in The Godfather: Part II with an expanded role, bringing deeper emotional complexity to his character.
While Michael Corleone becomes colder and more ruthless, Tom Hagen remains a steady presence, though not without exposing the cracks in the Corleone family’s foundation.
Understated yet powerful, Duvall’s performance perfectly embodies the film’s themes of loyalty, power, and betrayal.
Using his trademark minimal dialogue, he communicates the family’s internal conflict with masterful subtlety, delivering some of the most poignant performances of his career.
- Where to Stream: Paramount+, Fubo
Apocalypse Now
Robert Duvall delivered some of cinema’s most iconic lines, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” and “Someday this war’s gonna end,” in the 1979 Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now.
One of his most memorable roles, Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore, showcased Duvall as an unhinged and fearless character amid the surreal chaos of war.
Despite an ensemble cast featuring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, Laurence Fishburne, and Harrison Ford, Duvall stood out, dominating the screen and earning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
- Where to Stream: Prime Video, Plex
Tender Mercies
If Apocalypse Now featured Robert Duvall in a larger-than-life role, Tender Mercies revealed his more vulnerable, emotional side as he portrayed country singer Mac Sledge.
Playing a washed-up artist seeking redemption after alcoholism and personal failure, Duvall performed his own singing and even wrote some of the character’s songs, adding a layer of authenticity to the role.
Unsurprisingly, this deeply moving performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor and is widely considered one of the most challenging and finest of his career.
- Where to Stream: Prime Video
Lonesome Dove
While Lonesome Dove is technically a miniseries, it remains one of Robert Duvall’s most essential roles, as he brought Texas Ranger Augustus “Gus” McCrae to life with warmth, humor, and deep emotion.
The series didn’t just revitalize the Western genre for modern audiences; Gus even became one of the most beloved characters in Western storytelling.
So, it’s no surprise that Duvall often described this role as a career highlight, a performance that earned him an Emmy Award.
- Where to Stream: Prime Video
The Apostle
Robert Duvall didn’t just star in the 1997 tale of sin, The Apostle; he also wrote, directed, and produced it.
In the film, he portrayed Pentecostal preacher Sonny Dewey, a man who kills his wife’s lover and seeks redemption by assuming the identity of the anonymous Apostle E.F.
The Apostle became one of Duvall’s most personal projects, standing out for its realism and empathetic portrayal of faith and redemption.
His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and showed his willingness and ability to tackle even the most complex and morally challenging characters.
- Where to Rent or Purchase: Prime Video, Apple TV
Open Range
Robert Duvall returned to the Western genre in the revisionist action film Open Range.
Playing seasoned cowboy Boss Spearman alongside Kevin Costner, the film offered a realistic depiction of frontier life, with Duvall portraying a steady mentor figure.
His performance, embodying classic Western archetypes – honorable, dependable, and guiding – just showed Duvall’s enduring connection to the genre.
- Where to Stream: AMC+/Apple TV Channels
Get Low
Despite his advancing age, Robert Duvall continued to deliver remarkable performances, including in Aaron Schneider’s 2009 drama Get Low.
Portraying Felix Bush, a reclusive man who plans his own funeral while still alive, Duvall demonstrated how his craft deepened with age, earning praise from both fans and critics for his unmatched subtlety.
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