Award-winning actor Robert Duvall has died at the age of 95, passing away on February 15, 2026 of natural causes in Middleburg, Virginia.

Naturally, in a career spanning seven decades, he acted in film, on television, and on stage in a multitude of genres. Many theatrical critics considered Duvall the greatest actor of his generation. Director Francis Ford Coppola described Duvall as “one of the greatest actors in the world.”

Robert Duvall made his indelible mark in the minds of moviegoers in all three Godfather films, True Grit, M*A*S*H, Apocalype Now, and Gods and Generals. He ignored genre boundaries and took roles that tested him, and characters that allowed him to explore theatrical narrative in new ways. He worked in both film and television, adding his talents to the Westerns to the TV mini-series Lonesome Dove and Broken Trail.

Sci-fi, Fantasy and Horror Roles

For all that, he kept returning to science fiction as part of his repertoire. Duvall starred in the title role in THX 1139 (1971), which was George Lucas‘ directorial debut. He was Captain Spurgeon “Fish” Tanner in Deep Impact (1988), Dr. Brunder in Phenomenon, Dr. John H. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes thriller The Seven Percent Solution. He played Dr. Griffin Weir in The Sixth Day (2000), and like many actors of his generation, he made guest appearances on both Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Personal Life

Robert Selden Duvall was born January 5, 1931, in San Diego, California. He studied drama at The Principia School near St. Louis, Missouri. Despite his father being a rear admiral in the United States Navy, Duvall served as an army private in Korea.

Duvall married four times and divorced thrice . He had no children.

He is survived by his fourth wife actress/director/writer/philanthropist Luciana Pedraza. The pair were married from 2005-2016. He had previously been married to Barbara Brent from 1961-1981, Gail Youngs from 1092 -1986, and Sharon Brophy, from 1991-1995.

Duvall won more than 60 awards and nominations over his career, far too many to list here.

There are few who step before the camera who leave a mark as significant as Robert Duvall. While we could wish that he were still with us, his legacy towers above all.