Acclaimed actor Robert Duvall, 95, has died, which was confirmed by his wife on his Facebook page today. He gave numerous memorable performances throughout his long career. He was one of those actors who seemed to be incapable of ever turning in a bad performance.
His peak years were probably the 1970s, with roles in films such as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. He was great in his role in the great film Network, one of the best films of the past 50 or 60 years. However, there is one role that is often overlooked when critics review the career of Robert Duvall, and it wasn't a movie role. It was his performance in an hour-long Twilight Zone episode called "Miniature." I don't think he ever gave a better performance than that part of a young man, who would probably be labeled as on the autism spectrum these days, who never seemed to fit in anywhere. He didn't fit it at his job, he didn't fit in at home. The only solace he ever found in his life was to visit the local museum and watch for hours the action (which was in his mind) of the dolls in a 19th century-era dollhouse. Without saying how the plot was resolved, Duvall was just great. Everybody could identify with his character, and nobody but Duvall could have pulled off such a believable performance. He should have won an Emmy for it.
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Duvall was born January 5, 1931, in San Diego. His mother was an actor and his father was a U.S. Navy admiral.
Duvall was known for his ability to play a wide array of characters, from tough guys to those dealing with personal trauma.
He was a seven-time Academy Award nominee, winning his only Oscar for his leading role in "Tender Mercies" in 1984. He played a washed up country music singer who finds himself falling in love with a widow who runs the hotel he wakes up in one day and must eventually decide whether to keep his new life or go back to his career.
