The first time I saw Robert Duvall as an actor, I had no idea who he was, but since he was playing one of my favorite literary characters, Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, I expected great things. And I wasn’t disappointed. I just hadn’t fallen in love with the actor yet.
But there was more to come. In 1970, Duvall was the first Major Frank Burns in the MASH. And in 1979, he gave a memorable turn as consigliore Tom Hagen, in the Godfather (also part 2). But it was his famous uttering of the line “I love the smell of Napalm in the morning” that brought him fully to my attention in the movie Apocalypse Now. The role of Lt. Col Kilgore gave Duvall his second Academy Award nomination.
From there he went on to receive two more nominations. One for The Great Santini (Bull Meechum) and a fourth for Tender Mercies (for which he won best actor). It was Duvall’s role as Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies that first led me to fall in love with him. His ability to immerse himself into a role so deeply that I forget that there is an actor involved at all, puts him among the best of the best as far as I’m concerned. He’s gone on, it should be noted, with movies like The 
Apostle, to amass a total of six academy award nominations not to mention Golden Globes and SAG awards.
But for me the quintessential Duvall role was actually found on the small screen. Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove is one of the best miniseries ever made as far as I’m concerned (the book was amazing as well). And part of the reason the televised version was so good, was the casting of Robert Duvall as Gus McCrae. (Of course Tommy Lee Jones as Captain Call is another reason—and another post 
)
Duvall, quite simply, was McCrae. With his wry sense of humor and downhome wisdom, Duvall embodied the character and made me fall in love with him all 
over again. Whether he was lecturing PeaEye or talking to Laurie about getting a poke. From there he went on to capture small screen audiences playing Stalin in the television movie of the same name and Adolph Eichmann in a splendid TV movie, The Man who Captured Eichmann. And most recently he returned to his western roots, playing yet another cowboy in Broken Trail on AMC.
But I find I am most delighted when he pops up as a secondary character—one we’ll most likely never forget—in movies I hadn’t expected to find him in. A cabdriver for Steve McQueen in Bullitt, a crew chief in Days of Thunder, and the bad guy in the shootout with John Wayne at the end of Rooster Cogburn.
All in all one of my favorite actors by far. And like Stanley Tucci (as usual Sherri is inspiring my posts) an actor first and a “star” after the fact. They make it look so damn easy.
What about you? Do you have favorite actors like Duvall and Tucci? Someone who makes you forget you’re watching fiction? Who reaches off the screen and pulls you deep into the character he or she is portraying?
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
One of the first movie’s i had seen Robert Duval in was The Chase, with Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Marlen Brando and Angie Dickenson. The part he played was so different from anything he has played since.. The character he played was weak and afraid. When you see him movies where he plays a tough guy, you know how great an actor he can be.. I love him in the Great Santini too.. Another one of his movies I like was with Julia Roberts in Something to Talk about…
There are so many great actors I like such as Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, James Earl Jones.. I could go on and on..
Oh my gosh, forgot all about Something To Talk About. It was such a great movie. Dennis Quaid is a favorite too!
So what are you guys thinking about the movie version of Les Mis? I’m not so sure I want to see it. Seems miscast to me… but then I’ve been wrong before
I wasn’t sure about Anne Hathaway but then she won me over in the trailer. I think it will be good. But I won’t rush out to see it.
Hmm. I have quite a few eye candies that I enjoy watching. Harry (Harrison Ford) was always a fave. John Cusak. Russell Crowe. Michael Damian. (He was in Young and Restless and had a couple of songs out). Patrick Swayze. Sam Elliot. Jason Purefoy. Brad Pitt is just pretty. I loved him in Interview W/ A Vampire. I wanted to like Tom Cruise but I met him one day and he was rude stuck up and nasty. Antonio Banderas is yummy. I love listening to his accent. Oh and Gerard Butler. Yum Yum Yum.
Definitely some hot guys mentioned there!
I don’t think Antonio Banderas is aging well. Or, he’s choosing dorky haircuts lately.
Maybe–but when Antonio was in the first Zorro movie–WOW! Seeing him in that movie was what inspired me to write The Bride Thief.
I loved him in the Mambo Kings.
I admit that I haven’t seen him in too many movies, but one show that I thought he was really touching in, was the episode of The Twilight Zone where he falls in love with a woman in a doll house. Everybody thinks he’s crazy when he says she’s alive, but he stands true and in the end – he’s happy.
If you haven’t seen this episode, Dee, I highly recommend it.
I don’t know that I have. And I love the Twilight Zone. Must see if I can find it online to watch! Cool! Thanks!
Dee, the episode is called Miniature. Hope you find it on-line.
Just finished watching it. Very eerie. But really good! Thanks for telling me about it. Gotta love iTunes!
Does Leonardo DiCaprio count as the younger generation of actors?
Younger than some, but he’s not that young anymore. Though he was baby-faced until recently. Can’t wait to see his Gatsby appearance.
You know maybe the point here is that they have to be older to be recognized as great. Not that they weren’t before but that we don’t see it really until there is a body of work to judge.
Good point. We don’t like them fresh off the Disney channel.
It occurs to me that I don’t really know Duvall’s acting very well, Dee. I am going to check out some more Duvall movies. (Besides the Boo Radley appearance, which I do know).
What’s so amazing about him to me, is that you don’t always realize it’s him. Start with Tender Mercies. One of my favs…
I’ve never seen Tender Mercies, either–so I’m off to Amazon! Thanks for the rec, Dee!
I didn’t realize it was Duvall who played Boo! I agree–he’s a fabulous actor. My fave actor is Colin Firth (seriously, is there anyone who doesn’t love him??). I love him in serious films like the King’s Speech, and in rom coms (Bridget Jones’ Diary) as well. I also love Hugh Grant. Probably because I love rom coms and he’s in so many of them. I love his accent the ne’er-do-well-yet-lovable characters he plays. I was also a big Heath Leger fan. I loved him in Knight’s Tale, and if you haven’t seen Casanova, you should–it’s really good! Another fave is Matt Damon. And Denzel Washington. And John Cusack. Oh, and I also love Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. Hmmm…seems like I have a lot of faves, LOL!
I love Owen, too. He seems to always play himself though, to a degree? Not really a big stretch going on with him. But he’s fun to watch. Also Matt Damon. Definitely Colin Firth. Not such a fan of Denzel since I’ve heard some stories about him not really being a very nice guy. But he is a good actor, so we’ll stick with that.
I love John Cusack too! Serendipity is one of my favorite Rom Coms.
I loved Cusack in Must Love Dogs. ADORABLE movie. If you haven’t seen, get thyself to Amazon and buy it.
A lot of Denzel’s movies are too violent for me. But one that I really loved him in was Book of Eli. A dark movie, but very good.
As for Owen Wilson–did you see Midnight in Paris? SUCH a good movie and he’s really good in it. Another one you need to see.
I love Midnight in Paris (and I don’t really like Owen Wilson all that much–but I LOVE Luke). And love Denzel and most of his movies. Also Cusack–Must Love Dogs was cute (love Diane Lane too). And The Sure Thing is an oldie but goodie. Rob Marshall’s remake of It Happened One Night (also has Anthony Edwards with hair)!
Phillip Seymour Hoffman usually grabs me. Robin Williams has done some fine dramatic acting. It’s time some new younger actors made a splash.
I’ve always heard that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is good. But have actually never seen him in anything. (I think?)
I think Sean Penn is in the class of actors we’re talking about — and a younger entry. Albeit still on the older side (SIGH). He’s really an amazing actor.
I mean younger like 20, 21. Up and comers. Who is the next big thing? I do love Ryan Gosling, though, in the younger (but not that young) category. It does make me feel a bit dirty old lady, though, when I see him with his shirt off and remember he used to be on Mickey Mouse Club when I had small children.
Is Ryan Gosling the one who was with Emma Stone in the movie with Steve Carrell? At a loss for the name, but it was surprisingly good!
Crazy, Stupid Love… oh yeah…Ryan Gosling without a shirt. Definitely drool-worthy.
Yes.. Really fun movie. And yes…to shirtless part. I was right there with Emma Stone (“you’ve got to be kidding me”)
Wasn’t a huge Gosling fan until Crazy, Stupid Love–which I LOVED! (doesn’t seem like that movie got enough attention). Now I’d be happy to just sit in theatre and watch him read the newspaper.
The Talented Mr. Ripley, have you seen it? Check it out– good movie, with Jude Law, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and PSH.
Yes. Have seen it. Very good acting by Matt Damon. Think that’s the first time I realized he is really an actor not just a pretty face!
Phillip Seymour Hoffman was Freddie in that, the friend who was on to Matt Damon’s act. Also, he was spot on as Truman Capote in Capote (Best Actor Oscar), and pretty good in Doubt (Oscar nom). And won a Tony (his third) for his Death of a Salesman performance.
Okay … cool I have seen him then. Haven’t seen Capote or Doubt. But heard of course how great he was in each of them. Did hear from someone I trust that he wasn’t that good in Death. Maybe because Brian Dennehey owns that part.
I don’t really associate the part with Dennehy. So many great actors have filled the role. They don’t just give out Tonys, but maybe his Big Actor status helped a little.
LOVED the Talented Mr. Ripley. Damon was great. Phillip Seymour Hoffman just got cast in some big movie or show–can’t recall what it is. But I seem to think he’s joining the cast–so it’s a sequel or something.
Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire.