Hollywood mourns the loss of one of cinema’s greatest actors as tributes pour in from across the industry
February 17, 2026
Hollywood is united in grief following the passing of legendary actor Robert Duvall, who died Sunday at the age of 95. Among the first to speak out were his Godfather co-stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, who offered heartfelt tributes to a man widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of American cinema.
“It was an honor to have worked with Robert Duvall,” Pacino, 85, told Variety. “He was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered. I will miss him.” Deseret News
De Niro, 82, offered a brief but deeply emotional message: “God bless Bobby. I hope I can live till I’m 95. May he rest in peace.” Deseret News
Duvall died at 95 after a career spanning more than 70 years. The Academy Award winner for 1983’s Tender Mercies shaped American cinema with powerful performances in The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, To Kill a Mockingbird, and other landmark films widely regarded as classics. CNN
Duvall died peacefully at his farm in Middleburg, Virginia, and his passing was announced by his wife, Luciana Pedraza. The Washington Post
In her statement, Luciana wrote: “To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all.” CNN
Pacino starred alongside Duvall in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, with Pacino playing the heir to the Corleone crime family, Michael, while Duvall appeared as Tom Hagen, his lawyer and trusted advisor. While never appearing in the same scene as Duvall, De Niro also starred in The Godfather: Part II as a young Vito Corleone. NBC News
De Niro and Duvall didn’t actually share the screen until 1981, when they starred opposite each other as brothers in the crime drama True Confessions. TMZ
Director Francis Ford Coppola, who helmed the iconic Godfather saga, also expressed his grief. “What a blow to learn of the loss of Robert Duvall,” Coppola wrote on Instagram. “Such a great actor and such an essential part of American Zoetrope from its beginning: The Rain People, The Conversation, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Apocalypse Now, THX 1138, Assassination Tango.” GOIAM
The tributes did not stop there. Viola Davis wrote that it was an “honor” to appear alongside Duvall in the 2018 thriller Widows, adding: “I was in awe. I’ve always been in awe of your towering portrayals of men who were both quiet and dominating in their humanness. You were a giant… an icon… Greatness never dies. It stays… as a gift. Rest well, sir. Your name will be spoken.” NBC News
Walton Goggins, who worked with Duvall on The Apostle, described him as the greatest storyteller of all time and his most important mentor. “He was my North Star, my hero,” Goggins wrote. “The privilege of getting to work with this man, to know this man is still the most important experience of my life.” TODAY.com
Adam Sandler, who appeared alongside Duvall in the 2022 Netflix sports drama Hustle, called him “funny as hell, strong as hell, and one of the greatest actors we ever had.” Deseret News
Michael Douglas also paid tribute, writing on Instagram: “RIP Robert Duvall, one of the true all-time greats. He was among the most respected actors in our business. And I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him on Falling Down many years ago.” Deseret News
Duvall’s passing marks another loss for the Godfather family. Diane Keaton, who played Kay Adams in Coppola’s Godfather trilogy, had passed away on October 11, 2025. The Washington Post
Robert Duvall is survived by his wife, Luciana. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
FXBGNEWS.com will continue to update this story as more details become available.
