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From the quietly powerful consigliere to the napalm-loving colonel, this acting legend has created some of cinema's most unforgettable characters. Join us as we celebrate the career of an American icon by counting down his most remarkable performances! Our list spans decades of exceptional acting prowess across film and television.
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00:00You want to surf, soldier?
00:01Yes, sir.
00:02That's good, son, because you either surf or fight.
00:05That's clear.
00:06Now get going.
00:07I'm coming for you.
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo.
00:10And today, we're honoring the career of Oscar winner Robert Duvall
00:13by counting down our picks for his best performances in movies and on TV.
00:17Get on out of here right now.
00:18I'll leave one a choose-to mystery, yeah?
00:20That's what I'll do.
00:21Come on around on the other side, buddy.
00:23Come on.
00:23Stay right there.
00:24Come on, buddy.
00:26Number 10.
00:27Jerome Thatcher, A Civil Action.
00:29In this gripping legal drama, Robert Duvall delivers a performance
00:33that is nothing short of masterful,
00:35crafting a character whose impact is felt profoundly throughout the entire narrative.
00:39Playing the shrewd, unconventional, and deceptively bumbling defense attorney Jerome Thatcher,
00:44Duvall embodies the legal Goliath representing the formidable Beatrice Foods.
00:49But you were angry and upset.
00:51My son just died.
00:53I understand.
00:54I'm just trying to recreate the event.
00:58Thatcher is a brilliant old-school legal mind who employs a unique blend of strategic obstruction,
01:04dry wit, and subtle intimidation to wear down his idealistic opponent, Jan Schlichtman.
01:09Your mother and your father is going to tell their stories and the jury is going to pull
01:11out their handkerchiefs and dab their eye.
01:15Do you really think I'd let that happen?
01:20I don't see how you can prevent it.
01:23Of course you don't.
01:25His portrayal earned him an Academy Award nomination,
01:29a testament to his ability to bring such a nuanced and understated presence to life.
01:33Duvall made a character who often seems to be merely observing the process,
01:37the very architect of its prolonged, torturous course.
01:40You found someone who saw him dumping stuff.
01:45You didn't find anyone who saw me.
01:51What's your take?
01:53Number 9.
01:54Boss Spearman – Open Range
01:56Duvall brought a lifetime of experience and an unmistakable gravitas to the role of Boss Spearman,
02:01an aging, principled freegrazer in director Kevin Costner's beautifully crafted western.
02:06But I aim to kill Baxter and those that done this.
02:08And if that marshal gets in the way, I'm going to kill him too.
02:11So you best get your mind right about what's got to be done, Charlie.
02:15From the moment he appears on screen,
02:17there is an immediate sense of history etched into his face,
02:20a quiet dignity that speaks volumes about a man who has lived by a code for decades.
02:25Duvall skillfully portrays the inner conflict of a man who abhors violence,
02:29but is ready to unleash it with devastating efficiency when pushed too far.
02:33You should have run when you had the chance, Spearman.
02:36Not much for running from cowards.
02:40Now see the marshal ain't with you.
02:41His chemistry with Costner's Charlie Waite is the film's beating heart,
02:45anchoring the story in a bond of loyalty and shared experience.
02:49I told you I was wanting out of the cattle business.
02:51Funny thing, there's a saloon right back there that just had its owner die.
02:55Hoping you'd be my partner.
02:59Number 8. Boo Radley To Kill a Mockingbird
03:02It is a testament to Duvall's raw talent that one of his most iconic and memorable roles
03:07involves minimal dialogue and even less screen time.
03:10Hey, Boo.
03:13Miss Jean Louise.
03:15Mr. Arthur Radley.
03:20I believe he already knows you.
03:22As the reclusive and mysterious Arthur Boo Radley,
03:25Duvall makes an unforgettable film debut,
03:28creating a character who looms large in the imagination of both the children in the film
03:32and the audience watching it.
03:34Duvall, through sheer presence and subtle physical acting,
03:38manages to convey the character's profound loneliness,
03:40his gentle spirit, and the trauma of his isolation.
03:49This silent, powerful portrayal of innocence and quiet heroism remains a masterclass in non-verbal acting,
03:55solidifying Duvall's ability to imbue even the most enigmatic figures with deep emotional resonance.
04:01Thank you for my children.
04:08Number 7. Bull Meacham, The Great Santini
04:12As Lieutenant Colonel Bull Meacham, the titular Great Santini,
04:16Duvall delivers a tour-de-force performance as a bombastic domineering marine pilot
04:20and an intensely flawed family patriarch.
04:23I want you hogs to let this bird know you're here.
04:26I want these crackers to wake up and wonder what the hell blew in a town.
04:31Okay, hogs, by nightfall I want this camp in inspection order.
04:34Do you read me loud and clear?
04:36Yes, sir!
04:37Meacham is a man who lives by the military code,
04:40bringing the rigid discipline and relentless pursuit of perfection from the cockpit into his home,
04:45often with heartbreaking consequences.
04:47Duvall is utterly magnetic,
04:49capturing both the charismatic, larger-than-life swagger of a fighter pilot
04:53and the deep-seated insecurities of a man struggling to connect with his family,
04:57particularly his eldest son, Ben.
04:59Why didn't you tell me?
05:01Why didn't you say something?
05:05Nobody tells you anything, Dad.
05:14His portrayal of this fierce, competitive, yet ultimately loving father
05:18earned him another richly-deserved Academy Award nomination.
05:22You guys, little kids, I'll tell you what,
05:25you do my caring for me, deal?
05:29Deal?
05:36Deal?
05:41Number 6.
05:42Ulyss F. Sonny Dewey, The Apostle.
05:44This passion project, which Duvall not only starred in but also wrote and directed,
05:49is a powerful showcase for his incredible range and deep understanding of character.
05:54You have any children?
05:56Yes, sir.
05:57And I have eight grandchildren besides.
06:01So I reckon you would know what it means to face the possibility of losing everybody and everything.
06:08Duvall's Oscar-nominated performance is raw, electrifying, and utterly authentic,
06:13capturing the frenetic energy of a revival tent preacher,
06:16his sermons delivered with a sweat-soaked intensity that feels profoundly real.
06:20Why, why, why do I say this?
06:22Because we got Holy Ghost power in the way!
06:25We got Holy Ghost power!
06:26I gotta see him in his son's blood wrapped around my body!
06:30Yet beneath the fire and brimstone,
06:32Duvall reveals Sonny's deep struggle with guilt,
06:34his yearning for redemption,
06:35and the constant battle between his faith and his impulsive nature.
06:39This visceral, uncompromising portrayal demonstrated his unwavering commitment
06:44to bringing complex, deeply human characters to the screen.
06:47I'm going yonder to heaven.
06:49I'm going to get up there and say,
06:50get out of the way, moon!
06:51Get out of the way, storm!
06:53I'm on my way to heaven!
06:54I'm on my way to heaven!
06:56I'm on my way to heaven!
06:59Number 5, Frank Hackett, Network.
07:01In this beloved, blistering satire,
07:04Duvall embodies the chilling ruthlessness of corporate America as Frank Hackett,
07:08the utterly detached and calculating head of the UBS network.
07:12And you, Max, you better have some answers for some of those nuts
07:15that always come to stock over me.
07:16Mr. Veal has been under great professional and personal strain.
07:19I've got some goddamn surprises for you too, Schumacher!
07:22I've had enough to hear with your credit division
07:23and its annual $33 million deficit!
07:26While Peter Finch's Howard Beal descends into madness,
07:29Hackett remains the icy puppet master behind the scenes.
07:32Duvall's performance is the definition of understated menace.
07:36He doesn't shout or rage,
07:37but his calm, almost surgical precision in discussions of ratings,
07:41market shares, and network profitability
07:43paints a portrait of a man completely devoid of empathy.
07:46Two billion dollars isn't peak!
07:49That's the wrath of God!
07:50And the wrath of God wants Howard Beal fired!
07:52What for?
07:53Every other network will grab him the minute he walks out the door.
07:55He'll be back on the air for ABC tomorrow,
07:56and we'll lose 20 points.
07:58I'm gonna impale the son of a bitch with a sharp stick through the heart!
08:0040 million loss in revenues for the year.
08:02He personifies the soulless commodification of human emotion
08:06and suffering for entertainment value.
08:07I'm gonna be standing up there at the annual CCA management review meeting,
08:11and I'm gonna announce projected earnings for this network
08:13for the first time in five years.
08:16And believe me,
08:17Mr. Jensen's gonna be sitting there rocking back and forth in his little chair,
08:21and he's gonna say,
08:21that's very good, Frank.
08:23Keep it up.
08:23Number four.
08:24Augustus Gus McRae, Lonesome Dove.
08:27This role is a monumental achievement,
08:30allowing Duvall to fully unleash his charismatic charm,
08:33his impeccable comedic timing,
08:34and his ability to convey profound emotion.
08:37And now that you're back,
08:38I think I'll ride into town
08:39to see if I can't scare me up a little bit of it.
08:41We got enough to do right here without you riding off to town.
08:44I'm just trying to keep everything in balance, Woodrow.
08:46You do more work than you got to,
08:48so it's my obligation to do less.
08:50Gus is a man of contradictions,
08:52a rough-around-the-edges frontiersman with a philosophical streak,
08:55a lover of life's simple pleasures,
08:57and an unwavering friend to Tommy Lee Jones' Woodrow call.
09:02Duvall's performance overflows with humanity,
09:04making Gus feel like a long-lost friend you've known for years.
09:07Why not go up to Montana,
09:11to Gentleman's Paradise, to hear Jake tell it?
09:14Sounds like a damn wilderness if you ask me.
09:16And we're a shade old to start fighting Indians all over again,
09:19don't you think?
09:20This miniseries became a massive cultural phenomenon,
09:23and Duvall's portrayal of Gus,
09:25full of gusto and heartbreaking vulnerability,
09:27earned him a Golden Globe Award,
09:29and cemented his place in the hearts of millions.
09:32If you get any prettier than I may be forced to cut the cards with you again.
09:38I'll do the shuffle the next time, I don't trust you.
09:41Number 3.
09:42Max Sledge, Tender Mercies.
09:44In Tender Mercies, Duvall plays Max Sledge,
09:47a washed-up country singer seeking redemption
09:49in the desolate landscape of rural Texas.
09:51I'll tell you what.
09:54I ain't promised nothing you understand.
09:57I'll give it a try.
09:58I don't like the way it sounds.
10:00We'll just back away from it.
10:02This role is a stark contrast to some of his more explosive characters,
10:06relying on quiet introspection,
10:08subtle gestures, and the weight of unspoken regret.
10:11Duvall embodies Max's brokenness,
10:13his weariness,
10:14and his slow, painstaking journey towards sobriety
10:17and a fragile new life with a young widow and her son.
10:19Baby, you're the only dream I've ever had
10:24in this country.
10:26Come on.
10:28If you'll just hold a ladder, baby,
10:31I'll climb to the top.
10:34It's a performance devoid of grandstanding,
10:37yet it speaks volumes about the human capacity for change
10:40and the quiet power of grace.
10:41It's those qualities that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
10:47That was wonderful.
10:49I was a little nervous.
10:50Worried?
10:51A little bit.
10:52You couldn't tell because you're funny.
10:54No, ma'am.
10:56Number 2.
10:57Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore.
10:59Apocalypse Now.
11:00I love the smell of napalm in the morning.
11:03With this single, unforgettable line,
11:05Robert Duvall etched Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore
11:08into the annals of cinematic legend,
11:10creating one of the most iconic and terrifying figures in film history.
11:14Duvall's portrayal is audacious and larger than life,
11:17capturing the psychological toll of combat
11:19in a way that's both darkly humorous and deeply disturbing.
11:23From his perfectly delivered dialogue to his physical presence,
11:26Kilgore is a whirlwind of contradictions,
11:28embodying the surreal, nightmarish absurdity of the conflict.
11:31One guy can break right, one left, simultaneous.
11:35What do you think of that?
11:36Bill, I think we gotta wait for the tide to come up.
11:38Hey, Lance, come here, look, look.
11:40Incoming!
11:43The tide doesn't come in for six hours!
11:48You wanna wait here for six hours?
11:50His relatively brief but utterly electrifying performance
11:54earned him an Academy Award nomination,
11:56forever cementing his status as an actor
11:58capable of seizing an audience's attention.
12:02Don't worry, we'll have this device cleaned up and ready for us
12:04in a jiffy saw, don't you worry!
12:06Before we unveil our top pick,
12:09here are some honorable mentions.
12:11Joseph Stalin
12:12Stalin
12:12But the grain is not being delivered, why is that?
12:17Is it because the peasants have been told
12:20they can, if they wait, obtain better prices
12:22and become richer at the expense of everyone else?
12:27No, who has told them this, who?
12:30Martin Prendergast, falling down.
12:33The file says,
12:34we lost a child.
12:38Lost it?
12:39Her, lost her.
12:40Yes, of course, her.
12:42It's rough.
12:44Well, it can be.
12:45Yes, sir.
12:47Frank Childers
12:48Slingblade
12:48I told you I ain't got no boy
12:50and I want you to get on out of here and let me be.
12:54You ain't no kin to me.
12:56Prentice Ritter
12:57Broken Trail
12:58This looks to be a good spot to stop for a few days.
13:02A horse could use the rest and so can we.
13:06A few soft-footed cabbies.
13:09Judge Joseph Palmer
13:10The Judge
13:11I can't afford to pay child support.
13:13You can, huh?
13:15That your new truck up front?
13:19Which one?
13:22Yeah.
13:23Yeah, it's not an affirmation.
13:25Yeah.
13:25It's not an affirmation a man uses in court.
13:28Yes, sir.
13:29Before we continue,
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13:50Securing the top spot is, what else?
13:53Duval's iconic portrayal of Tom Hagen,
13:55the unflappable and intensely loyal conciliary to the Corleone family.
14:00If we lose the old man,
14:03we lose our political contacts and half our strength.
14:06The other New York families might wind up supporting Sollozzo just to avoid a long,
14:10destructive war.
14:12This is almost 1946.
14:14Nobody wants bloodshed anymore.
14:22Hagen is the quiet anchor of the Corleone Empire,
14:24a man of intellect and strategy rather than brute force,
14:27who operates in the shadows with unwavering dedication.
14:30Duval embodies Hagen's calm demeanor,
14:33his subtle authority,
14:34and his moral ambiguity with such precision
14:37that he feels like the very soul of the family's operations.
14:40Nobody has ever gunned down a New York police captain, never.
14:44It would be disastrous.
14:45All the five families would come after you, Sonny.
14:47The Corleone family would be outcast.
14:50Even the old man's political protection would run for cover.
14:53He is the antithesis of the hot-headed Sonny,
14:56though calculating Michael or the explosive Fredo.
14:59Yet his presence is just as vital and unforgettable.
15:02When a plot against the Emperor failed,
15:07plotters were always given a chance
15:12to let the families keep their fortunes.
15:16Which Robert Duvall performance is your favorite?
15:18Are there any we missed?
15:20Be sure to let us know in the comments.
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