Al Pacino and Robert De Niro paid tribute to Robert Duvall, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 95.
“It was an honor to work with Robert Duvall,” Pacino said. “He was, as they say, a born actor. He will always be remembered for his connection, understanding and incredible talent with actors. He will be sorely missed.”
“God bless you Bobby,” De Niro wrote. “I hope I can live until I’m 95 years old. Please rest in peace.”
Pacino co-starred with Duvall in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. Pacino played Michael, the heir to the Corleone crime family, and Duvall starred as his lawyer and trusted advisor Tom Hagen. Although he did not share a scene with Duvall, De Niro also appeared in The Godfather Part II as a young Vito Corleone.
Pacino and De Niro are just two of the many Hollywood stars who paid tribute to Duvall. Viola Davis said in an Instagram thread that it was an “honour” to work with the Tender Mercy star in the 2018 thriller Widows.
“I was in awe,” Davis added, “I was always in awe of your portrayal of towering men, quiet yet dominant in their humanity. You were a giant… an icon… ‘Apocalypse Now,’ ‘The Godfather.’ ‘A Tale of Alabama’, ‘Tender Mercy’, ‘The Apostle’, ‘The Lonely Dove’… Greatness never dies. It remains… As a gift, rest in peace, your name will be spoken… May the flight of angels give you peace.”
Adam Sandler, who starred alongside Duvall in the 2022 sports drama Hustle, also paid tribute to Duvall on Instagram. “A wonderful man to talk to and laugh with. We loved him very much, as did all of us. There are so many legendary movies. Please watch them while you can. My condolences go out to his wife Luciana and all his family and friends.”
