Robert Duvall
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Robert Duvall | |
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Duvall at the Tribeca Film Festival, May 2007 |
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Born | Robert Selden Duvall January 5, 1931 San Diego, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor, Director |
Years active | 1959–present |
Spouse(s) | Barbara Benjamin (1964-1975) Gail Youngs (1982-1986) Sharon Brophy (1991-1996) Luciana Pedraza (2004-present) |
Robert Selden Duvall (born January 5, 1931) is an American actor and director who has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. He began his career appearing in theatre during the late 1950s, moving into small to supporting television and film roles during the early 1960s in such works as To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Captain Newman, M.D. (1963). He started to land much larger roles during the early 1970s with movies like MASH (1970) and THX 1138 (1971). This was followed by a series of critical successes in the films The Godfather (1971), The Godfather Part II (1974), Network (1976), The Great Santini (1979), and Apocalypse Now (1979). Since then Duvall has remained an important presence in both film and televsion with such productions as Tender Mercies (1983), The Natural (1984), Colors (1988), Lonesome Dove (1989), Stalin (1992), The Man Who Captured Eichmann (1996), The Apostle (1997), A Civil Action (1998), and Broken Trail (2006).
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Duvall was born in San Diego, California, the son of Mildred Virginia (née Hart), an amateur actress and relative of American Civil War General Robert E. Lee, and William Howard Duvall, a Virginia-born U.S. Navy admiral.[1][2] Duvall's father was a Methodist and his mother was a Christian Scientist, and Duvall was reared in the Christian Science religion.[3] Duvall grew up in a military family, living for a time in Annapolis, Maryland, near the United States Naval Academy. He attended Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland and The Principia in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated, in 1953, Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. He served in the United States Army (service number 52 346 646) from 19 August 1953 to 20 August 1954, leaving as Private First Class. While stationed at Camp Gordon (now known as Fort Gordon) in Georgia, Duvall acted in an amateur production of the comedy "Room Service" in nearby Augusta.
After leaving the Army, Duvall studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York under Sanford Meisner. While working to become an actor, he worked as a Manhattan post office clerk. Duvall is friends with actors Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman whom he knew during their years as struggling actors.[4] At one point, Duvall roomed with Hoffman while they were looking for work.
[edit] Early career:1958-1969
Duvall began his career in the theatre, making his professional debut Off-Broadway at the Gate Theatre as Frank Gardner in George Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession on June 25, 1958. Other notable early theatre credits include the role of Doug in the premiere of Michael Shurtleff's Call Me By My Rightful Name in 1961 and the role of Bob Smith in the premiere of William Snyder's The Days and Nights of BeeBee Fenstermaker in 1962, both at Off-Broadway theatres. He won an Obie Award in 1965 for his performance of Eddie in Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge at the Sheridan Square Playhouse; a production directed by Ulu Grosbard and Dustin Hoffman. The following year he made his Broadway debut as Harry Roat, Jr in Frederick Knott's Wait Until Dark.
In 1959 Duvall made his first television appearance on Armstrong Circle Theatre in the episode The Jailbreak. He appeared regularly on television as a guest actor during the 1960s, often in action, suspense, detective, or crime dramas. His appearances during this time include performances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Naked City, The Untouchables, Route 66, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, T.H.E. Cat, and The Mod Squad to name just a few.
Duvall's screen debut was as Boo Radley in the critically acclaimed To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). He was cast in the film on the recommendation of screenwriter Horton Foote, who met Duvall at Neighborhood Playhouse during a 1957 production of Foote's play, The Midnight Caller. Foote, who would collaborate with Duvall many more times over the course of their careers, said he believed Duvall had a particular love of common people and ability to infuse fascinating revelations into his roles. Foote has described Duvall as "our number one actor." [5] Often referred to as the "King of Action".
After To Kill a Mockingbird, Duvall appeared in a number of films during the 1960s, mostly in mid sized parts but also in a few larger supporting roles. Some of his more notable appearances include the role of Capt. Paul Cabot Winston in Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), Chiz in Countdown (1968), Gordon in The Rain People (1969), and the notorious malefactor Ned Pepper in True Grit (1969).
[edit] Mid career:1970-1989
Duvall became an important presence in American films begining in the 1970s. He drew a considerable amount of attention for his portrayal of Frank Burns in MASH in 1970 and for his portrayal of the title role in the cult classic THX 1138 in 1971. His first major critical success was that of Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), the former film earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He received another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and won both a BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award for his role as Lt. Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now (1979). His line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" from Apocalypse Now is now regarded as iconic in cinema history. The full text is as follows:
You smell that? Do you smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for twelve hours. When it was all over I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like... victory.
(Pause)
Some day this war is going to end...
Duvall also received a BAFTA Award nomination for his portrayal of Frank Hackett in the critically acclaimed film Network (1976) and garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in The Great Santini (1979) as Lt. Col. "Bull" Meechum . The latter role was loosely based on world famous Marine Aviator, Colonel Donald Conroy. He also portrayed United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower is the television miniseries Ike (1979).
In 1977 Duvall returned to Broadway to appear as Walter Cole in David Mamet's American Buffalo. For his performance he received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play. To date, Duvall has not returned to the New York Stage since.
"You can't concoct or push ahead something other than what you have at that moment as yourself, as that character. It's you at that moment in time. ... Between action and cut, it's a nice world, but you can't force that any more than you can force it in life.."
—Robert Duvall on acting[5]
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Duvall continued to appear in important films during the 1980s, including the roles of Max Mercy in The Natural (1984) and Officer Bob Hodges in Colors (1988). He won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as country western singer Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies (1983). Foote was rumored to have written the lead role for Duvall, who had always wanted to play a country singer and contributed ideas for the character. Foote denies this, claiming he finds it too constraining to write roles for specific actors, but he did hope Duvall would be cast in the role. Duvall was rumored to have written the country music for Tender Mercies himself, Duvall claims to have only written a few "background, secondary songs." Duvall did, however, do his own singing, and he insisted that it be added to his contract that he sing the songs himself; Duvall said regarding the subject, "What's the point if you're not going to do your own (singing)? They're just going to dub somebody else? I mean, there's no point to that."[5]
Actress Tess Harper, who starred alongside Duvall in Tender Mercies, said Duvall inhabited the character so fully that she only got to know Mac Sledge and not Duvall himself; director Bruce Beresford, too, said the transformation was so believable to him that he could feel his skin crawling up the back of his neck the first day of filming with Duvall. Beresford said of the actor, "Duvall has the ability to completely inhabit the person he's acting. He totally and utterly becomes that person to a degree which is uncanny."[5] Nevertheless, Duvall and Beresford did not get along well during the production and often clashed during filming, including one day in which Beresford walked off the set in frustration.[5]
In 1989 Duvall appeared in the landmark mini-series Lonesome Dove in the role of Augustus "Gus" McCrae. He has stated in several forums, including CBS Sunday Morning, that this particular role was his personal favorite of his career. For his performance he won a Golden Globe Award and earned an Emmy Award nomination.
[edit] Later career:1990-present
Duvall has maintained a busy film career throughout the 1990s up through today, sometimes appearing in as many as four films in one year. He received Oscar nominations for his portrayals of Euliss 'Sonny' Dewey in The Apostle (1997) and Jerome Facher in A Civil Action (1998). The former film, about a preacher on the run from the law, was also written and directed by Duvall. He also directed Assassination Tango (2002), a thriller about one of his favorite hobbies, tango. He portrayed General Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals in 2003 and is actually a relative of the Confederate general. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 18, 2003.[citation needed]
Duvall has also periodically worked in television during the last two decades. He won a Golden Globe Award and garnered an Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in the 1992 television movie Stalin. He was nominated for an Emmy Award again in 1997 for portraying Adolf Eichmann in The Man Who Captured Eichmann. In 2006 he won an Emmy Award for the role of Prentice "Print" Ritter in the revisionist Western miniseries Broken Trail.
In 2005, Duvall was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush at the White House.[6]
[edit] Personal life
Duvall is close friends with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman, both of whom he has known since their struggling actor days. He has been married four times, the first to Barbara Benjamin, from 1964 until 1975. He then married Gail Youngs (1982–1986) and Sharon Brophy (1991–1996).
In 2005, Duvall married Luciana Pedraza, granddaughter of famous Argentine aviator Susana Ferrari Billinghurst. He met Pedraza on a street in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They were both born on January 5, but Duvall is 41 years older. They have been together since 1997. Duvall and Luciana have been active supporters of Pro Mujer, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Latin America's poorest women help themselves through micro-credit, business training and health care linkages.
Duvall speaks fluent Spanish and maintains a farm in The Plains in Fauquier County, Virginia. He has the same birthday as Godfather co-star Diane Keaton who was born in 1946. His favorite city is Buenos Aires. He is an avid Tango dancer and football fan.[citation needed] Duvall faxed a message of support to Dumfries club Queen of the South ahead of the team playing in the 2008 Scottish Cup Final.[7] Duvall became acquainted with the club in filming scenes in 1999 for 'A Shot at Glory'.
Duvall's political views are variously described as libertarian or conservative.[4] He was personally invited to Republican President George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001. In September 2007, he announced his support for Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.[8] Duvall worked the floor at the GOP's 2008 national convention[9] and, according to a 29 August 2008 MSNBC article, Duvall narrated most of the videos for the convention. In September 2008, he appeared on stage at a John McCain-Sarah Palin rally in New Mexico, and he told an October 2008 GOP fundraiser that "As far as I'm concerned, we've got to keep this guy Barack Obama out of the White House."[10]
Despite their political differences, Duvall is related to Barack Obama through a common ancestor, Mareen Duvall, who immigrated to what is now Maryland from France. Duvall is also related to former President Harry Truman, former Vice-President Dick Cheney, and Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, all through the same common ancestor.[11]
[edit] Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
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1959 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Berks | Season #10, Episode #2, "The Jailbreak" |
1960 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Season #10, Episode #16, "Positive Identification" | |
Playhouse 90 | Season #4, Episode #8, "John Brown's Raid" | ||
1961 | The Defenders | Al Rogart | Season #1, Episode #12, "Perjury" |
Great Ghost Tales | William Wilson | Season #1, Episode #1, "William Wilson" | |
Shannon | Joey Nolan | Season #1, Episode #10, "The Big Fish" | |
Cain's Hundred | Tom Nugent | Season #1, Episode #6, "King of the Mountain" | |
Route 66 | Roman | Season #1, Episode #25, "The Newborn" | |
Route 66 | Arnie | Season #2, Episode #4, "Birdcage on My Foot" | |
Naked City | Lewis Nunda | Season #2, Episode #13, "A Hole in the City" | |
1962 | To Kill a Mockingbird | Arthur 'Boo' Radley | |
Naked City | L. Francis 'Frank' Childe | Season #3, Episode #23, "The One Marked Hot Gives Cold " | |
Naked City | Johnny Meigs | Season #4, Episode #6, "Five Cranks for Winter... Ten Cranks for Spring" | |
Naked City | Barney Sonners | Season #4, Episode #8, "Torment Him Much and Hold Him Long " | |
1963 | The Untouchables | Eddie Moon | Season #4, Episode #17, "Blues for a Gone Goose" |
The Defenders | Luke Jackson | Season #2, Episode #24, "Metamorphosis" | |
Route 66 | Lee Winters | Season #3, Episode #18, "Suppose I Said I Was the Queen of Spain" | |
The Twilight Zone | Charley Parkes | Season #4, Episode #8, "Miniature" | |
The Virginian | Johnny Keel | Season #1, Episode #24, "The Golden Door" | |
Stoney Burke | Joby Pierce | Season #1, Episode #23, "Joby" | |
Arrest and Trial | Morton Ware | Season #1, Episode #10, "The Quality of Justice" | |
The Fugitive | Eric Christian | Season #1, Episode #4, "Never Wave Goodbye" | |
Captain Newman, M.D. | Capt. Paul Cabot Winston | ||
1964 | The Lieutenant | Season #1, Episode #25, "Man with an Edge" | |
Kraft Suspense Theatre | Harvey Farnsworth | Season #1, Episode #22, "Portrait of an Unknown Man" | |
The Outer Limits | Adam Ballard | Episodes #42, 43, "The Inheritors" | |
The Outer Limits | Louis Mace | Episode #31, "The Chameleon" | |
1965 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Zar | Season #1, Episode #20, "The Invaders" |
Combat! | Karl | Season #3, Episode #16, "The Enemy" | |
The Defenders | Bill Andrews | Season #4, Episode #30, "Only a Child" | |
The Fugitive | Leslie Sessions | Season #2, Episode #16, "Brass Ring" | |
Nightmare in the Sun | Motorcyclist | ||
1966 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Frank Reeser | Season #3, Episode #15, "Guilty or Not Guilty" |
The F.B.I. | Johnny Albin | Season #2, Episode #5, "The Scourge" | |
Combat! | Peter Halsman | Season #5, Episode #14, "Cry for Help" | |
Hawk | Dick | Season #1, Episode #6, "The Theory of the Innocent Bystander" | |
Felony Squad | Albie Froehlich | Season #1, Episode #8, "Death of a Dream" | |
Shane | Tom Gary | Season #1, Episode #9, "Poor Tom's A-Cold" | |
T.H.E. Cat | Laurent | Season #1, Episode #9, "Crossing at Destino Bay" | |
Fame Is the Name of the Game | Eddie Franchot | ||
The Chase | Edwin Stewart | ||
1967 | The Time Tunnel | Raul Nimon | Season #1, Episode #24, "Chase Through Time" |
Cimarron Strip | Joe Wyman | Season #1, Episode #18, "The Roarer" | |
The Wild Wild West | Dr. Horace Humphries | Season #3, Episode #10, "The Night of the Falcon " | |
The F.B.I. | Ernie Milden | Season #2, Episode #25-26, "The Executioners" | |
T.H.E. Cat | Laurent | Season #1, Episode #24, "The Long Chase" | |
Combat! | Michel | Season #5, Episode #25, "The Partisan" | |
Cosa Nostra, Arch Enemy of the FBI | Ernie Milden | ||
1968 | Flesh and Blood | Howard | |
CBS Playhouse | Dr. Margolin | Season #2, Episode #1, "The People Next Door" | |
Run for Your Life | Richard Fletcher | Season #3, Episode #19, "The Killing Scene" | |
Judd, for the Defense | Raymond Cane | Season #1, Episode #24, "Square House" | |
The F.B.I. | Joseph Troy | Season #4, Episode #9, "The Harvest" | |
The Detective | Nestor | ||
Countdown | Chiz | ||
Bullitt | Weissberg | ||
1969 | The Mod Squad | Matt Jenkins | Season #1, Episode #23, "Keep the Faith, Baby" |
The F.B.I. | Gerald Wilson | Season #5, Episode #2, "Nightmare Road" | |
True Grit | Ned Pepper | ||
The Rain People | Gordon | ||
1970 | M*A*S*H | Frank Burns | |
The Revolutionary | Despard | ||
1971 | THX 1138 | THX 1138 | |
Lawman | Vernon Adams | ||
1972 | The Godfather | Tom Hagen | Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; Nominated - BAFTA Award |
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid | Jesse James | ||
Tomorrow | Jackson Fentry | ||
Joe Kidd | Frank Harlan | ||
1973 | The Outfit | Earl Macklin | |
Badge 373 | Eddie Ryan | ||
Lady Ice | Ford Pierce | ||
1974 | The Conversation | The Director | uncredited |
The Godfather: Part II | Tom Hagen | ||
1975 | The Killer Elite | George Hanson | |
Breakout | Jay Wagner | ||
1976 | The Eagle Has Landed | Oberst Max Radl | |
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution | Dr. Watson | ||
Network | Frank Hackett | Nominated - BAFTA Award | |
1977 | The Greatest | Bill McDonald | |
1978 | Ike: The War Years | Dwight D. Eisenhower | |
Invasion of the Body Snatchers | Priest on swing | uncredited | |
The Betsy | Loren Hardeman III | ||
1979 | Ike | Dwight D. Eisenhower | TV mini-series |
Apocalypse Now | Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore | BAFTA Award; Golden Globe Award; Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
The Great Santini | Bull Meechum | Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor | |
1981 | True Confessions | Thomas Spellacy | |
The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper | Gruen | ||
1983 | Tender Mercies | Max Sledge | Academy Award for Best Actor; Golden Globe Award |
The Terry Fox Story | Bill Vigars | ||
1984 | The Stone Boy | Joe Hillerman | |
The Natural | Max Mercy | ||
1986 | Let's Get Harry | Norman Shrike | |
Belizaire the Cajun | The Preacher | ||
Waylon Jennings: America | Doctor | ||
The Lightship | Calvin Caspary | ||
1987 | Hotel Colonial | Roberto Carrasco | |
1988 | Colors | Officer Bob Hodges | |
1989 | Lonesome Dove | Augustus "Gus" McCrae | Golden Globe Award; Nominated - Emmy Award, stated this was his favorite role |
1990 | A Show of Force | Howard | |
Days of Thunder | Harry Hogge | ||
The Handmaid's Tale | The Commander | ||
1991 | Rambling Rose | Daddy Hilyer | |
Convicts | Soll | ||
1992 | Stalin | Josef Stalin | Golden Globe Award; Nominated - Emmy Award |
Newsies | Joseph Pulitzer | ||
La Peste | Joseph Grand | ||
1993 | Falling Down | Prendergast | |
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway | Walter | ||
Geronimo: An American Legend | Al Sieber | ||
1994 | The Paper | Bernie White | |
1995 | Something to Talk About | Wyly King | |
The Stars Fell on Henrietta | Mr. Cox | ||
The Scarlet Letter | Roger Chillingworth | ||
1996 | Sling Blade | Karl's father | |
The Man Who Captured Eichmann | Adolf Eichmann | Nominated - Emmy Award | |
A Family Thing | Earl Pilcher Jr. | ||
Phenomenon | Doc Brunder | ||
1997 | The Apostle | Euliss 'Sonny' Dewey - The Apostle E.F. | Writer/Director Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor |
1998 | The Gingerbread Man | Dixon Doss | |
A Civil Action | Jerome Facher | Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; Nominated - Golden Globe Award | |
Deep Impact | Capt. Spurgeon 'Fish' Tanner | ||
Saturday Night Live | various | Season #23, Episode #14, hosted by Garth Brooks | |
2000 | Gone in 60 Seconds | Otto Halliwell | |
The 6th Day | Dr. Griffin Weir | ||
A Shot at Glory | Gordon McLeod | ||
2002 | John Q | Lt. Frank Grimes | |
Assassination Tango | John J. Anderson | Writer/Director | |
2003 | Gods and Generals | Gen. Robert E. Lee | |
Secondhand Lions | Hub | ||
Open Range | Boss Spearman | ||
2005 | American Experience | Narrator | Season #17, Episode #10, "The Carter Family: Will the Circle" |
Kicking & Screaming | Buck Weston | ||
Thank You for Smoking | Doak "The Captain" Boykin | ||
2006 | Broken Trail | Prentice "Print" Ritter | Emmy Award; Nominated - Golden Globe Award |
2007 | Lucky You | Mr. Cheever | |
We Own the Night | Albert Grusinsky | ||
2008 | Four Christmases | Howard | |
2009 | The Road | Old Man | in post-production |
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Roberts, Gary Boyd. "A Third Set of Ten Hollywood Figures (or Groups Thereof), with a Coda on Two Directors". New England Historic Genealogical Society. Archived from the original on 2008-01-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20080121110802/http://www.newenglandancestors.org/education/articles/research/special_guests/gary_boyd_roberts/gbr83.asp. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.
- ^ "The Novak Zone: Interview With Robert Duvall". Saturday Morning News. CNN. 2003-02-15. Transcript.
- ^ The Religious Affiliation of Robert Duvall. Adherents.com.
- ^ a b Charlie Rose (8 September 2004). "Robert Duvall Does The Tango". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/06/60II/main591671.shtml.
- ^ a b c d e Bruce Beresford (actor), Robert Duvall (actor), Horton Foote (actor), Gary Hertz (director), Tess Harper (actress). (2002-04-16). Miracles & Mercies [Documentary]. West Hollywood, California: Blue Underground. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
- ^ President George W. Bush stands with recipients of the 2005 National Medal of Arts winners Thursday, Nov. 9, 2005, in the Oval Office. Among those recognized for their outstanding contributions to the arts were, from left: Leonard Garment, arts advocate; Louis Auchincloss, author; Paquito D'Rivera, jazzist; James De Preist, symphony conductor; Tina Ramirez, choreographer; Robert Duval, actor, and Ollie Johnston, animator. White House photo by Eric Draper
- ^ A supporting role from Hollywood - Dumfries and Galloway Standard
- ^ "Academy Award-Winning Actor Robert Duvall Supports Rudy Giuliani". joinrudy2008.com. September 5, 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-01-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20080116033415/http://www.joinrudy2008.com/article/pr/764.
- ^ "So get out and vote already". Toronto Globe and Mail. 2008-10-16. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081016.CAMPAIGNSIDE16/TPStory/International. Retrieved on 2008-10-20.
- ^ "Oh Goody! Celebs Ramp Up Political Rhetoric". The Washington Post. 2008-10-16. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2008/10/oh_goody_celebs_ramp_up_politi.html?hpid=entnews. Retrieved on 2008-10-20.
- ^ http://www.duvallsociety.org/notables.html
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Robert Duvall |
- Robert Duvall at the Internet Movie Database
- Robert Duvall at the Internet Broadway Database
- Robert Duvall at the Internet off-Broadway Database
- Political contributions of Robert Duvall
- 'Napalm' speech tops movie poll The BBC
- Artículo Star Pulse 19/6/2006- "Hollywood legend Robert Duvall discovers he married into a family of great Argentinean aviators".
- Robert Duvall photos at amctv.com
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Persondata | |
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NAME | Duvall, Robert |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
SHORT DESCRIPTION | actor |
DATE OF BIRTH | January 5, 1931 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | San Diego, California, U.S. |
DATE OF DEATH | |
PLACE OF DEATH |