Duvall got the part at the suggestion of the film's screenwriter, Horton Foote, who had liked Duvall's work in one of his plays. Foote later wrote Tender Mercies, a 1983 film for which Duvall won the Academy Award for best actor as a washed-up country singer. Another was for Best Supporting Actor for Coppola's The Godfather, playing Tom Hagen, consigliere to the Corleone Mafia family. Duvall appeared in the second Godfather film but rejected the third because he considered the salary offer inadequate. Duvall also was nominated for Oscars for The Great Santini, The Apostle, A Civil Action and The Judge in 2014.

Source: Irish Independent February 17, 2026 03:33 UTC