Hollywood Godfather's iconic roles

ONE OF the greatest stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, The Godfather and Apocalypse Now legend Robert Duvall had long been hailed as a giant of the silver screen.

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In a stellar career spanning seven decades, Duvall was nominated for seven Oscars and played roles including the Mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, and a forceful army officer in Coppola’s Vietnam epic Apocalypse Now.

His famous line in the 1979 classic, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning”, became legendary.

Born in San Diego, California to Mildred, an amateur actress, and Rear Admiral William Howard Duvall of the United States Navy, he was the second of three sons.

His father descended from early Maryland settler Mareen Duvall and had expected young Robert to follow in his footsteps and join the Naval Academy.