Robert Duvall Net Worth

What is Robert Duvall's net worth and salary?

Robert Duvall is an American actor, producer, and director who has a net worth of $50 million. Robert Duvall made his screen debut in 1962 as Boo Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird," and went on to deliver unforgettable performances in films such as "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II," in which he portrayed the calculating consigliere Tom Hagen.

Duvall solidified his status as one of the greatest character actors of his generation with roles in "Apocalypse Now," "The Great Santini," and "Tender Mercies," the latter of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1984. He continued to work steadily throughout the 1990s and 2000s in acclaimed films like "The Apostle"—which he also wrote and directed—"A Civil Action," "Open Range," and "Crazy Heart." His television work has also been recognized, particularly for his Emmy-winning performance in "Lonesome Dove."

Duvall's approach to acting has always been rooted in realism, shaped by his early training with Sanford Meisner and the principles of the Neighborhood Playhouse. Known for his deep commitment to character, he often immerses himself in the worlds of the people he portrays, bringing authenticity to every role. In addition to his film and TV work, Duvall has remained active in theater and independent cinema. With a career defined by longevity, critical acclaim, and artistic integrity, Robert Duvall is widely regarded as one of the most respected and accomplished actors in American film history.

Early Life

Robert Duvall was born on January 5, 1931, in San Diego, California. The son of a U.S. Navy admiral, Duvall grew up primarily in Annapolis, Maryland, where the United States Naval Academy is located. He went on to attend Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and graduated with a B.A. in Drama in 1953.

Following the Korean War, Duvall served in the United States Army for a year and left as a private first class in the summer of 1954. He then began studying at New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre under Sanford Meisner, the acting teacher who developed the "Meisner technique."

His professional acting career began at the Gateway Playhouse theatre, located in Bellport, Long Island. In the summer of 1957, Duvall appeared as Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge – a role that Duvall himself has described as the "catalyst of his career."

Success

Robert Duvall's professional stage career began in 1958 with his off-Broadway debut as Frank Gardner in George Bernard Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession" at Manhattan's Gate Theater. The following year, he made his television debut in the drama anthology "Armstrong Circle Theater," appearing in the episode titled "The Jailbreak." Throughout the 1960s, Duvall worked steadily as a guest actor on various television shows, often appearing in crime, legal, and suspense dramas. These early years built the foundation for what would become one of the most respected acting careers in American cinema.

Duvall's screen debut came in 1962 with his haunting portrayal of Boo Radley in the classic film "To Kill a Mockingbird." Though a brief role, it marked a powerful entrance into film and caught the attention of Hollywood. His career reached new heights in the 1970s with a string of iconic performances. His breakthrough came as Tom Hagen, the Corleone family consigliere, in "The Godfather" (1972) and "The Godfather: Part II" (1974), earning him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

He received his second Oscar nomination and widespread acclaim for his unforgettable role as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" (1979). The role earned him a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe, and his now-legendary line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" became a pop culture staple.

Duvall continued to earn accolades in both film and theater. In 1976, he was nominated for a BAFTA Award for his performance as television executive Frank Hackett in "Network." The following year, he returned to Broadway in David Mamet's "American Buffalo," earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play. He received another Oscar nomination for his role as Marine pilot "Bull" Meechum in "The Great Santini" (1979), and finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his deeply moving portrayal of washed-up country singer Mac Sledge in "Tender Mercies" (1983).

Duvall's success extended to television as well. His portrayal of Captain Augustus "Gus" McCrae in the epic 1989 miniseries "Lonesome Dove" earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination, and remains one of the most beloved performances in television history.

In 1992, he founded the production company Butcher's Run Films and received a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. That same year, he won a Golden Globe and earned another Emmy nomination for his chilling portrayal of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in the HBO biopic "Stalin."

Duvall's distinguished career has been recognized with numerous honors. In 2005, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush at the White House. A decade later, he set a record by becoming the oldest actor ever nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "The Judge" (2014) at age 84.

From stage to screen, from quiet character roles to towering lead performances, Robert Duvall has built a career defined by integrity, depth, and masterful craftsmanship—cementing his place as one of the greatest actors of his generation.

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Salary

Robert earned $36,000 for his work in the first Godfather film. That's actually $1,000 MORE than co-star Al Pacino. He earned $500,000 for the second installment. When the third film was in pre-production, Duvall was offered a salary of $1 million. And while that was double his previous paycheck (though, not quite so much with inflation), it was nowhere near the $5 million Al Pacino had been offered.

Speaking on the subject in a 2004 "60 Minutes" interview, Duvall explained:

"If they paid Pacino twice what they paid me, that's fine, but not three or four times, which is what they did."

Personal Life

Duvall has tied the knot four times, but does not have any children. Duvall was married to his first wife, Barbara Benjamin, a former dancer on "The Jackie Gleason Show," from 1964 to 1975. His second marriage to actress and producer Gail Youngs lasted four years, from 1982 to 1986. His third wife was dancer Sharon Brophy, to whom he was married from 1991 to 1995.

In 2005, Duvall married his fourth wife and long-time girlfriend, Luciana Pedraza. Pedraza is the granddaughter of Argentine aviation pioneer Susana Ferrari Billinghurst, and 41 years younger than Duvall. He produced, directed, and acted with her in Assassination Tango.

Duvall's political views are most commonly described as conservative or libertarian. He received a personal invitation to Republican President George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001, and announced his support for Republican Presidential candidate and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in 2007. In 2008, he appeared at a John McCain–Sarah Palin rally in New Mexico and endorsed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012.

In 2001, Pedraza and Duvall created the Robert Duvall Children's Fund, a charity dedicated to helping distressed or underprivileged children and their families in Northern Argentina through education, medical services, and more. Duvall and Pedraza are also active supporters of Pro Mujer, a nonprofit charity organization that assists Latin America's poorest women.

Real Estate

Duvall and Pedraza's primary residence, Byrnley Farm, is a 250-year-old Georgian estate located in Northern Virginia's Fauquier County. Duvall purchased the property, which consists of more than 360 acres, in 1994.

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