The Oscar-winning actor and a true cinema legend turned 94 on Jan. 5, 2025
Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall marks his 94th birthday on January 5, 2025. With over 60 years in the industry, he made his debut as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird and went on to star in classics like The Godfather and MASH*.
Duvall’s career highlights include eight Oscar nominations (winning for Tender Mercies), two Emmys, four Golden Globes, a SAG Award, and a BAFTA. Now living quietly in Virginia with his wife, Luciana Pedraza, he remains a celebrated figure in Hollywood history.
Robert Duvall’s early beginnings
Robert Selden Duvall was born on January 5, 1931, in San Diego, California, to Navy Rear Admiral William Duvall and actress Mildred Duvall (née Hart). Raised in Annapolis, Maryland, he later earned a bachelor’s degree in drama from Principia College in Illinois.
After graduating in 1953, Duvall served a year in the U.S. Army before pursuing acting. By 1955, he was training with Sanford Meisner at New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse, where he formed lasting friendships with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. Reflecting on those early days, Hoffman once remarked, “I was terrible at everything but acting.”
Robert Duvall’s acting journey began on the stage, performing in New York theater productions throughout the 1950s while holding day jobs at Macy’s and the post office to support himself. His first television role came in 1959 with an appearance on the anthology series Armstrong Circle Theater.
Hollywood breakthrough and his first Oscar
Robert Duvall’s big-screen debut came thanks to screenwriter Horton Foote’s wife, who recommended him for a role in the film adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Duvall portrayed the enigmatic Boo Radley alongside Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch and Mary Badham as Scout.
The film’s critical success opened the door to more opportunities. Duvall quickly secured roles in notable films, including The Chase (1966) with Jane Fonda, Marlon Brando, and Robert Redford; True Grit (1969) with John Wayne; and MASH* (1970) with Donald Sutherland, among many others.
Robert Duvall earned widespread acclaim with several Oscar nominations for standout performances in The Godfather (1972), Apocalypse Now (1979), and The Great Santini (1981). However, his first Academy Award win came in 1983 for Tender Mercies.
Duvall’s remarkable career saw him garner three additional Oscar nominations for The Apostle (1997), A Civil Action (1998), and The Judge (2014).
Robert Duvall’s Marriage to Luciana Pedraza
Robert Duvall, married three times before, met his current wife, Luciana Pedraza, in 1997 at a bakery in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In a 2011 Esquire interview, Duvall revealed that Pedraza had invited him to a party, sparking the start of their relationship.
The couple tied the knot in 2005 and have collaborated on two films, Assassination Tango (2002) and Wild Horses (2015). In 2001, they co-founded The Robert Duvall Children’s Fund, dedicated to supporting impoverished children and families in northern Argentina and empowering women to start businesses.
Reflecting on their bond, Duvall shared with Oprah.com in 2015, “She said, ‘What will it be like when we grow old together?’ And I said, ‘I already am old.’ We enjoy each other’s company. Love is an important thing, you know. All kinds of love.”
What is Robert Duvall doing now at 95
Robert Duvall now resides with his wife of nearly 20 years, Luciana Pedraza, on their farm in Fauquier County, Virginia.
In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE (The TV Show!) after turning 90, Duvall joked, “Love the most [about being 90]? I don’t know if I love any of it, but day to day with my wonderful wife.”
