Robert Duval
Robert Duval began his acting career in the late 50’s on stage. Film and television roles followed in the 60’s and beyond. He enjoyed a prolific film career lending his talents as an actor to a wide variety of roles. Colleagues said of his portrayals, Duval had the ability to thoroughly “inhabit” a character such that he became the character he played. One co-star said she never got to know Robert Duval, only his character.
Robert Duval’s contributions to Western film over the course of his career are considerable. He got his start in 1969, playing “Lucky” Ned Pepper to John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. Who can forget that thrilling “Fill your hands, you . . . “, reins in their teeth, gun down gallop? Lawman (’71) came next, followed by The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid and Joe Kidd (’72).
Lonesome Dove hit our screens in ’89. OK, OK, I know this is a big screen post series and Lonesome Dove is a little screen miniseries, but some of those little screens are pretty big these days and was there ever a little screen Western as big as Lonesome Dove? I don’t think so. So Lonesome Dove belongs here. Duval won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of retired Texas Ranger Captain Agustus “Gus” McCrae. Paired with Tommy Lee Jones as the dour Woodrow Call, Gus and Call make two of the most compelling pards to ride down the Western film trail.
Duval went back to the big screen in 1993 opposite the incomparable Wes Studi in Geronimo: An American Legend. The films that followed kept Westerns alive and relevant in a new millennium. Duval played General Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals (’03), a fitting role for a man whose maternal ancestors include the General himself. Open Range followed later that year. A Night in Old Mexico (’14) and Wild Horses (’15) round out the body of work.
Robert Duval is still making films. With luck, we may yet get another Western. These days he and fourth wife, Pedraza are involved with a children’s charitable foundation in her native Argentina.
Next Week: Wes Studi
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Ride easy,
Paul
Robert Duval’s contributions to Western film over the course of his career are considerable. He got his start in 1969, playing “Lucky” Ned Pepper to John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. Who can forget that thrilling “Fill your hands, you . . . “, reins in their teeth, gun down gallop? Lawman (’71) came next, followed by The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid and Joe Kidd (’72).
Lonesome Dove hit our screens in ’89. OK, OK, I know this is a big screen post series and Lonesome Dove is a little screen miniseries, but some of those little screens are pretty big these days and was there ever a little screen Western as big as Lonesome Dove? I don’t think so. So Lonesome Dove belongs here. Duval won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of retired Texas Ranger Captain Agustus “Gus” McCrae. Paired with Tommy Lee Jones as the dour Woodrow Call, Gus and Call make two of the most compelling pards to ride down the Western film trail.
Duval went back to the big screen in 1993 opposite the incomparable Wes Studi in Geronimo: An American Legend. The films that followed kept Westerns alive and relevant in a new millennium. Duval played General Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals (’03), a fitting role for a man whose maternal ancestors include the General himself. Open Range followed later that year. A Night in Old Mexico (’14) and Wild Horses (’15) round out the body of work.
Robert Duval is still making films. With luck, we may yet get another Western. These days he and fourth wife, Pedraza are involved with a children’s charitable foundation in her native Argentina.
Next Week: Wes Studi
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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