A staunch, lifelong supporter of the Republican party, Duvall was personally invited to George W. Bush's inauguration as President in 2001. Duvall attended the ceremony.
Appears in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Tender Mercies (1983), both of which were written for the screen by Horton Foote, and both of which earned him an Oscar for "Best Screenplay".
Being a soccer fan, he supports the Argentinian national side.
Being descended from Robert E. Lee, he can actually trace his family back to President George Washington. Washington himself had no biological children, but his wife, Martha Custis, did, and he adopted them after the death of Martha's first husband. Her son, John Custis, had a son of his own, Washington Custis, whose daughter, Mary Custis, was Robert E. Lee's wife. Interestingly, Duvall played Lee in Gods and Generals (2003), opposite Jeff Daniels, who had played Washington in The Crossing (1990). Duvall starred in the adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).
Born to William Howard Duvall, an U.S. Navy admiral, and his wife Mildred Virginia Hart, an amateur actress.
Can speak Spanish fluently.
Ex-brother-in-law of John Savage and Jim Youngs.
Fractured several ribs in April 2002 after falling off a horse while rehearsing for role in Open Range (2003).
Has a family connection to two 2008 Presidential hopefuls. One of his ancestors, Mareen Duvall, is also an ancestor of Barack Obama. John McCain's family has been involved in the military for several generations, including an ancestor who worked with George Washington, to whom Duvall is related (by adoption).
Has been had a role in more American Film Institute Top 100 films (six), than any other actor. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Apocalypse Now (1979), The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part II (1974), MASH (1970) and Network (1976). Robert De Niro and James Stewart were each in five.
He publicly criticized director Steven Spielberg for flying to Cuba in October 2002, and vowed never to work for Dreamworks studio again.
He says the work he is most proud of by far is his role as the former Texas Ranger "Augustus McCrae" in the 1990 TV miniseries "Lonesome Dove" (1989).
He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2005.
His father was a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy.
His father was of French Hugenot descent (with the family having immigrated to the U.S. in the 1700s), while his mother was of Anglo-Saxon descent, and is a direct descendant of General Robert E. Lee.
His favorite city is Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is an avid Tango dancer.
His performance as "Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore" in Apocalypse Now (1979) is ranked #59 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
His performance as "Mac Sledge" in Tender Mercies (1983) is ranked #14 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
Hosted a fundraiser for Rudolph W. Giuliani at his Hollywood home in January 2008. He later endorsed Senator John McCain after Guiliani dropped out.
In Gods and Generals (2003), played ancestor Robert E. Lee. The role was originally played by Martin Sheen in Gettysburg (1993). Duvall and Sheen starred together in the popular Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now (1979).