Hollywood and the world of cinema are in mourning after Robert Duvall, one of the most revered and versatile actors of all time, passed away peacefully at his home in Virginia on February 16, 2026, at the age of 95.

The news was first shared in a brief but deeply moving statement from his wife, Luciana Duvall, who wrote on social media: “Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort. He lived a long, full life filled with passion for his craft and for the people he loved. We are heartbroken, but so grateful for every moment we shared.”

Luciana’s words — simple, intimate, and raw — struck a chord far beyond the usual celebrity obituaries. Fans, fellow actors, directors, and critics flooded social media with tributes, many visibly moved by the tenderness in her message. For decades, Duvall had been the stoic, towering presence on screen — from Tom Hagen in The Godfather to Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, from Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird to the unforgettable Augustus McCrae in Lonesome Dove. Yet behind that commanding screen persona was a private man who, in his later years, found profound happiness and peace in his marriage to Luciana, a former Argentine flight attendant he wed in 2005.

The couple’s love story was one of quiet devotion. Duvall, who had been married three times before, often spoke of Luciana as his “rock” and “the love of my life.” They lived a low-key life on their Virginia farm, far from the Hollywood spotlight, where Duvall could tend to his horses, play music, and enjoy the simple routines he had rarely allowed himself during his peak years. Luciana was by his side through every health challenge in his final decade, including mobility issues and the natural frailty of age. Her tribute — calling him “Bob” in such a personal, unguarded way — reminded the world that the legend was also a husband who cherished quiet evenings, laughter, and the comfort of home.

Tributes poured in immediately. Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Duvall in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, said: “Bob was one of the greatest actors I’ve ever worked with — fearless, truthful, unforgettable. He was also one of the kindest men I’ve known. My heart goes out to Luciana and the family.” Al Pacino, his Godfather co-star, posted a simple black-and-white photo of the two of them from the set with the caption: “Rest in peace, my brother. You gave us everything.”

Meryl Streep, who worked with Duvall in The Hours, wrote: “He was a giant — in talent, in heart, in dignity. The world is dimmer without him.” Even younger stars like Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet paid homage, with Zendaya saying: “His work taught me what acting really means — truth, always truth.”

Duvall’s career spanned seven decades and earned him an Oscar, four Golden Globes, and a place in the pantheon of American cinema. Yet in his later years, he spoke most proudly not of awards, but of his marriage to Luciana and the simple joys of ranch life. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” he told Vanity Fair in 2018. “After all the noise, all the roles, all the years — she’s what matters.”

His death, peaceful and at home surrounded by family, feels like the gentle close to a long, extraordinary life. The man who once roared across the screen in Apocalypse Now (“I love the smell of napalm in the morning”) and quietly broke hearts as Boo Radley left the world the same way he lived his final years: on his own terms, with dignity, and with the woman he loved by his side.

Hollywood has lost a legend. But more importantly, Luciana has lost her Bob — and the world has lost a reminder that even the biggest stars are, in the end, defined by the quiet love stories that carry them through.

Rest in peace, Robert Duvall. The screen will never see another like you.