Robert Duvall, remembered by collaborators as both a singular personality and a towering talent, left behind a legacy defined by discipline, intensity, and unmistakable authenticity. Director Walter Hill, who worked with Duvall on Broken Trail (2006) and Geronimo: An American Legend, reflected on the actor’s life and career following his death at age 95.
Hill described Duvall as a “marvelous actor” and a “different kind of guy,” recalling that while working with him could occasionally be challenging, the results were always worth it.
“It was my good fortune to direct him twice,” Hill said. “Sometimes it was a bumpy ride, but we’re all better off for his efforts over the years. He always had my great respect, and we ended up friends.”
On set, Duvall earned a reputation for unwavering professionalism. Hill likened him to a “good soldier,” especially during demanding productions.
“When the camera was rolling on a complicated shoot, there was no one better,” Hill explained. “He had a kind of authority and reality in scenes. I always believed he brought out the best in everybody. Like all great actors, the magic he had was mysterious and hard to define.”
Duvall’s acting process, however, was famously independent. Hill admitted the actor could be “director-proof,” noting that once Duvall settled on an interpretation, he rarely deviated.
“He didn’t like a lot of rehearsal. He knew what he was going to do,” Hill said. “He didn’t pay much attention to directors when it came to character or line readings. But in terms of staging, he was very easy to work with. As for his approach to a role, he had that worked out in his head long before he arrived — and you weren’t going to change it.”
Hill first encountered Duvall during the filming of Bullitt, where Hill served as a second assistant director. Duvall, who had a small role alongside Steve McQueen, spent long stretches waiting as his shooting schedule shifted — time he frequently filled playing tennis around San Francisco.
It was during that period Hill began to appreciate Duvall’s off-screen eccentricities. Beyond acting, Duvall cultivated passions that ranged from horsemanship and equestrian pursuits to Italian cuisine and the tango.
“He loved Italian food, Spanish food — and of course, he loved the tango,” Hill recalled. “There was so much that was unlikely about him.”
Duvall took particular pride in his skills as a horseman. Hill remembered a candid exchange during the Broken Trail shoot when Duvall asked who Hill considered Hollywood’s finest rider.
“I told him that Sam Elliott was famously regarded as one of the best horsemen, and many thought the Carradine brothers were his equal,” Hill said. “Bob looked at me and said, ‘I’m better than all of them,’ and walked out of the room. Bob was not without ego.”
Broken Trail became a pivotal success for AMC, drawing a large audience at a time when the channel was primarily known for classic films. The following years would see AMC redefine itself with acclaimed originals like Mad Men and Breaking Bad, but Hill emphasized that Broken Trail helped pave the way.
Originally developed by Duvall’s production company as a feature film, the project was ultimately structured as a two-part miniseries. The story followed cowboys transporting horses across the Northwest who find themselves protecting a group of vulnerable young Chinese women from a trafficking operation.
The miniseries went on to win the Emmy for best miniseries, while Duvall and co-star Thomas Haden Church both earned acting awards. Hill noted that Duvall felt deeply responsible for the material during production.
“He was very protective of it,” Hill said.
Despite his strong sense of pride, Hill said Duvall never indulged in public self-congratulation when accolades followed.
“He would just tuck in his chin, think justice had been done, and move on,” Hill said. “He wasn’t a boaster or a blowhard. He was always looking for the next job. He was very committed to his career.”
For Hill, that relentless dedication ultimately defined Duvall as much as his extraordinary performances.
“He was,” Hill concluded, “a true original.”
