Veteran actor Robert Duvall has died after a long and memorable career where he often played secondary characters but usually was the one remembered for his steely performance. He had notable roles in To Kill a Mockingbird, M*A*S*H, The Conversation and Network but reached his pinnacle as the self-effacing consigliere in The Godfather, alongside Brando and Pacino, and the surf-crazed Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now riding into attack in Vietnam with speakers blaring Wagner’s The Ride of the Valkyries.
He was born 5 January 1931 5.10am San Diego, California, with a rear admiral father, and bore the mark of the standout Great Depression generation though his family was not poor. He had his Sun conjunct Saturn Mercury all in Capricorn opposition Pluto Jupiter in Cancer square Uranus in Aries. So ambitious, a workaholic with a strong Saturn, confident with Jupiter Pluto, innovative with a focal point Uranus. A complex temperament given to self-doubt but buoyed up by robust self-assurance, both conservative and rebellious.
His Cancer Moon was deeply buried in his 8th house and sparsely aspected being only trine a 12th house Venus. His Sun/Moon midpoint, the marriage significator, was conjunct his 10th house Libra South Node and square his Pluto, so relationships would not be easy. He was married four times, with stepchildren but no children of his own.
His Pluto was in the 8th house, which is not uncommon amongst top film stars who are able to project a powerful image. His Moon and Mars in Leo were also in the 8th so he did have subterranean depths which he put to good use in his highly controlled performances.
He appeared in more of the American Film Institute’s Top 100 films than any other actor.
He was of the acting generation like Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, Sam Shephard, that could play supporting roles from the front. Loved him in Secondhand Lions – great monologue and ace bar fight and suitable for the family. Always came across as a good guy!
Two other great films were Tender Mercies and The Great Santini both I would recommend. I see that Robert Duvall was born in San Diego, CA, where I live. Maybe they will present film tributes here.