The Godfather earned Robert Duvall his first Oscar nomination — here’s his one regret about the iconic role

Duvall died at 95 on Feb. 15.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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February 18, 2026 12:49 p.m. ET

Robert Duvall in 'The Godfather'. Credit:

Courtesy Everett

Robert Duvall had a legendary career with numerous iconic films, but that doesn't mean he didn't have regrets.

Duvall, who died at 95 on Feb. 15, once admitted that despite earning the first of seven Oscar nominations for his supporting performance in *The Godfather*, there's one aspect of the 1972 film he would've liked to change. The subject came up during a 2003 interview with PEOPLE, during which Duvall was joined by the movie's director, Francis Ford Coppola.

Reflecting on Duvall's performance, Coppola said, "Actors click into character at different times — the first week, third week. Bobby's hot after one or two takes. That's all he needs."

Duvall then interjected, "I just wish I had a better hairpiece."

Al Pacino and Robert Duvall in 'The Godfather'.

Courtesy Everett

Regrets about his hair aside, Duvall's role as Corleone family consigliere Tom Hagen marked a major turning point in his career. After making his film debut as Boo Radley in 1962's *To Kill a Mockingbird*, the actor appeared in such significant titles as 1969’s *True Grit* and 1970’s *M*A*S*H*. But *The Godfather* was a critical and commercial success unlike any of his previous projects and to this day remains a venerated and influential title.

"We all knew it — this was going to hit big," Duvall said in 2003, referencing costars Al Pacino, James Caan, John Cazale and Marlon Brando. Duvall was also among the stars who reunited for 1974's* The Godfather Part II*, a triumph widely considered superior to the first film. He did not return for the much maligned third film, released in 1991, citing financial reasons.

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In 2004, Duvall shared that he bowed out of* The Godfather Part III* because he felt he wasn't being paid his worth. He explained that he did not expect to be one of the movie's top earners, but was not impressed by the offer on the table.

Robert Duvall in 2012.

Matt Carr/Getty

"I said I would work easily if they paid Pacino twice what they paid me, that’s fine," Duvall told CBS. "But not three or four times, which is what they did." Six years later, he told Reuters that he had no regrets about turning down the film "because it wasn’t as good as the other two."

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Duvall, who also starred in such films as *Apocalypse Now*, *Tender Mercies* (for which he won the Best Actor Oscar)*,* *Days of Thunder*, and the renowned miniseries *Lonesome Dove*, died on Sunday, according to a social media statement released on Monday from his wife Luciana Pedraza.

"Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time," she wrote. "Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort."

She continued, "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all."**

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