Entertainment
‘Godfather’, ‘Apocalypse Now’ Actor Robert Duvall Dies At 95
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Robert Duvall, who played the smooth mafia lawyer in “The Godfather” and stole the show with his depiction of a surfing-crazed colonel in “Apocalypse Now,” has died at the age of 95, his wife said Monday.
His death Sunday was confirmed by his wife Luciana Duvall.
“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home,” she wrote.
Blunt-talking, prolific and glitz-averse, Duvall won an Oscar for best actor and was nominated six other times. Over his six decades-long career, he shone in both lead and supporting roles, and eventually became a director.
“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” Luciana Duvall said. “His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.”
Duvall won his Academy Award in 1983 for playing a washed-up country singer in “Tender Mercies.”
But his most memorable characters also included the soft-spoken, loyal mob consigliere Tom Hagen in the first two installments of “The Godfather” and the maniacal Lieutenant Colonel William Kilgore in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War epic “Apocalypse Now.”
The latter, which earned Duvall an Oscar nomination and made him a bona fide star after years playing lesser roles, sees him utter what is now one of cinema’s most famous lines.
“I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” his war-loving character — bare chested, cocky and sporting a big black cowboy hat — muses as low-flying US warplanes bomb a beachfront tree line where he wants to go surfing.
That character was originally created to be even more over the top — his name was at first supposed to be Colonel Carnage — but Duvall had it toned down, demonstrating his meticulous approach to acting.
“I did my homework,” Duvall told veteran talk show host Larry King in 2015. “I did my research.”
Duvall was sort of a late bloomer in Hollywood — he was already 31 when he delivered his breakout performance as the mysterious recluse Boo Radley in the 1962 film adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
He would go on to play myriad roles — a bullying corporate executive in “Network” (1976), a Marine officer who treats his family like soldiers in “The Great Santini” (1979), and then his star turn in “Tender Mercies.”
Duvall often said his favorite role, however, was one he played in a 1989 TV mini-series — the grizzled, wise-cracking Texas Ranger-turned-cowboy Augustus McCrae in “Lonesome Dove,” based on the novel by Larry McMurtry.
Film critic Elaine Mancini once described Duvall as “the most technically proficient, the most versatile, and the most convincing actor on the screen in the United States.”
AFP
Veteran actress Toyin Adewale has said marriage is not a do-or-die affair for her. She drew a clear line at domestic violence.
Speaking on Biola Bayo’s podcast, she said small misunderstandings are normal in marriage. She added that they are not enough reason to leave a home.
Adewale said leaving a marriage can be uncertain. She questioned whether life would improve or become worse elsewhere. She stressed that her decision to stay depends on safety.
She revealed she married in January 1993. She welcomed her son, singer Mayorkun, in March the same year. She described herself as calm and gentle at home.
She said:
“Marriage isn’t a do-or-die thing for me. I wouldn’t stay if he beats me. If there’s no violence and it’s just a minor misunderstanding, it’s normal. Why do I leave? Do I know what will happen where I am going? I got married with the determination of never leaving my marriage, provided there’s no violence.
“I got married in January 1993 and had Mayowa in March 1993. I have been married for 33 years. I am the gentle one”.
Adewale said she began her professional acting career in 1988. Her first paid role earned her N5,000. She also performed before the president. That moment brought her into the spotlight.
She added that she discovered her passion for acting early. She said she still enjoys it today.
“I just found myself in acting, and I enjoy doing it. I started acting in 1988. They paid me 5000 naira, I can’t forget. They gave us clothes, and we performed before the president. It was my first job that brought me to the limelight,” she added.
The actress also spoke about her family background. She said her father had four wives. Each wife had one child.
She added that she is the lastborn. She described her father as very strict. She said he planned for his death.
According to her, he even bought his burial clothes. He also prepared his grave in advance. She said he paid all church fees early. He did this so his children would not struggle after his death.
“My father had four wives, and each wife had one child. I am the lastborn. He was a disciplinarian, so he fixed a lot for us. He bought his grave cloth, did his grave and all.
He paid all the necessary dues to the churches and all and told them to sign so they wouldn’t stress us when he died”, she concluded.
Veteran Nollywood actor, dramatist, filmmaker, and scholar, Dr Kola Oyewo, has died at the age of 80.
Announcing his passing on Instagram on Friday, actor Kunle Afod wrote: “Kola Oyewo has taken his final bow.
“His remarkable talent, timeless performances, and immense contributions to the Nigerian theatre and film industry will never be forgotten.
His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. “Rest well, sir. Your work lives on. “🕊️ It’s a wrap.”
The veteran actor, born on March 27, 1946, in Oba-Ile, Osun State, Oyewo began his acting career in 1964 with the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group.
He later became one of the most recognised figures in Yoruba theatre and Nigerian film.
He was widely known for his portrayal of Odewale in Ola Rotimi’s play, “The Gods Are Not to Blame,” a role that earned him recognition across the African theatre scene.
During a career that spanned more than six decades, Oyewo featured in several productions, including “Saworoide,” “Sango,” “Koseegbe,” “Super Story” and many Yoruba-language films that contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s movie industry.
Beyond acting, Oyewo was also an academic.
He earned a doctorate in Drama from the University of Ibadan and taught at Obafemi Awolowo University, Redeemer’s University and Elizade University.
Through his teaching and mentorship, he helped train and guide generations of actors, playwrights and scholars, leaving a lasting impact on Nigeria’s theatre, film and academic communities.
Ariana Grande has put the White House on blast for using her song “Bye” in a social media post promoting US immigration arrests, describing the video as “barbaric”.
The White House released the TikTok video on Tuesday, featuring US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting and handcuffing people.
The video used Grande’s song “Bye” as background audio and was captioned: “Bye-bye. President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history.”
On Thursday, Grande responded in the post’s comment section. “Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. F*** ICE,” she wrote, according to Variety.
As of Friday morning, her comment was no longer visible on the post.
A source close to Grande confirmed to Reuters that her team was exploring how to remove the song from the video.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement: “We’ll say this one last time: what’s actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens.”
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