Robert Duvall Was ‘Surly’ but ‘Absolutely Great,’ Says Tender Mercies Director

Following the death of Robert Duvall at 95, Bruce Beresford has shared his memories of directing the acclaimed actor in Tender Mercies. The filmmaker acknowledged that Duvall could be “surly.” However, Beresford acknowledged that his performance was “absolutely great.”

Bruce Beresford pays tribute to Robert Duvall

Australian filmmaker Bruce Beresford has reflected on his experience working with Robert Duvall following the actor’s death at the age of 95. Beresford directed Duvall in the 1983 drama Tender Mercies, the performance that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1984.

Looking back on their time working together, Beresford described Duvall as “surly” and “opinionated,” but said his talent was undeniable. He recalled filming the first scene in a small motel room, where Duvall’s character lies drunk on the floor before getting up. “As he [Duvall] did the scene, I could feel the skin crawling on the back of my neck, and I thought, ‘This guy is absolutely great,’” Beresford told The Hollywood Reporter.

The director explained that he liked to carefully plan each scene in advance, including camera angles and actor movements. Beresford explained, “He was opinionated. It was very strange, really. I’d pre-plan the scenes and say ‘We’re doing this’ and ‘We’re doing that.’ He tended to be rather surly. He’d look at it, and he’d say, ‘Oh, is that it?’” 

However, the filmmaker praised Duvall’s work, saying, “But no matter what it was, he did it extremely well — it always looked better than I imagined it would.” Despite the professional success of Tender Mercies, Beresford said their paths did not cross again after production. “I never saw Duvall again after Tender Mercies,” he said.

Duvall died on February 15, 2026, at the age of 95. His death was confirmed the following day by his wife, Luciana Duvall. Over a career that spanned more than six decades, he won one Academy Award and received six additional nominations. He became widely known for his performances in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. 

Source: Comingsoon.net