A fan of the Godfather movies has made a heartbreaking observation in the wake of Robert Duvall’s death aged 95.
Duvall starred in close to 100 films throughout a storied career. His performances in movies like The Conversation, Tender Mercies and Apocalypse Now, earned acclaim.
Yet to many he’ll always be Tom Hagen, the level-headed consigliere and lawyer to his adopted family the Corleones in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II.
Duvall was a key part of what made the first two parts of Francis Ford Coppola’s adaption of Mario Puzo’s novel such a huge success, with his calm, measured performance serving as a fine counterpoint to the brazen criminality of the central Corleone clan.
It could even be argued that his absence from The Godfather Part III played a part in the film earning less than stellar comparisons with its predecessors.
Duvall opted out of reprising the part over a dispute around pay with Coppola. As a result, Hagen was written out of the script with another lawyer, George Hamilton’s B.J. Harrison, introduced in his place.
Fans have never forgotten Duvall’s star turn as Hagen though, even if it was only deemed worthy of an Oscar nomination from the Academy.
That much was evident on social media in the wake of Duvall’s passing. While some took to platforms like Threads to share heartwarming stories of meeting Duvall in real life, others chose to look back at his film work.
On X, a user posting under the handle @BeenRichSport went viral with the observation that “Michael Corleone really is the last of Vito’s sons alive.” The post went viral with 2.5 million views and counting.
It’s a heartbreaking point to make but an entirely accurate one. John Cazale, who played Fredo Corleone, was the first of the actors playing to pass away. He died at the age of 42 in March 1978, a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
James Caan who played the hot-headed Sonny Corleone, died in July 2022, aged 82. Now Duvall, who played Hagen, Vito’s adopted son, has also passed, leaving Al Pacino, Michael Corleone, as the only one still alive.
The sense of loss among fans of The Godfather movies was further emphasized in another post shared to X that featured a clip from the conclusion of The Godfather Part II.
The scene, presented in flashback, depicts the moment Michael announces to the family during Vito’s birthday in 1941, his intentions to enlist in the Marines, angering Sonny and confounding Tom in the process.
What’s eerie now, and something pointed out by the user behind the X account, @Reaver___, is a detail that, until now, would not have amounted to much. Writing alongside the clip, they said: “What’s really wild is the actors all leave this scene in order of death in real life.”
Sure enough, Fredo, followed by Sonny and then finally Tom leave the dining room. Only Michael remains, contemplating his decision as the family rushes to greet Vito.
The observation went viral on X, racking up 3.5 million views. One viewer noticed an even eerier detail, writing: “Cazale leaves way earlier, then Caan, then Duvall follows him shortly after. Just like real life.”
Another said: “Dude that’s so eerie man like wtf.”
Duvall’s passing at age 95 was confirmed by his wife Luciana Duvall, in a statement issued to social media.
“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time,” she said in the post. “Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.”
“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” she said.