Al Pacino leads tributes to The Godfather star Robert Duvall as Hollywood legend dies age 95

Hailed as "one of the greatest actors of our time", Robert's wife Luciana Duvall praised his "great passion for his craft" as well as his love for "characters, a great meal, and holding court".

He was best known for his roles in The Godfather, The Great Santini and Apocalypse Now.

Robert died yesterday at home "surrounded by love and comfort".

His spouse of 21 years said: "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, surrounded by love and comfort.

Duvall's co-star in The Godfather, Al Pacino, led the tributes from Hollywood.

Pacino said it was an "honour" to work with Duvall, describing him as being a "born actor".

In a statement, Pacino said: "It was an honour to have worked with Robert Duvall.

"He was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered.

"I will miss him."

"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. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind."

Robert was nominated seven times at the Oscars and received an Academy Award for his role in the 1983 film Tender Mercies.

He beat Michael Cain, Tom Conti, Tom Courtenay and Albert Finney for the Best Actor award for his performance as an alcoholic country singer.

Tributes have since poured in for the veteran actor including from Sandler, who starred alongside him in the 2022 Netflix sport comedy Hustle.

Sandler shared a number of photographs of the actor on Instagram, including one of the pair together from the film, and said: "Funny as hell. Strong as hell. One of the greatest actors we ever had. Such a great man to talk to and laugh with.

"Loved him so much. We all did. So many movies to choose from that were legendary. Watch them when you can.

"Sending his wife Luciana and all his family and friends our condolences."

Jayne Mansfield's Car co-star Robert Patrick also paid a heartfelt tribute to the actor with a post on Instagram.

He said: "I am gutted. Robert Duvall I will miss you brother.

"He was the actor I looked up to. His ability to find the truth of a scene was something special.

"Over the years I would call Bobby and we'd talk movies and barbecue. He loved barbecue and I'd always let him know when I was having it in Lockhart, Texas.

"I will miss Bobby. I will always be proud that I got to play his son. Rest in peace my friend."

The Sopranos star Michael Imperioli said Duvall was "one of the best ever" and described him as "an actor's actor" in a post on Instagram.

He continued: "Brilliant. Genius. Mesmerized in every role.

"One of the greatest bodies of work in cinema history."

Meanwhile Jamie Lee Curtis shared a photograph of Duvall as Tom Hagen in a post on Instagram with the caption: "The greatest consigliere the screen has ever seen.

"Bravo, Robert Duvall."

Duvall made his screen debut in 1963's To Kill A Mockingbird, playing the mysterious Boo Radley before starring in a number of films including 1979's The Great Santini, 1990's The Handmaid's Tale, and 2014's The Judge alongside Robert Downey Jr.

The star earned his first Oscar nomination in the best supporting actor category for playing Mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in 1972's The Godfather - a role which he reprised in The Godfather Part II.

He went on to score his second best supporting actor Oscar nomination in 1979 for his performance as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in 1979's Apocalypse Now,which he made famous with the line: "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

Duvall starred in a number of other films including the 1990 adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, where he acted alongside Faye Dunaway and the late Natasha Richardson.

He also appeared in Horton Foote’s 1991 film Convicts, the 1993 romance comedy Wrestling Ernest Hemingway and the 1997 drama The Apostle.

Duvall later starred opposite John Travolta in the 1998 legal drama A Civil Action where he played lawyer Jerome Facher.