Let’s talk about Robert Duvall, a man who has been in the acting game for over seven decades. This guy has made more than 85 films, been married four times, divorced three times, and, in his own words, might be guilty of all the seven deadly sins—including getting pretty ticked off with a few directors along the way. But at 90 years old, this legendary actor has remarkably few regrets. How’s that for living life to the fullest?
Robert Duvall has accomplished so much that he’s proud of, from his incredible work in charity to winning the prestigious Oscar for his role in the 1983 film Tender Mercies. An insider shared exclusively with Closer Weekly that despite not having biological children, Robert has built a beautiful family with his wife of 15 years, Luciana Pedraza, who is 49 years old. He’s incredibly grateful for what he has and often tells his friends how extraordinary his life has been. It’s like he’s lived not just one lifetime, but several.
Now, here’s the thing: Robert’s life could have gone a completely different way. Born to an amateur actress and a U.S. Navy rear admiral, Robert grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, but spent a lot of time on his uncle’s ranch in Montana. He jokes that if acting hadn’t found him, he’d probably be a cowboy. “I may not remember what happened two weeks ago, but I can vividly recall specific moments from my uncle’s ranch when I was 12 or 13,” he says. “It was just incredible.”
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But fate had other plans for this big-screen natural. Even at the age of four, he was impressing family members with his uncanny impersonations. After serving in the Army for a year following the Korean War, Robert moved to New York City, where he studied acting at the renowned Neighborhood Playhouse. There, he formed lifelong friendships with fellow acting students Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. “Gene once offered me his last $300, which I didn’t take,” Robert recalls. “We’ve been through thick and thin together, and fame didn’t change our bond one bit.”
Finding Love in Unexpected Places
Love didn’t come easy for Robert. He was married to Barbara Benjamin Marcus from 1964 to 1975, Gail Youngs from 1982 to 1986, and Sharon Brophy from 1991 to 1995. He calls those failed marriages “part of the process of life” and admits he wasn’t always the easiest person to live with. But then, something magical happened. “When I met my current wife, she’s much younger than me—we met by chance on the street in Argentina,” he says. “I thought, why not give it a shot? And it worked out beautifully.” They tied the knot in 2005, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Life Beyond Hollywood
These days, while Robert continues to act in films—his latest, 12 Mighty Orphans, is set to release in June—his happiest moments are spent far away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. He and Luciana live on a peaceful ranch in Virginia, where they enjoy long walks, tending to their vegetable garden, marveling at their beautiful lake, riding horses, and observing the abundant wildlife. “The ranch is vast; you could easily get lost there,” says the insider. “It’s given Robert a profound sense of peace and contentment.”
– Alison Gaylin, with reporting by Natalie Posner
