The entertainment world is mourning the loss of actor Robert Duvall. He died Sunday at the age of 95.
He was best known for his roles in “The Godfather,” “The Godfather Part II,” “Network,” “Apocalypse Now,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “True Grit,” “The Apostle” and many others.
But Duvall certainly made an imprint with his acting in sports movies as well.
His portrayal as reporter Max Mercy was instrumental in the classic baseball movie “The Natural.”
The line, “After today, whether you’re a goat or hero, you’re going to make me a great story,” has been repeated a thousand times in every press box in America.
Duvall was also beloved for his “Days of Thunder” performance as Harry Hogge, NASCAR crew chief for Tom Cruise’s character Cole Trickle. He picked that part instead of being in “Silence of the Lambs.”
“Rubbin’, son, is racin.’”
Pittsburgh-based “Jack Reacher” wasn’t a sports movie, but it also included Duvall alongside Cruise.
During “The Great Santini,” Duvall was cast as an obnoxious basketball father.
“You get that punk, and you put him on the deck.”
Some people feel Duvall did some underrated work as Scottish soccer coach Gordon McLeod in “A Shot at Glory.”
“Whatever you do, don’t score early and (tick) ‘em off.”
That movie also featured Pittsburgh’s own Michael Keaton as the team’s owner, who wants to move the club to Dublin, Ireland.
Duvall also has a rivalry with another Pittsburgh legend in the comedy “Kicking and Screaming,” when he played Mike Ditka’s neighbor and Will Ferrell’s dad.
In that film, Duvall’s character trades his own grandson.
The Texas football movie “12 Mighty Orphans” reunited Duvall with his “Apocalypse Now” co-star Martin Sheen and Luke Wilson.
He also taught Lucas Black to “see it, feel it, trust it” in the golf movie “Seven Days in Utopia.”
And, Duvall played the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers with Adam Sandler in “Hustle.”
“So many movies to choose from that were legendary. Watch them when you can,” Sandler said of Duvall on Monday.
“One of the greatest actors we ever had.”
