Robert Duvall Trivia Quiz

Answer: U.S. Army

Duvall's father achieved the rank of Rear Admiral. Duvall served in the Army 1953 to 1954, after graduating from Principi College in Illinois, where he majored in drama. While stationed in Georgia, PFC Duvall acted in an amateur production. Just a few of his military roles included "The Great Santini" (1979), for which he was nominated for an Oscar and in which he played a blood and guts pilot with conflicted family relationships; the ageing Capt. Spurgeon "Fish" Tanner in "Deep Impact" (1998); Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now" (1978), who loved the smell of napalm in the morning; and, Major Frank Burns in "MASH" (1969).

Answer: Assassination Tango

In 2005, Luciana Pedraza became his fourth wife. He also wrote the movie's script. His friend and producer from "The Godfather" (1971), Francis Ford Coppola, served as executive producer and helped secure funding for the project. Duvall has been a great fan of the tango and soccer.

In "Assassination Tango", Duvall played a paid killer drawn into the Buenos Aires tango clubs and smitten with Manuela, as played by Pedraza.

Answer: Postal Clerk

Duvall went to New York after leaving the Army in 1954. During these early years he worked for the postal service in Manhattan. He also lived with Dustin Hoffman and was friends with Gene Hackman, the three becoming life-long friends.

Answer: John Wayne

Duvall's character in the 1968 movie "True Grit" was that of Ned Pepper, a cantankerous scoundrel whom Wayne eventually shot. Wayne began his film career in the thirties, garnered the title of The Duke and performed in numerous films, including "The Shootist" (1976) which was his last film before dying of cancer in 1979.

Answer: Guinness Book of World Records

Duvall has received numerous awards and nominations, including the accolade of an entry in the 1979 Guinness Book of World Records. He also has an Academy Award for the staring role in "Tender Mercies" (1983), an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for "A Civil Action" (1998), Golden Globe Awards for his roles in "Stalin" - awarded in 1983 and "Lonesome Dove" (1989), an Emmy for "Broken Trail" (2006), an Obie for a stage production of "A View from the Bridge" in 1965, and, a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting actor for the 1979 "Apocalypse Now".

Answer: Ulysses S. Grant

Duvall can trace his family roots back to George Washington, whose adopted son married a Curtis. Robert E. Lee's wife was Mary Anna Randolph Curtis, whose great-grandmother was Martha Washington. He is also related to Harper Lee, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird," the movie which was his film debut, opposite Gregory Peck. By virtue of French Huguenot immigrants who settled in Maryland in the 17th century, he also is related to former Senator from Illinois and the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, Associate Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Duvall, and Wallis Warfield Simpson, the latter of whom King Edward VIII of England abdicated the throne to marry.

Answer: The Chase

"The Chase" was an early role for Duvall, wherein he uncharacteristically portrayed a mild-mannered husband to an extroverted and flirtatious Janice Rule. The 1966 film featured a dream team of actors - Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Angie Dickinson, and Jane Fonda - and was written by renowned playwright Lillian Hellman. Duvall received Oscar's Best Supporting Actor Award for all these films except "The Chase".

Answer: Virginia

Although born in California in 1931, Duvall has stated that his roots go deep in Virginia, as both his parents were Virginians. He has also maintained a home in Buenos Aires.

Answer: Barack Obama

Duvall supported Rudy Guiliani in the U.S. 2008 Presidential nomination race, hosting a fundraiser for him at his Hollywood home, but then supported the McCain-Palin ticket. He made the statement at a 2008 GOP fundraiser. Despite his resolve, Obama was elected President in November 2008.

Answer: Gus McCrae

"Lonesome Dove" (1989) was a TV mini-series based upon the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Larry McMurtry. Duvall (McCrae) co-starred with Tommy Lee Jones (Call) as two long-time friends and former Texas Rangers who drove cattle to Montana. He has acknowledged that not receiving an Emmy for that role was one of his biggest disappointments.