Robert Duvall, actor who played surfing’s most iconic film character, dead at 95

Big Duke 6, out.

Of all the surf characters depicted by Hollywood over the years, four have become iconic: Sean Penn’s Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, John Philbin’s Turtle in North Shore, Patrick Swayze’s Bohdi in Point Break and Robert Duvall’s Lt. Col Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now.

And amongst these four, Kilgore is king.

Duvall played the brash Vietnam conflict era helicopter to the absolute hilt, surfers, everywhere, thrilling at the depiction of a Wagner-listening, cowboy hat-wearing hard-charging surfer, as opposed to the traditional drop-out laid back slacker.

Kilgore’s hanging out of the helicopter, explaining the lineup, his giving his soldiers the option to either fight or paddle, his utterance of “Charlie don’t surf,” all simply majestic.

Duvall did not get a start as an actor until the ripe age of 31 but from there became a tour de force, shining in The Godfather trilogy, The Natural, Days of Thunder, etc. and winning an Academy Award for 1983’s Tender Mercies.

He was married four times, never having any children except surfers, everywhere, who consider him a sort of father.

RIP.