Robert Duvall’s lasting Texas film legacy

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor                           

   Above, The Lockhart home that was used by Duvall and crew for Secondhand Lions. Photos by New Line Productions

Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor known for his quiet intensity and deeply authentic performances, passed away peacefully in February 2026 at his home in Middleburg. He was 95.

   Over a career that spanned more than six decades, Duvall built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, but in Texas, he was something more. He was one of the rare outsiders who captured the soul of the Lone Star State on screen and embraced its culture off screen.

   For many Texans, Duvall will forever be Gus McCrae in Lonesome Dove. His portrayal of the witty, weathered former Texas Ranger became one of the most beloved characters in Western television history.

   Duvall didn’t just play Texans, he understood them. His performances carried a natural ease, humor and grit that made audiences believe every word. It was that authenticity that set him apart and made his Texas roles so enduring.

   Duvall’s connection to Texas wasn’t limited to the screen. While filming Secondhand Lions in 2003, he spent significant time in and around Lockhart. The film’s iconic main farmhouse set was built in the rural countryside nearby, and many scenes were shot throughout the area.

   But it wasn’t just work that drew him back. Duvall developed a genuine affection for Lockhart, especially its legendary barbecue. He was known to frequent local institutions like Smitty’s Market and The Original Black’s Barbecue often mentioning the town fondly in conversations over the years.

    Friends say barbecue became a running theme in their talks with him.

    In a recent social media post shared on February 3, Duvall revealed that he was nearly killed in a scary on-set incident while filming the 2003 film. Duvall reflected that while filming a bar scene the lion actually got out and turned in his direction. This post was the last post on social media from the famed actor. 

   In a statement released by his public relations agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana Pedraza, Duvall was said to have died “peacefully.”

   Tributes poured in from colleagues across the film industry. Robert Patrick, who appeared alongside Duvall in the 2013 film Jayne Mansfield’s Car, said he was “gutted.”

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

   Robert Duvall leaves behind a towering body of work, from Westerns to crime dramas, but his legacy in Texas feels especially personal. He didn’t just portray Texan characters with conviction; he embraced the culture, the humor and even the food that define the state.

For many, that’s how he’ll be remembered: a Hollywood legend who felt right at home under a Texas sky.