To Kill a Mockingbird debuts - Dec 25, 1962 - HISTORY.com To Kill a Mockingbird debuts Share this: To Kill a Mockingbird debuts Author To Kill a Mockingbird debuts URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1962, To Kill a Mockingbird, a film based on the 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Harper Lee, opens in theaters. The Great Depression-era story of racial injustice and the loss of childhood innocence is told from the perspective of a young Alabama girl named Scout Finch, played in the film by Mary Badham, who lives with her older brother Jem (Phillip Alford) and their widowed attorney father Atticus (Peck). While Scout, Jem and their friend Dill (John Megna) become fascinated by the mysterious shut-in Boo Radley (Robert Duvall), Atticus goes to court to defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.

Directed by Robert Mulligan (Love with the Proper Stranger, Inside Daisy Clover, Summer of ‘42, The Man in the Moon), To Kill a Mockingbird was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won three Oscars, including Best Actor (Peck). The American Film Institute has rated Atticus Finch as the greatest movie hero of the 20th century, and in 1995 the United States National Film Registry picked To Kill a Mockingbird for preservation in the Library of Congress as a “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” film. Peck, born on April 5, 1916, in La Jolla, California, graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, where he became involved in theater. He debuted on Broadway in the early 1940s and made his big-screen debut in 1944’s Days of Glory. He went on to earn Academy Award nominations for 1946’s The Keys of the Kingdom, 1947’s The Yearling, 1948’s The Gentleman’s Agreement and 1950’s Twelve O’Clock High.

The handsome, dark-haired actor also starred in such movies as Spellbound (1945), The Gunfighter (1950), Roman Holiday (1953)–which marked Audrey Hepburn’s silver screen debut, as well as her first Best Actress Oscar win–Moby Dick (1956), in which Peck played Captain Ahab, and The Guns of Navarone (1961). Among Peck’s other movie credits are The Omen (1976), The Boys from Brazil (1978) and Other People’s Money (1991). He also made an appearance in director Martin Scorsese’s 1991 remake of Cape Fear, starring Robert DeNiro, Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange. (Peck had starred in the original 1962 film.) He died at the age of 87 on June 12, 2003. To Kill a Mockingbird was the only book that Harper Lee ever published.

The author, who was born on April 28, 1926, and raised in Monroeville, Alabama, was a friend from childhood of the writer Truman Capote (Breakfast at Tiffany’s, In Cold Blood). In the 2005 biopic Capote, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, the actress Catherine Keener played Lee, while Sandra Bullock took on the role in 2006’s Infamous. Related Videos To Kill a Mockingbird | film by Mulligan [1962] | Britannica.com To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird, American dramatic film , released in 1962, that was adapted from Harper Lee ’s coming-of-age novel that addressed racism and injustice. The movie is widely regarded as an American classic. Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

© 1963 Universal Pictures, a division of Universal City Studios, Inc., and MCA Publishing Rights, a division of MCA, Inc., photo, The Museum of Modern Art/Film Stills Archive, New York City To Kill a Mockingbird recounts the childhood experiences of six-year-old “Scout” Finch (played by Mary Badham) during the Great Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama . When her widowed father ( Gregory Peck ), a principled and respected attorney, defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, Scout and her brother witness the horrors of racism. They also learn valuable lessons about courage, compassion, tolerance, and prejudice . Gregory Peck (centre left) in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). © 1962 Universal Pictures Company, Inc.; photograph from a private collection Peck’s Academy Award -winning performance as Atticus Finch became an enduring part of cinema history; in 2003 his character was voted the top film hero in a poll conducted by the American Film Institute. Badham, as the tomboyish Scout, earned praise in her first screen role.

Scout’s friend, the imaginative, storytelling “Dill,” was patterned after Lee’s childhood friend, the writer Truman Capote . Robert Duvall made his film debut as “Boo” Radley, a reclusive neighbour. (From left to right) Phillip Alford, Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, and John Megna in … Courtesy of Universal International Pictures Production notes and credits December 25, 1962 : To Kill a Mockingbird debuts Introduction On this day in 1962, To Kill a Mockingbird, a film based on the 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Harper Lee, opens in theaters. The Great Depression-era story of racial injustice and the loss of childhood innocence is told from the perspective of a young Alabama girl named Scout Finch, played in the film by Mary Badham, who lives with her older brother Jem (Phillip Alford) and their widowed attorney father Atticus (Peck).

While Scout, Jem and their friend Dill (John Megna) become fascinated by the mysterious shut-in Boo Radley (Robert Duvall), Atticus goes to court to defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Directed by Robert Mulligan (Love with the Proper Stranger, Inside Daisy Clover, Summer of ‘42, The Man in the Moon), To Kill a Mockingbird was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won three Oscars, including Best Actor (Peck). The American Film Institute has rated Atticus Finch as the greatest movie hero of the 20th century, and in 1995 the United States National Film Registry picked To Kill a Mockingbird for preservation in the Library of Congress as a “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” film. Peck, born on April 5, 1916, in La Jolla, California, graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, where he became involved in theater. He debuted on Broadway in the early 1940s and made his big-screen debut in 1944’s Days of Glory.

He went on to earn Academy Award nominations for 1946’s The Keys of the Kingdom, 1947’s The Yearling, 1948’s The Gentleman’s Agreement and 1950’s Twelve O’Clock High. The handsome, dark-haired actor also starred in such movies as Spellbound (1945), The Gunfighter (1950), Roman Holiday (1953)–which marked Audrey Hepburn’s silver screen debut, as well as her first Best Actress Oscar win–Moby Dick (1956), in which Peck played Captain Ahab, and The Guns of Navarone (1961). Among Peck’s other movie credits are The Omen (1976), The Boys from Brazil (1978) and Other People’s Money (1991). He also made an appearance in director Martin Scorsese’s 1991 remake of Cape Fear, starring Robert DeNiro, Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange. (Peck had starred in the original 1962 film.) He died at the age of 87 on June 12, 2003.

To Kill a Mockingbird was the only book that Harper Lee ever published. The author, who was born on April 28, 1926, and raised in Monroeville, Alabama, was a friend from childhood of the writer Truman Capote (Breakfast at Tiffany’s, In Cold Blood). In the 2005 biopic Capote, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, the actress Catherine Keener played Lee, while Sandra Bullock took on the role in 2006’s Infamous. Article Details: December 25, 1962 : To Kill a Mockingbird debuts Author December 25, 1962 : To Kill a Mockingbird debuts URL "To Kill a Mockingbird" | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Home / Events / "To Kill a Mockingbird" "To Kill a Mockingbird" Share Twitter Facebook WITH SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDING MARY BADHAM, DR.

TERRENCE ROBERTS (ONE OF THE LITTLE ROCK NINE) AND CONNIE RICE (CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AND AUTHOR) As much of a classic as the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962) is the film that would come to define Gregory Peck’s career. Produced by Alan J. Pakula and directed by Robert Mulligan, the film features Peck as a Depression-era lawyer struggling against a prejudiced system to exonerate an African-American man falsely accused of rape. For his iconic portrayal of Atticus Finch, Peck earned his only Oscar for acting, after four previous nominations. Co-star Robert Duvall made his film debut as the mysterious Boo Radley, while Mary Badham also made her first screen appearance, as Atticus’s daughter, Scout. Seen through her eyes, the film also becomes Scout’s coming-of-age story as she learns about injustice, the frailties of human nature and the definition of heroism. Badham’s performance earned her an Oscar nomination at the tender age of 10, making her at the time the youngest actress ever to be nominated.

The film’s remarkable ability to connect with viewers of all ages and backgrounds has made it a versatile teaching tool. In high schools and colleges, whether for classes in cinema, literature, history or sociology, "To Kill a Mockingbird" continues to impart powerful lessons. Academy Award winner: Actor (Gregory Peck); Black-and-White Art Direction (Alexander Golitzen, Henry Bumstead; Set Decoration: Oliver Emert); Writing – Screenplay based on material from another medium (Horton Foote) Academy Award nominee: Actress in a Supporting Role (Mary Badham); Black-and White Cinematography (Russell Harlan); Directing (Robert Mulligan); Music – Music Score, substantially original (Elmer Bernstein); Best Picture (Alan J. Pakula, producer) To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends.

Error To Kill a Mockingbird ( 1962 ) Not Rated | From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his children against prejudice. Director: Harper Lee (based on her novel "To Kill a Mockingbird"), Horton Foote (screenplay) Stars: a list of 25 titles created 03 Apr 2011 a list of 25 titles created 07 Oct 2012 a list of 24 titles created 02 Jan 2013 a list of 35 titles created 07 Dec 2013 a list of 24 titles created 8 months ago Title: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) 8.3/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won 3 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 16 nominations.

See more awards » Videos King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles. Directors: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle A hapless New York advertising executive is mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies, and is pursued across the country while he looks for a way to survive. Director: Alfred Hitchcock A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. Director: Alfred Hitchcock A San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her. Director: Alfred Hitchcock A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent-film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity. Director: Billy Wilder An insane general triggers a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically try to stop. Director: Stanley Kubrick In Chicago in September 1936, a young con man seeking revenge for his murdered partner teams up with a master of the big con to win a fortune from a criminal banker.

Director: George Roy Hill A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother. Director: Alfred Hitchcock Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance. Director: Orson Welles The story of T.E. Lawrence , the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks. Director: David Lean An insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions. Director: Billy Wilder In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications. Director: Michael Curtiz Edit Storyline Small-town Alabama, 1932. Atticus Finch (played by Gregory Peck) is a lawyer and a widower. He has two young children, Jem and Scout. Atticus Finch is currently defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman.

Meanwhile, Jem and Scout are intrigued by their neighbours, the Radleys, and the mysterious, seldom-seen Boo Radley in particular. Written by grantss Academy Award winner! Best Actor Gregory Peck * Best Screenplay * Best Art Direction See more » Genres: 16 March 1963 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Matar a un ruiseñor See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia Robert Duvall and John Megna later appeared in The Godfather: Part II (1974), but shared no scenes, for two reasons: Megna played the young Hyman Roth in the scenes with Robert De Niro , and his scenes were deleted from the theatrical version of the film. They were restored for a television airing. See more » Goofs While Atticus is giving his closing arguments standing before the jury, the camera briefly switches to Jem (at 1:38:21) sitting in the balcony and then quickly back to Atticus (at 1:38:24) who is now leaning on the rail in front of jury instead of standing stock straight. The cuts are not seamless.

At 1:38:20 a close-up of Atticus ends where he is only seen from his elbows up and his thumbs may be tucked into the pockets of his vest. After the close-up of Jem, the scene cuts to a long shot of Atticus from the back of the courtroom standing on his left leg with this right leg resting on the bottom rail of the jury box, perhaps leaning with a stiff right arm on the top rail of the jury box and with his left arm across his chest perhaps grasping his right arm - in this pose, he says "In the name of God, believe Tom Robertson" and pauses for three seconds, at which time (1:38:36) the scene cuts to a close-up of Atticus from above his elbows up, apparently leaning with both arms on the top rail of the jury box, raising himself to an upright position. See more » Quotes Scout : Jem is up in a tree, he said he won't come down until you agree to play football with the Methodists. The title is revealed in a child's crayon rubbing. See more » Connections Hoo boy, am I a sucker for courtroom dramas.

The wrangling of legal points and the investigation into the truth just gets my cinematic blood pumping (I s'pose it's in response to my own dashed hopes of becoming an attorney). "To Kill a Mockingbird" rises to the top of the pile easily. Yes, the courtroom proceedings are nail-bitingly engaging. But played out against the tapestry of bigotry and hate make the legal goings-on even more compelling. The writing here is so beautiful, so lyric, so poetic. The Harper Lee-based screenplay captures wonderfully a time and a place that are absolutely real--where big brothers could solve the universe's problems in an instant and all the treasures of the world could be contained in a cigar box. "To Kill a Mockingbird" also contains three of the most impressive child performances I have ever witnessed--there's not a false or affected moment in any one of them. Until seeing "Ponette," a movie I would highly recommend, the kids in "Mockingbird" received my best child performance ever awards. "Ponette" has ratcheted them down one notch, but that doesn't diminish the achievement here.

The scene in which Scout dispels the mob simply by identifying its individual members is one of the most powerful moments in filmdom. Peck more than deserved his best actor nod. His quiet dignity is a definite asset. Brock Peters, too, is terrific in what could have been a cliched role. If you are a moviegoer who has a bias against black and white movies and who has therefore never seen "Mockingbird," I pity you. You've passed on one of Hollywood's most unforgettable experiences. 153 of 186 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes Robert Duvall - Biography - IMDb Robert Duvall Biography Showing all 89 items Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (4) | Trade Mark (5) | Trivia (44) | Personal Quotes (30) | Salary (1) Overview (4) 5' 9½" (1.77 m) Mini Bio (1) Veteran actor and director Robert Selden Duvall was born on January 5, 1931, in San Diego, CA, to Mildred Virginia (Hart), an amateur actress, and William Howard Duvall, a career military officer who later became an admiral. Duvall majored in drama at Principia College (Elsah, IL), then served a two-year hitch in the army after graduating in 1953. He began attending The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre In New York City on the G.I. Bill in 1955, studying under Sanford Meisner along with Dustin Hoffman , with whom Duvall shared an apartment. Both were close to another struggling young actor named Gene Hackman .

Meisner cast Duvall in the play "The Midnight Caller" by Horton Foote , a link that would prove critical to his career, as it was Foote who recommended Duvall to play the mentally disabled "Boo Radley" in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). This was his first "major" role since his 1956 motion picture debut as an MP was in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), starring Paul Newman . Duvall began making a name for himself as a stage actor in New York, winning an Obie Award in 1965 playing incest-minded longshoreman "Eddie Carbone" in the off-Broadway revival of Arthur Miller 's "A View from the Bridge", a production for which his old roommate Hoffman was assistant director. He found steady work in episodic TV and appeared as a modestly billed character actor in films, such as Arthur Penn 's The Chase (1966) with Marlon Brando and in Robert Altman 's Countdown (1967) and Francis Ford Coppola 's The Rain People (1969), in both of which he co-starred with James Caan .

He was also memorable as the heavy who is shot by John Wayne at the climax of True Grit (1969) and was the first "Maj. Frank Burns", creating the character in Altman's Korean War comedy MASH (1970). He also appeared as the eponymous lead in George Lucas ' directorial debut, THX 1138 (1971). It was Francis Ford Coppola , casting The Godfather (1972), who reunited Duvall with Brando and Caan and provided him with his career breakthrough as mob lawyer "Tom Hagen". He received the first of his six Academy Award nominations for the role. Thereafter, Duvall had steady work in featured roles in such films as The Godfather: Part II (1974), The Killer Elite (1975), Network (1976), The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976) and The Eagle Has Landed (1976). Occasionally this actor's actor got the chance to assay a lead role, most notably in Tomorrow (1972), in which he was brilliant as William Faulkner 's inarticulate backwoods farmer.

He was less impressive as the lead in Badge 373 (1973), in which he played a character based on real-life NYPD detective Eddie Egan , the same man his old friend Gene Hackman had won an Oscar for playing, in fictionalized form as "Popeye Doyle" in The French Connection (1971). It was his appearance as "Lt. Col. Kilgore" in another Coppola picture, Apocalypse Now (1979), that solidified Duvall's reputation as a great actor. He got his second Academy Award nomination for the role, and was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most versatile actor in the world. Duvall created one of the most memorable characters ever assayed on film, and gave the world the memorable phrase, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning!". Subsequently, Duvall proved one of the few established character actors to move from supporting to leading roles, with his Oscar-nominated turns in The Great Santini (1979) and Tender Mercies (1983), the latter of which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Now at the summit of his career, Duvall seemed to be afflicted with the fabled "Oscar curse" that had overwhelmed the careers of fellow Academy Award winners Luise Rainer , Rod Steiger and Cliff Robertson . He could not find work equal to his talents, either due to his post-Oscar salary demands or a lack of perception in the industry that he truly was leading man material. He did not appear in The Godfather: Part III (1990), as the studio would not give in to his demands for a salary commensurate with that of Al Pacino , who was receiving $5 million to reprise Michael Corleone. His greatest achievement in his immediate post-Oscar period was his triumphant characterization of grizzled Texas Ranger Gus McCrae in the TV mini-series Lonesome Dove (1989), for which he received an Emmy nomination. He received a second Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in Stalin (1992), and a third Emmy nomination playing Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in The Man Who Captured Eichmann (1996).

The shakeout of his career doldrums was that Duvall eventually settled back into his status as one of the premier character actors in the industry, rivaled only by his old friend Gene Hackman. Duvall, unlike Hackman, also has directed pictures, including the documentary We're Not the Jet Set (1977), Angelo My Love (1983) and Assassination Tango (2002). As a writer-director, Duvall gave himself one of his most memorable roles, that of the preacher on the run from the law in The Apostle (1997), a brilliant performance for which he received his third Best Actor nomination and fifth Oscar nomination overall. The film brought Duvall back to the front ranks of great actors, and was followed by a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for A Civil Action (1998). Robert Duvall will long be remembered as one of the great naturalistic American screen actors in the mode of Spencer Tracy and his frequent co-star Marlon Brando .

His performances as "Boo Radley" in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), "Jackson Fentry" in Tomorrow (1972), "Tom Hagen" in the first two "Godfather" movies, "Frank Hackett" in Network (1976), "Lt. Col. Kilgore" in Apocalypse Now (1979), "Bull Meechum" in The Great Santini (1979), "Mac Sledge" in Tender Mercies (1983), "Gus McCrae" in Lonesome Dove (1989) and "Sonny Dewey" in The Apostle (1997) rank as some of the finest acting ever put on film. It's a body of work that few actors can equal, let alone surpass. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Jon C. Hopwood Spouse (4) Very mannered style of delivery Often plays characters who have suffered some trauma in their life Often plays tough, macho characters. Quiet but expressive voice, though often having one or two bombastic scenes.

Southern characters Trivia (44) Resided with Luciana Pedraza for seven years before marrying her on October 6, 2004. She is 41 years younger than him. Studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York. Fractured several ribs after falling off a horse while rehearsing for a role in Open Range (2003). [April 2002] Served in the United States Army (serial #52 346 646) from August 19, 1953 to August 20, 1954, achieving rank of Private First Class and awarded the National Defense Service Medal. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on September 18, 2003. Was roommates and good friends with Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman while all were struggling stage actors in New York before any of them succeeded.

Among the three, Hoffman and Duvall were known for their ways with the women, and Duvall and Hackman were known for their short fuses, which led to numerous bar fights. The three often bonded over elaborate practical jokes. Speaks Spanish fluently. Owns a large estate in rural Virginia, where some skirmishes of the Civil War were fought (he has found shells and other artifacts on the property). Some scenes in Gods and Generals (2003) were filmed on his land. His favorite city is Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is an avid Tango dancer. Was director Robert Altman 's first choice for a country singer in Nashville (1975), but he used Henry Gibson instead when Duvall could not do this because of the scheduling. (source: audio commentary track). While a struggling actor, he worked at a post office as a clerk but quit after six months. He says he did not want to be there 20 years later, still working in a post office. Has played ancestor Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals (2003), when Martin Sheen was unable to reprise the role (due to his commitment to The West Wing (1999)).

In Gods and Generals (2003), played ancestor Robert E. Lee. The role was originally played by Martin Sheen in Gettysburg (1993). Duvall and Sheen starred together in the popular Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now (1979). Has appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Tender Mercies (1983), both of which were written for the screen by Horton Foote , and both of which earned him an Oscar for "Best Screenplay". Has English, with smaller amounts of German, Swiss-German, French, Welsh, and Scottish, ancestry. His French Hugenot ancestors immigrated to the United States in the 1700s. His performance as Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies (1983) is ranked #14 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006). He publicly criticized director Steven Spielberg for flying to Cuba in October 2002, and vowed never to work for Dreamworks studio again. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2005. His performance as Lt.

Colonel Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now (1979) is ranked #59 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. A staunch, lifelong supporter of the Republican party, Duvall was personally invited to George W. Bush 's inauguration as President in 2001. Duvall attended the ceremony. Is response to Duvall's criticism of his trip to Cuba, Steven Spielberg defended himself by explaining that he actually went with permission from the American government as a cultural ambassador. Was considered for the role of Police Chief Martin Brody in the horror film Jaws (1975), which went to Roy Scheider . Being a huge soccer fan, he supports the Argentinian national side. Born to William Howard Duvall, a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, and his wife Mildred Virginia Hart, an amateur actress. Received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia (1998). Ex-brother-in-law of John Savage and Jim Youngs . Hosted a fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani at his Hollywood home. He later endorsed Senator John McCain after Guiliani dropped out.

[January 2008] Put up $5 million of his own money to finance The Apostle (1997) after this was rejected by numerous studios. Travels to Argentina at least five times a year and has a home there. He says the work he is most proud of by far is his role as the former Texas Ranger Augustus McCrae in the miniseries Lonesome Dove (1989). Has a family connection to two 2008 Presidential hopefuls. One of his ancestors, Mareen Duvall, is also an ancestor of Barack Obama . John McCain 's family has been involved in the military for several generations, including an ancestor who worked with George Washington, to whom Duvall is related (by adoption). Watched Broken Trail (2006) with President George W. Bush in a special screening at the White House on June 11, 2006. Narrated a video supporting John McCain for the Republican National Convention in 2008. The middle of three brothers, his elder brother William Duvall and younger brother John Duvall both appeared as singers in his film Angelo My Love (1983).

Named My Life as a Dog (1985) as one of his favorite movies. Being descended from Robert E. Lee, he can actually trace his family back to President George Washington. Washington himself had no biological children, but his wife, Martha Custis, did, and he adopted them after the death of Martha's first husband. Her son, John Custis, had a son of his own, Washington Custis, whose daughter, Mary Custis, was Robert E. Lee's wife. Interestingly, Duvall played Lee in Gods and Generals (2003), opposite Jeff Daniels , who had played Washington in The Crossing (1990). Duvall starred in the adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Has directed one Oscar nominated performance: his own in The Apostle (1997).

As of 2014, has appeared in eight films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), MASH (1970), The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part II (1974), The Conversation (1974), Network (1976), Apocalypse Now (1979) and Tender Mercies (1983). Of those, The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974) are winners in the category. Duvall attended Principia College in Illinois and received a degree in L/liberal Arts. While there he participated in campus theatrical productions and enjoyed the experience. Joined the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and studied under Sanford Meisner for two years. Dustin Hoffman , James Caan and Gene Hackman were classmates. With the death of Rosemary Murphy on July 5, 2014, he is the last surviving credited adult cast member of To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

Although he played Laurence Olivier 's grandson in The Betsy (1978), he is only 23 years his junior in real life. Was considered for the role of Mitch Leary in In the Line of Fire (1993), which went to John Malkovich . Personal Quotes (30) [on the reason he didn't appear in The Godfather: Part III (1990)] If they paid Pacino twice what they paid me, that's fine, but not three or four times, which is what they did. ( Francis Ford Coppola ) came to my farm, parked his car... went in the kitchen. (I) said: "I know you always wanted the crab cake recipe, let me cook it for you." Oh, he loves to eat, so I cooked the crab cake... and he wrote it down... and he forgot it, so he called twice. He was ... more concerned that he forgot the crab cake recipe than would I be in Godfather III. [January 8, 2004] [on Hollywood political activists] They should keep their mouths shut. Being a star is an agent's dream, not an actor's.

[on James Dean ] I don't think he was that great. He was good, but there was Brando, and there was founding member Steven Hill in the Actors Studio, those were the two guys. James Dean came in third. Dean was talented, obviously. But he died at a good time. One guy asked me, "How can you be an actor and be a Republican?". I can vote either way. But how can you boil it down to political affiliation? All the atrocities against blacks in the South were committed by Democratic sheriffs. Everybody likes to win. One of the biggest disappointments was when I didn't get an Emmy for Lonesome Dove. It's political. It can be a popularity contest. [1983 comment on Francis Ford Coppola ] Coppola's talented. I'm pissed that he cut a scene that would have given the audience an insight into my character in Apocalypse Now (1979), but he's talented. [on Lonesome Dove (1989)] I think I nailed a very specific individual guy who represents something important in our history of the western movement. After that, I felt I could retire, that'd I'd done something.

[on Bueno Aires] There's a place called La Biela, it's my favorite corner in the world. It's a coffee shop near the Recoleta where Evita's buried. You can go there and sit in the evening, at three in the morning there are hundreds of people in the streets. And you can get up at eight and go back and have your espresso. Going to Argentina, going to Buenos Aires, I like it more there than anyplace else. I always considered myself as a character actor. I always try to be versatile to show different sides of human experience. [on Governor Sarah Palin ] About a year ago, I first saw this wonderful woman speak. I didn't know who it was. And I said who is this woman? And a year later, I said to myself about three or four weeks ago, why isn't she up for the vice presidency? Well, our hero, coming up, was Brando. He kinda squandered it. But he was so revolutionary in so many ways. The way Hollywood speaks out is absolutely beyond me. Some people are so ill-informed. I mean, why be so outspoken about it anyway? Does it help Sean Penn 's career to go over to Iraq?

Did it help Jane Fonda to go over to Vietnam years ago? I don't know. But sometimes when these guys speak out ... I get embarrassed. Marlon Brando had an innate shrewdness, finding ways to do things better than everyone else. One of the great tragedies is that Brando never developed his tremendous potential. He really was the godfather to young actors coming up in the seventies and even today. He was the guy, really, more than [ Laurence Olivier ], or anybody. [on Jeff Bridges ] There's the Actors Studio in New York, everybody sitting around talking about Stanislavski, but that's not Jeff. This is a guy off the beaches of L.A. He learned from his father ( Lloyd Bridges ), that was his mentor, and he always seems so loose and relaxed -- but he's always prepared, and he brings so many surprises, like good actors do. Because my parents were so religious, I attended church regularly. I've always been a believer. When I knew nothing, I thought I could do anything. A friend is someone who many years ago offered you his last $300 when you broke your pelvis. A friend is Gene Hackman.

Making the first Godfather was more laughs than making Godfather II. That's because Jimmy Caan was in the first Godfather. A young actor once asked me, What do you do between jobs? I said, Hobbies, hobbies, and more hobbies. It keeps you off dope. Sometimes, when you look back on it, the $10-million-and-under movies are some of your favorites. I feel like our country is just a big giant kid with tremendous talent - like an athlete. A big giant kid that's made mistakes, but there's a lot of potential. You never know how reality is going to coincide with your dreams. You're optimistic, and you go from there. Virginia's the last station before heaven. Getting together with friends and holding court over a meal is one of the great things in life. I'm not perceived as a traditional leading man, but I never aimed at that sort of thing either. I never straightened my front teeth, or whatever. I wan't cut out for that. Even if I did a 'big' movie, I'd still want to make it a real character.

[on other actor/co-stars] Brando was more of a respected actor than Wayne although Wayne wasn't as bad as some supposedly serious actors I've seen who trained at the Actors Studio and all that. The thing with Brando is that he reads his lines. He has for 14 years, He's a real method. Wayne was interesting to be around. He was pleasant and outgoing. I once took a part with Muhammed Ali because - not that he was a good actor - I wanted to be in his movie. I like to be around people who are famous to see what makes them tick. I worked with Olivier twice, and that was interesting. I wanted to work with De Niro again, so I did True Confessions (1981). Method acting is a way of working internally as a substitute if something isn't happening for you; if you don't need it, it's like walking on a good leg instead of using a crutch or cane. I think studying professionally helped although I had already done summer theater and had a lot of experience. I got right into acting and then studied. The best thing about the Playhouse was that I really learned to improvise, to change things, in films.

Not in an indulgent way, but in a beneficial way. So from that point of view, Sndy was good for me. I might have learned it eventually - you learn from other actors, directors. The problem is so many people study but they don't get any better. It's up to the individual. And I don't think a teacher can manufacture talent. i guy can study all his life on a violin ad never play it well. I got into acting because I wanted to act, not to become a star. The word 'star' is so strange, especially in this country, I think, I don't know. It has something to do with a whole scene. Like with The Great Santini (1979), when I shook the producer's hand for the first time - before I could even sit down in the chair - he said, "They're talking about Oscars." We hadn't even started rehearsals yet. I mean, the whole industry is so geared to that - Oscars, the star system. Salary (1)

Question: Which actor made his screen debut as Boo Radley in the 1962 film ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’?
Answer: Robert Duvall