A towering figure of Hollywood has passed way — Robert Duvall is gone.
The Oscar-winning was married four times but never had children.
Now, one of the possible explanations for this has come to light.
Hollywood is mourning the loss of one of its enduring legends. Robert Duvall, whose career spanned more than seven decades, has passed away at the age of 95. The heartbreaking news was confirmed by his wife, Luciana Pedraza, who shared on Facebook that he died peacefully at home on February 15, 2026.
Duvall’s iconic roles in films such as The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and Tender Mercies have left an indelible mark on Hollywood. He is survived by his fourth wife, Luciana Pedraza, 54. But fans are also reflecting on a more personal side of the actor’s life — why he never had children despite four marriages.
Duvall’s openness about fatherhood struggles
Robert Duvall had spoken candidly about his desire to be a father, though he admitted it never came to fruition.
In a 2007 interview with Details Magazine, he remarked, “I guess I’m shooting blanks.”
Over the years, he tried to have children during his marriages and in long-term relationships outside of them but was unsuccessful.
He also considered adoption at one point, though it never fully came to pass.
According to a source cited by the Daily Mail, Duvall rarely discussed the matter publicly and never let it define his life. While he longed for fatherhood at one stage, he ultimately poured his energy into his career, relationships, and creative passions. Those close to him say he lived a full life and never dwelled on regrets.
Even without biological children, he experienced family life during his first marriage to Barbara Benjamin, becoming a stepfather to her two daughters from a previous relationship. As the source explained:
”Bobby didn’t talk about not having children often because he invested his time in his craft, his marriages, and just living life. He has spoken about how it wasn’t in the cards in the past, but he never thought of it as a regret. It may have caused strife in some of his marriages, but not having kids was never a game-changer for him.”
A look at Robert Duvall’s four marriages
Duvall married four times. His first marriage to Barbara Benjamin lasted from 1964 to 1975. He then married actress Gail Youngs in 1982, which ended in 1986.
His third marriage, to dancer Sharon Brophy, spanned from 1991 to 1995.
Finally, he met Luciana Pedraza in Argentina in 1997, and they married in 2005.
Duvall first encountered Pedraza in Argentina, remembering, ”The flower shop was closed, so I went to the bakery. If the flower shop had been open, I never would’ve met her.” Interestingly, they both share the same birthday.
At 41 years his junior, Pedraza became his longest-lasting partner, standing by his side for over two decades. By the way, did you know that Duvall was celebrated for his talent in Argentine tango and even operated tango studios in both Argentina and the United States.
Cause of Robert Duvall’s death
Luciana Pedraza’s Facebook post confirmed that Duvall passed away peacefully at home in Virginia at age 95.
While the post did not specify the exact medical cause, some reports, including Men’s Journal, suggest natural causes related to aging, though this remains unconfirmed. Although Robert and Luciana never expanded their family, she emphasized that he was “surrounded by love and comfort” when he “passed away peacefully at home.”
“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time,” she shared on Facebook. “To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything.”
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