Robert Duvall Reveals the Six Actors He Hated the Most: Shocking Betrayals, Power Struggles, and Hollywood’s Dark Side

For over five decades, Robert Duvall has been a Hollywood icon, known for his disciplined, understated approach to acting. But now, at 94, he’s finally breaking his silence and revealing the six actors he despised the most. These weren’t just fleeting grudges; these were bitter, lasting feuds with some of the biggest names in the industry. From volatile power struggles to public humiliation, Duvall’s revelations expose the darker side of Hollywood that even the most revered actors try to keep hidden.

1. Al Pacino: When Brotherhood Turned Into a Bitter War

Al Pacino, once Robert Duvall’s closest friend and ally, is the first on his blacklist. The two actors shared a deep bond during the filming of The Godfather, but by the time The Godfather Part III rolled around, that bond had unraveled. Pacino, whose career had skyrocketed, was offered a $5 million salary plus a percentage of the profits for the sequel, while Duvall was offered only $1 million flat. Duvall, feeling insulted, walked away from the film and declared, “I won’t return just to be someone’s backdrop.” The once-close friendship was severed. Duvall later revealed that he could never forgive Pacino for his refusal to adjust the salary disparity, and they never reconciled.

2. Francis Ford Coppola: The Teacher Who Became a Stranger

Francis Ford Coppola, the director who shaped Duvall’s career, also made it onto the list. Coppola had cast Duvall as Tom Hagen in The Godfather and played a huge role in his rise to fame. However, their relationship soured during the filming of Apocalypse Now and The Godfather Part III. Duvall, known for his professionalism, grew frustrated with Coppola’s demanding and often unreasonable behavior. In one particularly brutal instance, Duvall collapsed from dehydration while filming Apocalypse Now, but Coppola simply told him to “do it again, the light isn’t right.” Duvall eventually refused to work with Coppola again, feeling betrayed by a man he once saw as a mentor.

3. Marlon Brando: The Idol Who Became Duvall’s Nightmare

Marlon Brando, one of Duvall’s idols, had a massive impact on his early career. However, Duvall’s respect for Brando quickly turned to disdain during the making of The Godfather. Brando was notorious for his chaotic and unprofessional behavior on set—arriving late, ignoring rehearsals, and changing the script without notice. Duvall found Brando’s unpredictability exhausting and unprofessional. When Brando later refused to attend the Oscars after receiving his award, Duvall saw it as a betrayal of the craft. He later refused to attend Brando’s funeral in 2004, signaling that his admiration had turned to contempt.

4. Stanley Kubrick: The Genius Who Was an “Enemy of Actors”

Duvall’s hatred for Stanley Kubrick is rooted in a philosophical difference about how actors should be treated. Duvall, who believed in using restraint and silence to create powerful performances, clashed with Kubrick’s intense and often torturous methods. Kubrick’s use of excessive takes, sometimes up to 100 in a row, left Duvall feeling drained and demoralized. He famously described Kubrick as “an enemy of actors,” feeling that his obsession with perfectionism turned into emotional cruelty. The experience left Duvall disillusioned with Kubrick’s process, and he never worked with him again.

5. Robert De Niro: The Rivalry That Stemmed from Method Acting

While Robert De Niro is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation, Duvall never got along with him. Their rivalry began during the filming of The Godfather Part II, where Duvall felt that De Niro’s method acting approach, which involved extreme measures like gaining weight and changing his appearance, was nothing more than a show. Duvall, who believed that real acting came from silence and internal emotion, saw De Niro’s approach as a form of vanity. Their rivalry continued as both actors became huge stars, but Duvall never fully respected De Niro’s acting methods.

6. Bruce Beresford: The Director Who Tried to Control Duvall

Bruce Beresford, the director of Tender Mercies, became the target of Duvall’s frustration when their collaboration turned into a battle for control. Duvall, who won his first and only Oscar for the film, found himself clashing with Beresford over the tightness of the script and the direction of the film. Duvall felt that Beresford’s insistence on retakes and constant rewrites stifled his creativity. In a bold act of defiance, Duvall secretly filmed one of the film’s key scenes without informing the director. When Tender Mercies won two Oscars, including Best Actor for Duvall, he refused to acknowledge Beresford during his acceptance speech. The two never worked together again.

Duvall’s Final Word: The Cost of Hollywood’s Dark Side

Robert Duvall’s career has been defined by his disciplined, understated approach to acting. However, these six names—Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola, Marlon Brando, Stanley Kubrick, and Bruce Beresford—represent the toxic side of Hollywood that even Duvall couldn’t escape. His experiences with these actors and directors show the darker side of an industry that often values power over creativity and demands perfection at the expense of an actor’s well-being.

Duvall’s decision to distance himself from these stars wasn’t just about creative differences; it was about respect. As one of Hollywood’s most respected figures, Duvall learned the hard way that sometimes the greatest cost of fame is the people you are forced to work with.