A life well lived. I’ve read and reread the book and watched the miniseries multiple times. Robert Duvall didn’t just play the part. He embodied the character created by Larry McMurtry. The physical description as written by the author didn’t match, but in all other aspects Duvall was Augustus McCrae. Your eulogy mirrors the pain that so many of us feel regarding the actor’s passing. It wasn’t just this one role that made him so beloved, but I know that I’ll return to the book and the TV adaptation again and again.
I couldn't have said it any better, Max. Though McMurtry pictured an older Call and Gus, Duvall gave McMurtry's fictional character flesh and blood. He didn't just portray Gus, he *was* Gus.
Beautifully written, deeply felt. Told my wife yesterday, “I feel like my best friend died.” That was Gus - he felt like a best friend or a really, really great uncle. Thanks, Derrick.
I appreciate that, Tim. I’m never one to get too emotion when we I hear of an actor’s passing, even one I greatly admire. But learning of Robert’s death hurt—and for the reasons mentioned in my piece.
Duvall and Jones set about to memorialize the old cowboys who were pretty much dying off or dead when this was filmed. Tommy Lee Jones of San Saba remembered these guys. Some of them were still around. Duvall didn't grow up in Texas, but his mother's family was here. If I'm remembering accurately, he said at one time, they were very much like the characters in Lonesome Dove.
Native Texans, like myself, cannot abide when an actor merely playacts the Texan stereotype that people not from Texas expect. And not getting the accent right drives me crazy. Duvall and Jones were perfection. I remember these old boys being around. They didn't marry. They had that dry sense of humor and the fatalistic, but never amoral, sense of the world. They were in my family too. It was a survival skill in a rough world. You just can't allow yourself to wallow in emotion. However, you also cannot allow yourself not to feel the emotions. Walking that line is something that only adversity can develop.
It really is uncanny how those performances resonate for me. It is as if those old boys I remember came back to life. Duvall channeled a Texan perfectly in Tender Mercies too. RIP Robert Duvall.
"The storm stirred them up," Deets said again. He felt guilty, for he had chosen the crossing in preference to one up the river, and now a boy was dead.
"Well, Deets, life is short," Augustus said. "Shorter for some than for others."
My word. Beautiful - and, just last week I found the movie on YouTube, got up early and watched over 6 hours of it in one day. Cried (again) when Gus died. There’s no other film like it.
Thank you, Sybil. I don’t have the time to consume it all in one sitting, but watched the first two episodes (again for the umpteenth time) last night. I’m kinda dreading the inevitable …
Love the book, loved the mini series and both Tommy Lee Jones and Duvall in the main roles. But here’s a greater tribute, I’ve been coaching a kid through HS baseball the last four years— a great kid, named Gus for Augustus McRae. Neither I nor that family live in Texas anymore; that’s how they kept a connection.
Wrote my comment before I read all the others, surprised this wasn’t mentioned. Duvall made his reputation playing hardasses like Col Kilgore and they wanted to cast him as Call in Lonesome Dove, which I’m sure he’d have done very well. But Duvall said he wanted to be Gus, may have recommended Tommy Lee for Woodrow, and they were each absolutely perfect in the roles.
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Duvall said the part of Call was offered to him because he had played those hard guys like Kilgore and Meechum, but didn’t want that role. James Garner had been offered the Gus role. Duvall’s agent reached out to Garner to see if he would be interested in switching roles. If not, Duvall was going to pass. Garner said he couldn’t perform in Lonesome Dove because of a back problem and couldn’t be on a horse, opening up the role of Gus for Duvall.
Brought a tear to my eye Derrick. Lonesome Dove shares a spot with Jeremiah Johnson as my favorite all time tales and defined my fondness of Duvalls career. I mourn the loss of few actors but this one leaves a hole in our heritage.
I was surprised at how Duvall’s death struck me, but such is my love for Lonesome Dove, Gus, and his depiction of that character. I agree with you on Jeremiah Johnson. It too is a favorite of mine. I appreciate the kind words on the piece.
A life well lived. I’ve read and reread the book and watched the miniseries multiple times. Robert Duvall didn’t just play the part. He embodied the character created by Larry McMurtry. The physical description as written by the author didn’t match, but in all other aspects Duvall was Augustus McCrae. Your eulogy mirrors the pain that so many of us feel regarding the actor’s passing. It wasn’t just this one role that made him so beloved, but I know that I’ll return to the book and the TV adaptation again and again.
I couldn't have said it any better, Max. Though McMurtry pictured an older Call and Gus, Duvall gave McMurtry's fictional character flesh and blood. He didn't just portray Gus, he *was* Gus.
Beautifully written, deeply felt. Told my wife yesterday, “I feel like my best friend died.” That was Gus - he felt like a best friend or a really, really great uncle. Thanks, Derrick.
I appreciate that, Tim. I’m never one to get too emotion when we I hear of an actor’s passing, even one I greatly admire. But learning of Robert’s death hurt—and for the reasons mentioned in my piece.
Duvall and Jones set about to memorialize the old cowboys who were pretty much dying off or dead when this was filmed. Tommy Lee Jones of San Saba remembered these guys. Some of them were still around. Duvall didn't grow up in Texas, but his mother's family was here. If I'm remembering accurately, he said at one time, they were very much like the characters in Lonesome Dove.
Native Texans, like myself, cannot abide when an actor merely playacts the Texan stereotype that people not from Texas expect. And not getting the accent right drives me crazy. Duvall and Jones were perfection. I remember these old boys being around. They didn't marry. They had that dry sense of humor and the fatalistic, but never amoral, sense of the world. They were in my family too. It was a survival skill in a rough world. You just can't allow yourself to wallow in emotion. However, you also cannot allow yourself not to feel the emotions. Walking that line is something that only adversity can develop.
It really is uncanny how those performances resonate for me. It is as if those old boys I remember came back to life. Duvall channeled a Texan perfectly in Tender Mercies too. RIP Robert Duvall.
Maybe this link will work:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=MNMzmxHz8JQ&si=-f2I1ZT8YWQUcRcm
Well said, Cynthia. And the Michael Martin Murphy selection is spot on. Thank you.
Great eulogy Derrick
Thank you. I rushed to get something out on the great Robert Duvall. This one hurt.
He was the greatest. I’m going to try and find LD on the Roku tonight
I read and/or watch it every year. This year, I'll have to move it up in the schedule.
I’m about half honest
Great line.
"The storm stirred them up," Deets said again. He felt guilty, for he had chosen the crossing in preference to one up the river, and now a boy was dead.
"Well, Deets, life is short," Augustus said. "Shorter for some than for others."
So grateful it wasn’t a short one for Robert Duvall.
My word. Beautiful - and, just last week I found the movie on YouTube, got up early and watched over 6 hours of it in one day. Cried (again) when Gus died. There’s no other film like it.
Thank you, Sybil. I don’t have the time to consume it all in one sitting, but watched the first two episodes (again for the umpteenth time) last night. I’m kinda dreading the inevitable …
Love the book, loved the mini series and both Tommy Lee Jones and Duvall in the main roles. But here’s a greater tribute, I’ve been coaching a kid through HS baseball the last four years— a great kid, named Gus for Augustus McRae. Neither I nor that family live in Texas anymore; that’s how they kept a connection.
That’s a wonderful story and a great Texas connection.
Wrote my comment before I read all the others, surprised this wasn’t mentioned. Duvall made his reputation playing hardasses like Col Kilgore and they wanted to cast him as Call in Lonesome Dove, which I’m sure he’d have done very well. But Duvall said he wanted to be Gus, may have recommended Tommy Lee for Woodrow, and they were each absolutely perfect in the roles.
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Duvall said the part of Call was offered to him because he had played those hard guys like Kilgore and Meechum, but didn’t want that role. James Garner had been offered the Gus role. Duvall’s agent reached out to Garner to see if he would be interested in switching roles. If not, Duvall was going to pass. Garner said he couldn’t perform in Lonesome Dove because of a back problem and couldn’t be on a horse, opening up the role of Gus for Duvall.
Thanks for the greater detail. I remembered some of that but clearly my recollection was a little hazy.
Again, thanks for that, Derrick. It hit the spot.
That was truly moving eulogy, Derrick. I too have watched that scene many times. It always gets me. We have lost a great one.
Thank you so much for you kind words, George. Indeed we have.
Brought a tear to my eye Derrick. Lonesome Dove shares a spot with Jeremiah Johnson as my favorite all time tales and defined my fondness of Duvalls career. I mourn the loss of few actors but this one leaves a hole in our heritage.
I was surprised at how Duvall’s death struck me, but such is my love for Lonesome Dove, Gus, and his depiction of that character. I agree with you on Jeremiah Johnson. It too is a favorite of mine. I appreciate the kind words on the piece.