Iconic actor Duvall continues prestigious career

Robert Duvall knows the day will come when he'll stop acting.

But when?

That day keeps getting further away for the 80-year-old Oscar winner, who keeps getting offered interesting parts to play.

The latest role to grab his attention is as Johnny Crawford, an ex-professional golfer who has turned the sleepy community of Utopia, Texas, into an inspirational haven in the film "Seven Days in Utopia." Crawford becomes the professional and spiritual mentor for a young golfer (Lucas Black) who stumbles upon his ranch/golf course.

"It was a good story, a feel-good script," Duvall says in a telephone interview from New York.

Duvall knows good scripts. His résumé reads like a top 100 movies list from the American Film Institute: "The Godfather," "M*A*S*H," "Network," "Apocalypse Now," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Tender Mercies" and "Get Low." He's been an equally strong acting force in TV, from "The Twilight Zone" to "Lonesome Dove."

There's been no real strategy to his role selection – he just chooses what feels right.

One thing didn't feel right about the "Seven Days in Utopia" script. Duvall thought his character was a little too bland and neutral, not the kind of man who brings the wisdom of the world to back up his advice. He wanted his role to be a little less saint and more sinner.

"I told them there was only one Jesus so don't make the character so perfect. Give him some flaws," Duvall says. "You have to have obstacles to create drama."

He should know after more than 50 years of working in TV and film. Despite having all that experience, Duvall doesn't want to act as a mentor to any young actors because he feels they're already extremely talented. He prefers to respect his fellow actor's space. If they are to learn anything from him, it will come from watching him work.

As for his own career, the closest person to being a mentor in his life was Marlon Brando. He says all the others who wanted to give him acting advise weren't that good.

Duvall enjoyed shooting "Seven Days in Utopia." He calls Utopia, Texas, one of the best places he's filmed in his entire career. Duvall, who calls social dancing and horses his favorite pastimes, also liked the horse he got to ride during the filming.

"His name was Wild Card and he had never been used in a movie before. But he was a phenomenal quarter horse stallion who would hit his mark every time," Duvall says.

But the film's not about the rodeo and Duvall's golf skills are pretty bare. He played golf years ago, but he gave it up because it was taking up too much of his life.

It's the thrill of acting that keeps Duvall working.

"There are times when I still get nervous before filming," Duvall says. "I recently worked with Billy Bob Thornton and I had a scene that made me so nervous, I could hardly sleep. The fear was overwhelming, but that fear propelled me and the scene came off well."