NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Robert Duvall, the Academy Award-winning actor whose career spanned more than six decades, has died at the age of 95. Known for his quiet intensity and deep respect for working-class characters, Duvall became one of Hollywood’s most authentic portrayals of rural America and cowboy culture.
Though he earned critical acclaim for a wide range of roles — from Tom Hagen in The Godfather to Lt. Col. Kilgore in Apocalypse Now — it was his portrayal of country singer Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies that earned him an Academy Award and cemented his legacy as a storyteller of the rural South. The film, set in Texas ranch country, resonated deeply with audiences who saw their lives and struggles reflected with dignity and grace.
Duvall’s connection to cowboy culture extended beyond the screen. A lifelong admirer of Western traditions, he starred in and helped produce the epic Western miniseries Lonesome Dove and Return to Lonesome Dove, bringing Larry McMurtry’s frontier tale to life for a new generation. His performances often captured the grit, faith, independence, and quiet resilience that define rural communities across America.
In interviews, Duvall frequently expressed his love for open landscapes, small towns, and the values of self-reliance and hard work. He was drawn to stories that honored the land and the people who live near it — ranchers, farmers, cowboys, and country musicians — portraying them not as caricatures but as complex and honorable individuals.
Robert Duvall leaves behind a body of work that stands as a tribute to rural America. Through his roles, he preserved the spirit of the cowboy and the heart of the countryside, ensuring their stories would endure on screens for generations to come.
Show producer Donna Sanders shares her perspective on filming the latest episode of Where the Food Comes From at Splenda Stevia Farms, a company growing a sweet specialty crop here in the U.S. that is typically imported from overseas.
November 01, 2023 09:00 AM
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As I try to catch up on my writing after being on the road for a lengthy time, I have several recurring themes in my legal work. Another potpourri of random ag law and tax issues — that is the topic of today’s Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV Agrilegal Expert Roger McEowen.
October 31, 2023 02:21 PM
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Splenda’s new stevia farm in Florida is the first of its kind in the United States. Thousands of plants produce millions of leaves that are then turned into plant-based stevia sweetener products. But how do they get the sweet stuff out?
October 31, 2023 09:00 AM
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Where the Food Comes From producer Donna Sanders takes us along on a behind-the-scenes look at filming the show’s newest episode, “Clemson Blue,” where university cheesemakers reveal how they put the “blue” in their award-winning blue cheese.
October 26, 2023 09:00 AM
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It is in there, the mold — those rich blue veins in creamy blue cheese that make you either love it or loathe it — but how does it get there? This bonus scene from “Clemson Dairy,” Season 4, Episode 4 of
Where the Food Comes From, explains how and why that happens.
October 25, 2023 09:00 AM
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No, it is not some new college course — Clemson has been making blue cheese since 1941, and the product has developed a worldwide following and won some pretty big awards. With good reason — it is fantastic stuff. It is also fascinating to see how it is made. Check out this sneak peek look at the latest episode of Where the Food Comes From, “Clemson Blue.”
October 24, 2023 11:32 AM
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The machines do all the work at Hickory Hill Milk in South Carolina, and the pampered cows get on-demand service. The team at Where the Food Comes From shares a special, behind-the-scenes account filming the show’s newest episode, Robot Dairy, premiering this Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at 9:30 p.m. ET on RFD-TV!
October 19, 2023 09:00 AM
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Mon, 10/23/23 - 5 PM ET | 4 PM CT | 3 PM MT | 2 PM PT
October 18, 2023 03:48 PM
How does a robot milk a cow?
October 18, 2023 09:00 AM
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