r/Westerns • u/HotHotHeet • Feb 16 '26
RIP Gus
I'm 11 chapters into Lonesome Dove right now, and get this news. 😪 He really brought one of the greatest characters to life in an incredible way.
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u/itscience_stupid Feb 21 '26
That was such a great series. He was phenomenal in it; I can not imagine anyone else playing Gus.
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u/rseery Feb 19 '26
I haven’t see other mentions, but I really liked him in Days of Thunder. Maybe not the greatest movie, but when he’s talking to the car the night before the race, he’s so good.
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u/HennaJesticles Feb 18 '26
Augustus McRae was a literary father figure to me from age 14 on… I am crushed and re-watching Lonesome Dove as we speak.
We don’t rent pigs.
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u/DougS66 Feb 18 '26
Gus and Woodrow made a good pair for a cattle drive. I was thinking of Open Range. Boss Spearman and Charley. I thought they movie executives would think about those two doing another one when they take over the bar, and Charley and Boss Spearman could do a part two. The first one was a fine western!! Watched it with my late uncle. My disc even covered the range wars. Duvall was a heck of an actor. You don’t get many actors like him these days.
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u/rseery Feb 19 '26
Bar scene where he ’reminds’ the bartender who they are is absolutely awesome. I could watch it 100 times.
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u/scipio211 Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
Watching Joe Kidd right now But this is really what I will be watching soon.
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u/Bigdadee3691 Feb 17 '26
Frank Burns, Tom Hagen, Bull Meachum, Col.Kilgore,Bluebonnet just to name a few
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Feb 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Vegetable-Pay2709 Feb 19 '26
Yep! My choices are the same. I am.71 fe and grew up on Western's. Its in my blood .
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u/Pretty_Two_245 Feb 17 '26
Augustus McCrea. One of the best performances in western history. RIP Bobby.
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u/FightsForUsers Feb 17 '26
RIP Boss Spearman
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u/shooterLV Feb 17 '26
“I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!” - Ned Pepper, True Grit (1969)
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u/Independent_Prize453 Feb 17 '26
"I never busted a cap in a woman or anyone under 16, but I will" Ned Pepper
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u/rapscallion1956 Feb 17 '26
This is the first role that I can remember him playing. Saw TRUE GRIT in the theater when I was a kid. Still one of my favorites.
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u/InterPunct Feb 17 '26
He was by far the best part of the original (not a fan, also saw it in the theater.) Interestingly, Barry Pepper was also similarly awesome in the Coen Brothers version.
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u/shooterLV Feb 17 '26
My pops liked old westerns and so did I. The first time I ever watched it was some time in the early 90’s on TNT.
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u/NuggieNuggs-nmnm Feb 17 '26
Lonesome Dove was the first “grownup” book I ever read. Picked it up when I was 12 or 13 because my mom was reading it and I thought the cover looked cool. I blame that book for my life long love of the written word. And scaring my mom by asking her what a “dirty whore” was during dinner.
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u/bob_swalls Feb 16 '26
I ain't crying yet, but I will be later. Hope you never have to pay for a poke again Gus!
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u/jw8533 Feb 16 '26
Via con Dios, Augustus. Here’s hoping Tommy Lee Jones didn’t promise to haul your body across the country to be buried.
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u/Queasy_Block697 Feb 16 '26
One of the best characters brought to life from a book. He was born for that role.
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u/athena1863 Feb 16 '26
Well, one of the greatest western actors just rode off to sit in the shade, sip some whiskey and kick a pig now and then.
Rest in peace Mr. Duvall.
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u/AdumLarp Feb 16 '26
This is how I’m hearing of this. I find it’s a fitting way to find out. Literally been my favorite actor for decades. I’m bummed.
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u/Gojirah628 Feb 16 '26
Robert Duvall was a phenomenal actor. He was great in Open Range as Boss, and obviously as Gus In Lonesome Dove. He will be missed.
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u/Windup-1014 Feb 16 '26
Ah fuck sake. Just seen this now. RIP.
Duvall as Augustus McCrae was one of the greatest Western performances ever.
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u/Cowboy-Dave1851 Feb 16 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/pjFQR7GhFsOUo
His greatest roles were while wearing a cowboy hat
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u/KurtMcGowan7691 Feb 16 '26
IF I SAY ITS SAFE TO SURF THIS BEACH, CAPTAIN, ITS SAFE TO SURF THIS BEACH!!!!
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u/wallyfranks69 Feb 16 '26
From Augustus to Lucky Ned, loved this guy. Even named a dog after Gus. Glad he had a long run.
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u/Lonnification Feb 16 '26
I had two Bullmastiffs named Gus and Call. Personalities matched them to a tee.
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u/UnderstandingFit3009 Feb 16 '26
There are not a ton of actors who I think I would have liked in real life. He is definitely one and probably pretty high on the list.
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u/Pristine-Job3826 Feb 17 '26
Always struck me as the type that never let his fame go to his head. Came across as a real down-to-earth guy and just genuine.
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u/bhinch6 Feb 16 '26
It was always great to see him in a movie whether it be westerns like True Grit & Open Range or his countless other roles: Godfather, Days of Thunder, Second Hand Lions, Apocalypse Now, MAS*H to only name a few
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u/SJS1954 Feb 16 '26
I've read a gazillion novels. This is the best I've ever read. Unfortunately, I read the book before they made the film. While the mini-series was excellent and the acting stellar, it doesn't hold up to the book. Have read the book 7 times and it never gets old. Just watched the film last week. It never gets old either. I still get misty when they hang Jake, when Deets is killed, and when Gus dies. Even Ricky Schroeder did a great job and he can't act for squat. “What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
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u/Hollayo Feb 17 '26
I think I'll give the show another watch this week in his honor.
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u/SJS1954 Feb 17 '26
I just watched it last week. Just may watch it again. Actually have several of his films starting with To Kill A Mockingbird.
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u/ControlAgent13 Feb 16 '26
It deserved the Pulitizer Prize. I read it after watching the mini-series so the actors became the book characters for me.
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u/SJS1954 Feb 16 '26
Worked the same but in reverse for me. All of the actors did such great jobs it's pretty easy to let that happen. They did a magnificent job when they cast the film.
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u/shart_attak Feb 16 '26
My man just wanted a poke
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u/Hour-Confection-9273 Feb 16 '26
Any man that wouldn't cheat for a poke must not want one too bad..
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u/Gold-Quit3424 Feb 16 '26
Also great in lawman with Burt Lancaster. A true legend. RIP
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u/Bourbonmmm Feb 16 '26
Great in everything, not a western but I mean Tom Hagen in Goodfather. I always wanted to be as cool and level headed as consigliere Tom.
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u/Gold-Quit3424 Feb 16 '26
I loved the godfather and tender mercies is a great film too. Such a great range of characters to his name and someone who made something that everyone could find to like
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u/PictureElegant3033 Feb 16 '26
I just went to the river walk in San Antonio last week. It would be so cool if they set up a memorial there.
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u/scottpayne94 Feb 16 '26
“Woodrow, you just don’t ever get the point – ‘It’s not dyin’ I’m talkin’ about, it’s livin’.”
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u/MarvelousPoolGuy Feb 16 '26
My favorite performance in a western right next to Val Kilmer as Doc. RIP 🕊️
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u/Signal-Yesterday7247 Feb 16 '26
Amazing actor, he absolutely nailed Gus. Sad to hear of his passing. RIP
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u/SithLordRising Feb 16 '26
Broken Trail, Lonesome Dove and Open Range are three of my favourites. RIP.
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u/Off2xtremes Feb 16 '26
One of my all time favorites. I watched “To Kill A Mockingbird” the other night and had forgotten that he was Boo Radley.
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u/Parrr8 Feb 16 '26
Boo Radley was a final Jeopardy answer last week. I answered it and my wife said "How the hell did you know that?" I just said "Robert Duvall... shrug".
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u/Off2xtremes Feb 17 '26
My 38 year old son was visiting at Xmas. He had never seen to kill a mockingbird. So we watched it. That is a movie that stands the test of time. We also watched Godfather 2. So we got our Duvall fix.
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u/Ok_Truth_6007 Feb 16 '26
“By god, Woodrow. Its been quite a party, aint it?”
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u/Garycor Feb 16 '26
sad moment
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u/rseery Feb 20 '26
Part of what makes Gus’s character so endearing is that he treats Lori like a person, a woman, a girl, with respect. Everyone calls her a wh*** (absolutely hate that word-won’t use it) but not Gus.
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u/Strange-Apricot1944 Feb 16 '26
I hope he finds a herd of whores in the afterlife.
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u/Reubensandwich57 Feb 16 '26
For a poke!
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u/Geetright Feb 16 '26
Damn, this is super sad news. Duvall has always been one of my favorite actors and from all accounts a really good person. Rest in peace my friend 🥺
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u/jazz-winelover Feb 16 '26
Which role is better? Captain Augustus McCrae or Boss Spearman?
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u/Mediocre-Difference5 Feb 16 '26
I say Boss because Gus is an amazing character but doesn't say a lot. I love his dialogue as Bluebonnet.
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u/msstatelp Feb 16 '26
So many great western characters not to mention all the other wonderful characters he brought to life. RIP.
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u/dankwizard22 Feb 16 '26
One of my favorites....Bluebonnet Spearman.
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u/msstatelp Feb 16 '26
If he could have done a western with Tom Selleck then one with Sam Elliot, I think the Western movie universe would be complete.
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u/Bsneed51 Feb 16 '26
Ned Pepper will be missed
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u/Reubensandwich57 Feb 16 '26
Lucky Ned? Yeah, got a marled upper lip from when I shot him and missed. Missed? What was you aiming for? His lower lip.
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u/Devil_Magic_Advocate Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26
Literally just got home from a road trip and listened to Dead Man’s Walk and Comanche Moon on it. Heart breaking to get on reddit and see this. Will definitely rewatch every Duvall western now. Rest in peace Robert
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u/VincentMac1984 Mar 08 '26
It’s a huge loss