An icon in modern American history lost a towering figure. Robert Duvall was not only on The Godfather. He could be very convincing that a completely fictional Rex Merick is the owner of the 76ers and not Josh Harris. He made diehard sports lovers hate Max Mercy, an ironically named vile sports journalist. And he’s gone. Duvall passed away on Sunday, February 15. He was 95. His impact went beyond cinema and theater. It even influenced the athletic world and one Magic Johnson.

From the days he ran the Magic Johnson Theater, Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s love for movies ran deep. Before he was rubbing shoulders with Hollywood elite during the Showtime era in LA, he was already deep in love with movies.

His ‘all-time’ favorite movie is The Godfather. So this loss hit deep for the Michigan native who grew up on it. It took him a while, probably because he was in Inglewood for the All-Star Weekend, but he finally posted a tribute to Duvall on Wednesday night.

“Rest in peace to actor Robert Duvall! He starred in my favorite movie of all time, The Godfather. Cookie and I will be praying for the Duvall family during this difficult time.🙏🏾” Johnson wrote.

Johnson is getting a little flak for the late post. But it’s still heartfelt. Robert Duvall just meant that much to the Lakers legend long before he was in the LA light.

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Robert Duvall’s impact on Magic Johnson

Robert Duvall’s ability to embody any character defined Magic Johnson’s life. When The Godfather arrived in 1972, he was still the Lansing teen, Earvin, whose 36-point masterpiece made sporstwriters not like Max Mercy dub him ‘Magic.’

Just like that, Magic went to Michigan State and came to LA to make the NBA a primetime product. Some analysts have claimed Magic Johnson wouldn’t have blended the Hollywood spotlight with basketball if it wasn’t for his love for movies, and that should be credited to Robert Duvall.

Magic now spends his summers on a multi-million charter yacht touring Europe but the fanboy made sure to include the Castello degli Schiavi, The Godfather mansion in his Sicily trip. All so he could re-enact scenes of the cult-classic that he needs to share with his followers beyond just informing them.

The tribute from Magic Johnson, who also lost his mentor Jesse Jackson yesterday, echoes the sentiments of many within the film industry and how a single character by Duvall changed how they viewed the world. His career spanning seven decades defined American cinema that Magic wanted to showcase through his theaters (they’re now defunct).

As fans revisit his legendary filmography this week, Magic Johnson’s message serves as a reminder of the cross-cultural impact of Duvall’s work. Whether playing a Texas Ranger in Lonesome Dove or a loyal lawyer in The Godfather, Robert Duvall’s characters stood for a certain kind of integrity that resonated far beyond the silver screen.