The Hollywood great met Johnstone while shooting the film, in which he played Kilnockie FC manager Gordon McLeod.
Duvall rubbed shoulders and worked with some of the biggest names in film, but none came close to the Celtic European Cup winner.
While in the UK to promote his film Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise in 2012, Duvall gave an interview about his love for football while attending the Manchester derby.
And he said: “I know a lot of the great players, I’ve seen them, and I can safely say the greatest character I have ever met, and I have met a lot, is wee Jimmy Johnstone from Scotland.
“Jinky, what a guy. I named a dog after him – a great guy, he died too young that guy. What a character, and a great player.”
Johnstone, who died in 2006, is best known for his time with Celtic, where he was part of the team that won the European Cup in 1967. He was voted Celtic’s best-ever player by club fans in 2002.
He scored 129 goals for Celtic in 515 appearances and won 23 caps for Scotland.
RIP to the terrific Robert Duvall who has died at the age of 95. Here he is alongside Tom Cruise talking about the majestic Jimmy Johnstone pic.twitter.com/wwkcR43afD
— Declan McConville (@DeclanRMcC) February 16, 2026