Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro is one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood history. He has won two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among many other honors, for his work in some of the most iconic films of the last several decades. From his early roles in “Taxi Driver” and “The Godfather: Part II” to his more recent work in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “The Irishman,” De Niro has proven himself to be a versatile and gifted actor who can bring depth and nuance to any role he takes on.
Born in 1943 in New York City, De Niro grew up in the Greenwich Village neighborhood and began acting in off-Broadway productions as a teenager. He made his film debut in 1965 in the drama “Three Rooms in Manhattan,” but it wasn’t until his breakout role in “Mean Streets” in 1973 that he became a household name. That film, directed by Martin Scorsese, was the first of many collaborations between the two men, and together they would go on to create some of the most memorable films in cinema history.
One of the things that makes De Niro such a compelling actor is his ability to fully immerse himself in a role. He is known for his intense preparation, often gaining or losing weight, learning new skills, or adopting a different accent or mannerism to fully embody a character. For his role in “Raging Bull,” for example, he trained for months to transform himself into the boxer Jake LaMotta, gaining 60 pounds to play him in his later years and even stepping into the ring for real in several scenes.
De Niro has also been involved in many other aspects of the film industry throughout his career. He founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2002 as a way to revitalize the downtown Manhattan neighborhood after the 9/11 attacks, and the festival has since become one of the most prestigious film events in the world. He has also directed several films himself, including “A Bronx Tale” and “The Good Shepherd,” and he is known for his work as a producer, having shepherded many of his own projects to the screen.
Despite his long and storied career, De Niro shows no signs of slowing down. In recent years, he has continued to take on challenging and complex roles in films like “The Irishman” and “Joker,” and he remains one of the most respected and admired actors in the business. His legacy as an actor, director, and producer is secure, and his influence on the world of cinema will be felt for generations to come.
Interesting facts about Robert De Niro:
- Robert De Niro’s parents were both artists. His mother was a painter and his father was a sculptor and painter.
- De Niro dropped out of high school at age 16 to pursue acting.
- He has played the same character, Vito Corleone, at different ages in two different films. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a young Vito Corleone in “The Godfather: Part II” and later played an older version of the character in “The Godfather: Part III.”
- He has been nominated for seven Academy Awards and has won two.
- De Niro is a co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival.
- He is known for his method-acting approach, which involves fully immersing himself in a role and often gaining or losing weight to embody a character.
- De Niro has played a wide range of characters throughout his career, from tough guys in films like “Taxi Driver” and “Goodfellas” to comedic roles in films like “Meet the Parents” and “The Intern.”
- He has directed several films, including “A Bronx Tale” and “The Good Shepherd.”
- De Niro has been politically active throughout his career, supporting causes such as gun control and environmental protection.
- He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
- Robert De Niro revealed he had a baby at 79 and is now a dad of seven