Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro (b.
August 17,
1943 in
New York City) is an acclaimed
American film
actor who is noted for having starred in several of
director Martin Scorsese's
films. Praised for his commitment to his roles, De Niro gained 50 pounds (23 kg) and learned how to box for his portrayal of
Jake LaMotta in
Raging Bull, ground his teeth for
Cape Fear, and learned to play the
saxophone for
New York, New York (all Scorsese films).
Although not articulate, De Niro is generally considered a skilled observer of physical tics and details, and an intense perfectionist.
De Niro made his first film appearance in
1968 in
Greetings (directed by
Brian De Palma). After that, he played some major and minor roles in other films not widely seen, until he gained popularity with his role in
Bang the Drum Slowly (
1973). He began to work with Martin Scorsese in the same year when the two collaborated on
Mean Streets. Later Scorsese films in which De Niro has participated are
Taxi Driver (
1976),
New York, New York (
1977),
Raging Bull (
1980),
The King of Comedy (
1983),
Goodfellas (
1990),
Cape Fear (
1991), and
Casino (
1995). In these films, De Niro has primarily played charming but emotionally unstable characters who have sociopathic tendencies.
In the mid-
1980s, De Niro began expanding into occasional comedic roles, and has had much success in that area as well with such films as
Brazil (
1985),
Midnight Run (
1988),
Wag the Dog (
1997),
Analyze This (
1999), and
Meet the Parents (
2000).
He has won two
Academy Awards: as
Best Actor for his role in
Raging Bull; and as
Best Supporting Actor for
The Godfather, Part II.
Interestingly, De Niro and
Marlon Brando are the only pair of actors who have won Academy Awards for portraying the same person: De Niro won for playing young Vito Corleone in
The Godfather, Part II, and Brando had won previously (although he declined the award) for playing the elderly Don Vito in
The Godfather.
Selected Additional Films
\n*1900 (1976)\n*
The Last Tycoon (
1976)\n*
The Deer Hunter (
1978)\n*
True Confessions (
1981)\n*
Once Upon a Time in America (
1984)\n*
The Mission (
1986)\n*
Angel Heart (
1987)\n*
The Untouchables (
1987)\n*
Awakenings (
1990)\n*
Backdraft (
1991)\n*
This Boy's Life (
1993)\n*
A Bronx Tale (
1993) (also directed)\n*
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (
1994)\n*
Heat (
1995)\n*
Cop Land (
1997)\n*
Jackie Brown (
1997)\n*
Ronin (
1998)\n*
Men of Honor (
2000)\n*
The Score (
2001)\n*
Analyze That (
2002)\n*
Godsend (
2004)\n*
The Bridge of San Luis Rey (
2004)\n*
Meet The Fockers (
2004)
External links
\n*IMDb filmography\n*
Full list of De Niro's awards\n*
Full filmography of De Niro
De Niro, RobertDe Niro, RobertDe Niro, RobertDe Niro, Robert
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