Robert De Niro American film actor Date of Birth: 17.08.1943 Country: USA

Robert De Niro Biography

Robert De Niro was born on August 17, 1943, in New York City, to artist and sculptor Robert De Niro Sr. and poet Virginia Admiral. His father's ancestors were Italian immigrants, while his mother had German, Dutch, English, and French roots. When De Niro was three years old, his parents separated. He grew up in the poor neighborhood of Little Italy and Greenwich Village, where he was exposed to both poverty and wealth, shaping his character.

De Niro developed a passion for music and painting, and at the age of 10, he made his debut in a school play, playing the role of a cowardly lion. He enjoyed acting so much that he decided to pursue it as a career. After graduating from private school, he attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. He later studied under Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg, who greatly influenced his acting style. Adler and Strasberg instilled in him a commitment to the Stanislavski system.

In 1965, De Niro made his first on-screen appearance in the film "Three Rooms in Manhattan." However, his first filmed role was in the comedy "The Wedding Party" (1969), which was released in 1969 after experiencing financial difficulties. De Niro began appearing in films more frequently, but his early roles were small and did not attract much attention. Everything changed in 1973 when two iconic films, "Mean Streets" and "Raging Bull," were released. "Mean Streets" marked the beginning of De Niro's long collaboration with Martin Scorsese, a director who also grew up in Little Italy and had Italian roots. De Niro received his first award from the National Society of Film Critics for his role in "Mean Streets," and his performance in "Raging Bull" earned him a New York Film Critics Circle Award.

The film that truly brought De Niro into the spotlight was the gangster saga "The Godfather Part II" (1974). He initially auditioned for various major male roles in the first part of the trilogy but was rejected by director Francis Ford Coppola. However, when filming the second part, Coppola reconsidered and cast De Niro as the young Vito Corleone. This role earned De Niro his first Academy Award. His portrayal of the troubled Vietnam War veteran Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" (1976) was particularly compelling. The scene where he confronts himself in the mirror and delivers the iconic line, "You talking to me?" is considered one of the greatest scenes in cinema history.

In the 1980s, De Niro's career reached its peak. It all started with another successful collaboration with Scorsese in "Raging Bull" (1980), where De Niro played the boxer Jake LaMotta. This role earned him his second Academy Award and established him as a star. A few years later, he appeared in another iconic film, the gangster drama "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984). This film marked a turning point in his career, as he began playing predominantly three types of characters: police officers, criminals, and demonic villains. De Niro portrayed a police officer brilliantly in "Midnight Run" (1988) and played a criminal in films such as "Goodfellas" (1990) and "Heat" (1995). However, his most captivating performances were in films where he portrayed characters embodying absolute evil. For example, his role in the thriller "Cape Fear" (1991) was one of his best and earned him an Academy Award nomination. The film "Heat," in which De Niro starred alongside Al Pacino, became his last major triumph. It earned nearly $180 million at the box office and was well-received by both audiences and critics.

After "Heat," De Niro's career began to decline in the mid-1990s. Although his performances continued to impress and evoke strong emotions, he struggled to find memorable roles. However, he started to focus more on other aspects of the film industry. He ventured into directing with the drama "A Bronx Tale" (1993). Despite the success of his directorial debut, his next directorial project, the dramatic thriller "The Good Shepherd" (2006), was critically panned. In addition to directing, De Niro also became more involved in producing. In 2004, he achieved great success with the comedy "Meet the Fockers."

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, De Niro co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival, which aimed to revitalize the infrastructure of the Lower Manhattan streets affected by the attacks. The films shown at the festival stood out for the large fees paid to the actors, who donated the money to charity.

Despite his forays into other areas of the film industry, De Niro's primary focus remains on acting. In the 2000s, he appeared in successful films such as "Meet the Parents" (2000), "Meet the Fockers" (2004), "Righteous Kill" (2008), "Being Flynn" (2012), and "The Family" (2013). The latter two films, released in the same year, were considered the best in De Niro's career in the past decade, reminding the world of his greatness as an actor.

In recent years, De Niro has continued to collaborate with Al Pacino and Martin Scorsese in the film "The Irishman." This biographical crime drama tells the story of Frank Sheeran, a small-time thief and carjacker who becomes a hitman for the mob. Sheeran was suspected of being involved in the disappearance of labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa, whose body has never been found. The film is set to be released in October 2019 and will be the first in De Niro's filmography based on comic books.

De Niro is not only a talented actor but also a successful restaurateur. He co-owns several cafes and restaurants, including the renowned "Nobu" chain. De Niro played a chef in the film "Casino," and his business partner, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, portrayed a hotel guest in the same film.

Robert De Niro is not just a good actor; he is a living legend of cinema. He has received numerous awards, nominations, and prestigious titles, making him one of the greatest actors of our time. His talent has delighted audiences with his brilliant performances for more than four decades. He is the standard that all actors in the world strive to emulate.