Robert De Niro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert De Niro
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De Niro at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025
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Robert Anthony De Niro
August 17, 1943 New York City, U.S.
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| Years active | 1963–present |
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| Children | 7, including Drena and Raphael |
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| Awards | Full list |
Robert Anthony De Niro (born August 17, 1943) is a famous American actor, director, and producer. Many people think he is one of the greatest actors of his time. He is known for his serious and intense acting style.
De Niro has won many awards for his work. These include two Academy Awards, also known as Oscars, and a Golden Globe Award. He has also received special honors like the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009.
He won his first Oscar for playing the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974). He won his second Oscar for playing boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980). He has been nominated for Oscars for many other films, including Taxi Driver (1976), The Deer Hunter (1978), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
De Niro is also known for his roles in comedies like the Meet the Parents movies. He has directed two films, A Bronx Tale (1993) and The Good Shepherd (2006). In 1989, he co-founded TriBeCa Productions, a film company that also started the Tribeca Film Festival.
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Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Robert Anthony De Niro was born in Manhattan, New York City, on August 17, 1943. His parents, Virginia Admiral and Robert De Niro Sr., were both painters. They separated when he was two years old. De Niro was raised by his mother in the Greenwich Village and Little Italy neighborhoods of Manhattan.
As a child, De Niro was shy. He found that performing helped him overcome his shyness. At age 10, he played the Cowardly Lion in a school play of The Wizard of Oz. He became very interested in movies and decided to become an actor.
At 16, he left high school to study acting. He trained at famous acting schools like the Stella Adler Conservatory and Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio. There, he learned techniques to make his acting feel very real. He was inspired by actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean.
Career
1963–1973: Early Roles and Working with Scorsese
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De Niro started his career with small parts in films. His first major role was in Greetings (1968), directed by Brian De Palma. He worked with De Palma on several early films.
In 1973, he starred in Bang the Drum Slowly as a baseball player. His performance received great reviews and helped him become more well-known.
That same year, he began working with director Martin Scorsese. Their first film together was Mean Streets (1973). De Niro played a reckless young man named "Johnny Boy." Critics loved his energetic performance. This was the start of one of the most famous partnerships in movie history.
1974–1980: Becoming a Star
In 1974, De Niro played the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II. To prepare for the role, he learned to speak in a Sicilian dialect. The film was a huge success, and De Niro won his first Academy Award.
He worked with Scorsese again on Taxi Driver (1976). He played Travis Bickle, a lonely taxi driver in New York City. De Niro prepared for the role by losing weight and studying the behavior of taxi drivers. His famous line, "You talkin' to me?", was improvised by him. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor.
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In 1978, he starred in the war film The Deer Hunter. He played a steelworker from Pennsylvania whose life is changed by the Vietnam War. The film was praised by critics, and De Niro received another Oscar nomination.
His fourth film with Scorsese was Raging Bull (1980). He played the real-life boxer Jake LaMotta. To play LaMotta at different stages of his life, De Niro had to gain 60 pounds. His dedication to the role was incredible. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his powerful performance.
1981–1991: Exploring Different Roles
Throughout the 1980s, De Niro tried different types of roles to show his range as an actor. He starred in the comedy The King of Comedy (1982), playing a comedian who wants to be famous.
In 1984, he appeared in the epic crime film Once Upon a Time in America. He also starred in the romantic comedy Falling in Love with Meryl Streep. He played the gangster Al Capone in The Untouchables (1987).
He also starred in the action-comedy Midnight Run (1988). He played a bounty hunter, and critics enjoyed seeing him in a lighter, funnier role.
In 1990, he reunited with Scorsese for Goodfellas. He played gangster Jimmy Conway. The film is now considered a classic. That same year, he starred in Awakenings as a patient who wakes up from a long-term catatonic state. He was nominated for an Oscar for this role.
He worked with Scorsese again on Cape Fear (1991). He played a terrifying criminal seeking revenge. His performance was praised, and he earned another Oscar nomination.
1992–2006: Directing and New Challenges
In 1993, De Niro directed his first movie, A Bronx Tale. It was a story about a boy growing up in a tough neighborhood. He also acted in the film. Critics praised his directing skills.
He continued to act in many crime dramas. He starred with Al Pacino in Heat (1995). It was the first time the two famous actors appeared on screen together. He also worked with Scorsese on Casino (1995).
De Niro also explored more comedies. He starred in Analyze This (1999) as a mob boss who goes to therapy. In 2000, he played the strict father Jack Byrnes in the hit comedy Meet the Parents. The movie was so popular that it led to two sequels, Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010).
In 2006, he directed his second film, The Good Shepherd. It was a spy thriller about the beginning of the CIA.
2007–Present: Recent Work and More Awards
De Niro has remained very active in recent years. In 2012, he starred in Silver Linings Playbook. He played the father of a man with mental health challenges. His performance earned him another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2019, he reunited with Martin Scorsese for The Irishman. He played hitman Frank Sheeran. The film used special effects to make him look younger in certain scenes. He also had a role in the popular film Joker that same year.
In 2023, he worked with Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio on Killers of the Flower Moon. He played William King Hale, a powerful man involved in the Osage Indian murders. He received another Oscar nomination for this role.
De Niro continues to act in movies and television. He also produces films and shows through his company, TriBeCa Productions.
Personal Life
De Niro has been married twice. He was married to actress Diahnne Abbott from 1976 to 1988. They have a son named Raphael. De Niro also adopted Abbott's daughter, Drena.
In 1997, he married actress Grace Hightower. They have two children together, a son named Elliot and a daughter named Helen. De Niro and Hightower separated in 2018. De Niro has seven children in total.
De Niro lives in New York City and has been a big part of the Tribeca neighborhood. He co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2002 to help the city recover after the September 11 attacks. He also co-owns several restaurants, including the Tribeca Grill and the Nobu chain.
In 2006, he was granted Italian citizenship. He has also been involved in various social causes. He has spoken out about the importance of vaccines and has supported political candidates.
Filmography and Awards
Robert De Niro has starred in over 100 films. Some of his most famous and acclaimed movies include:
- Mean Streets (1973)
- The Godfather Part II (1974)
- Taxi Driver (1976)
- The Deer Hunter (1978)
- Raging Bull (1980)
- Goodfellas (1990)
- Heat (1995)
- Casino (1995)
- Meet the Parents (2000)
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
- The Irishman (2019)
- Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
De Niro has received nine Academy Award nominations and has won two.
- Win: Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II (1974)
- Win: Best Actor for Raging Bull (1980)
He has also received many lifetime achievement awards, honoring his long and influential career in film.
See also
In Spanish: Robert De Niro para niños
- List of Academy Award records
- List of actors with Academy Award nominations
- List of actors with two or more Academy Award nominations in acting categories
- List of actors with two or more Academy Awards in acting categories
Images for kids
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De Niro in 1998
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De Niro at the Cannes Film Festival, 2011
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