Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro is probably one of the most important actors in the history of Hollywood in terms of versatility, skills, and professionalism. De Niro started his acting career in the 1970s thanks to two of the era's biggest directors: Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. The Godfather Part II earned De Niro his first Oscar for his supporting role as a very believable young Don Vito Corleone. Then Martin Scorsese truly gave De Niro some memorable parts. De Niro played Jack LaMotta in the extraordinary Raging Bull and starred as the rebellious Taxi Driver, and we mustn't forget his performances in New York New York with Liza Minnelli or King of the Night alongside a dark and dramatic Jerry Lewis. De Niro was Scorsese's pupil for many films, and theirs was one of the best creative relationships in cinema.

Mafia and crime movies, including two other Scorsese masterpieces, Goodfellas and Casino, shaped and defined the first part of De Niro's career, but it was his astonishing performance in The Mission that proved how well-rounded an actor he truly is. The list of De Niro's appearances goes on, with titles that truly changed the history of movies, but what is most impressive is his chameleon-like ability to change body weight or accents as easily as he might change a costume. We all remember his convincing Southern accent in Cape Fear, one of his scariest roles.

Robert de Niro backs Obama.

De Niro has been able to reach across the globe with his talent through American characters, filtered through his Italian heritage. Cinema is a high form of art that goes beyond borders and crosses geographical boundaries. De Niro not only fully understands that, but with precision and preparation  he raised the bar for his craft, creating a very difficult benchmark for the next generation of actors to reach.

Robert De Niro Interview in France (1990).

Toward the end of the 1990s, Robert De Niro started doing more comedies than he had in the past. He teamed with Billy Crystal in the hit film Analyze This and its sequel Analyze That. These two movies showed a different side of De Niro and were later followed by the Fokkers franchise that featured an extraordinary Ben Stiller. The first installment, Meet the Parents, rapidly climbed to the top of the list of box office sales in 2000. Many criticized De Niro for these choices, but money and a desire to challenge himself with something different convinced him to take on these roles.

De Niro also proved himself as a talented director, following the footsteps of the master, Martin Scorsese, especially in De Niro's debutorial directing effort A Bronx Tale, from the marvelous script by Chazz Palminteri. De Niro delivered a gritty and realistic portrayal of the Italian section of the Bronx in the 1960s, and showed that he was capable of both directing and performing, creating a very memorable film.

APRIL 20 Robert De Niro and Grace

Another important aspect of De Niro's career is producing. His Tribeca production company has brought to the screen some very significant films, allowing independent filmmakers to express their visions as well as co-venturing with Hollywood to produce important film projects.

De Niro is also known for developing the Tribeca Film Festival, a major venue for premiering films that is held annually in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood. Filmmakers from all over the globe showcase their films and network and find an opportunity to network during the renowned kermess.

Roberto De Niro has made major contributions to the film industry. Artistically, he is the male equivalent of Meryl Streep. Needless to say, when they first acted together on film, the results were extraordinary: The Vietnam-themed "The Deer Hunter" is a piece of cinematic history.