Robert Anthony de Niro Jr is the name on his document, but to the rest of the world he is simply Robert de Niro. This actor, producer and film director was born in New York on August 17, 1943. How did he become all that? His parents were painters and they met in painting classes, but, unfortunately, love did not last long since they divorced when De Niro was 3 years old. They still maintained a good relationship for their son. He started his career when he was ten years old in a school production playing The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.
At sixteen, he dropped out of high school to begin studying acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and Actors Studio. At the age of twenty, in 1963, he made his first film appearance with director Brian de Palma, with whom he would become close friends. In 1968, he was hired again by Palma making his film debut with the film Greetings. Since the director loved this young actor’s performances, he introduced him to other directors, and thanks to that, in 1973, he got to act in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets by Martin Scorsese. The following year, he participated in The Godfather II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and it was this performance that led him to win his first Oscar for best supporting actor.
We have also seen him shine throughout his career in titles such as Taxi Driver (1974), The Deep Hunter (1978), Raging Bull (1980), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Untouchables (1987), Goodfellas (1990), Awakenings (1990), Cape Fear (1991), Casino (1995), and Heat (1995).
This 2020 we will see him in a fun family comedy, The War With Grandpa, alongside Uma Thurman.
Our best wishes on this day!
Image: The Wrap
