Name: Robert De Niro

Birth Name: Robert De Niro Jr.

Birthdate: Aug. 17, 1943

Birthplace: New York

Known as one of the best actors of our time, the notoriously press-shy De Niro gained world recognition and an Oscar for his portrayal of young Vito Corleone in the mafia epic The Godfather: Part II (1974) and won his second Oscar for his portrayal of prizefighter Jake La Motta in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980). A Method actor who lets it all out on-screen while remaining fiercely private about his personal life, De Niro's probably more recognized for his serious films of the past rather than the more lighthearted fare but thoroughly enjoyable work he's done in recent years, in films like Midnight Run, Meet the Fockers and Stardust, in which he played a cross-dressing fop of a pirate.


1. He was born to a family of artists: Mother Virginia Admiral was a painter and father Robert was a painter, sculptor and poet.
2. He's legendarily press-shy, and for some time in the 1980s, didn't give interviews.
3. He spent a year training to play aging boxer Jake La Motta in Raging Bull, a role he gained 60 pounds to play, and learned how to play the saxophone for New York, New York.
4. Rumor had it that he had an open marriage with Diahnne Abbott.
5. His last name may be Italian, but he's three-quarters Irish.


"I've never been one of those actors who has touted myself as a fascinating human being. I had to decide early on whether I was to be an actor or a personality."


Wife: Grace Hightower, married June 17, 1997
Wife: Diahnne Abbott, actress, born 1945, married 1976; divorced 1988
Daughter: (with Abbott) Drena, adopted 1976
Son: (with Hightower) Elliot, born 1998
Son: (with Toukie Smith) Julian Henry, born 1995
Son: (with Toukie Smith) Aaron Kendrick, born 1995
Son: (with Abbott) Raphael, born 1976

2001: Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical), Meet the Parents

2000: Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical), Analyze This

1992: Academy Award nomination: Best Actor, Cape Fear; Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), Cape Fear

1991: Academy Award nomination: Best Actor, Awakenings

1989: Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical), Midnight Run

1981: Academy Award: Best Actor, Raging Bull; Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), Raging Bull

1979: Academy Award nomination: Best Actor, The Deer Hunter; Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama),
The Deer Hunter

1978: Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical), New York, New York

1977: Academy Award nomination: Best Actor, Taxi Driver; Golden Globe nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama),
Taxi Driver

1975: Academy Award: Best Supporting Actor, The Godfather: Part II

FILMS

Arthur and the Invisibles - (2007) - Voice
Stardust - (2007) - Actor
The Good Shepherd - (2006) - Director
Hide and Seek - (2005) - Actor
The Bridge of San Luis Rey - (2005) - Actor
Rent/Godspell - (2005) - Producer
Rent/Tommy - (2005) - Producer
Rent - (2005) - Producer
Saturday Night Live - Best of Jimmy Fallon - (2005) - Featured
Godsend - (2004) - Actor
Stage Beauty - (2004) - Producer
Shark Tale - (2004) - Voice
Martin Scorsese Film Collection - (2004) - Actor
Meet the Fockers - (2004) - Producer, Actor
Showtime - (2002) - Actor
About a Boy - (2002) - Producer
Showtime/Analyze That - (2002) - Actor
Analyze That - (2002) - Actor
City by the Sea - (2002) - Actor
The Score - (2001) - Actor
15 Minutes - (2001) - Actor
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle - (2000) - Actor, Producer
Men of Honor - (2000) - Actor
Holiday Heart - (2000) - Executive Producer
Meet the Parents - (2000) - Actor
Flawless - (1999) - Actor
Great Expectations - (1998) - Actor
Ronin - (1998) - Actor
Analyze This - (1998) - Actor
Witness To The Mob - (1998) - Producer
Saturday Night Live - Best of 96-97 - (1998) - Actor
Cop Land - (1997) - Actor
Jackie Brown - (1997) - Actor
Wag the Dog - (1997) - Actor, Producer
The Cop Land/Yards - (1997) - Actor
The Fan - (1996) - Actor
Sleepers - (1996) - Actor
Marvin's Room - (1996) - Actor
100 Years of Horror - (1996) - Featured
Casino - (1995) - Actor
Heat - (1995) - Actor
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - (1994) - Actor
One Hundred and One Nights - (1994) - Cameo
Mad Dog and Glory - (1993) - Actor
This Boy's Life - (1993) - Actor
A Bronx Tale - (1993) - Director, Actor
Thunderheart - (1992) - Producer
Night and the City - (1992) - Actor
Mistress - (1992) - Actor, Producer
Guilty by Suspicion - (1991) - Actor
Cape Fear - (1991) - Actor
Backdraft - (1991) - Actor
Stanley & Iris - (1990) - Actor
Goodfellas - (1990) - Actor
Awakenings - (1990) - Actor
We're No Angels - (1989) - Actor, Executive Producer
Jacknife - (1989) - Actor
Midnight Run - (1988) - Actor
Angel Heart - (1987) - Actor
The Untouchables - (1987) - Actor
The Mission - (1986) - Actor
Brazil - (1985) - Actor
Falling in Love - (1984) - Actor
Once Upon a Time in America - (1984) - Actor
The King of Comedy - (1982) - Actor
True Confessions - (1981) - Actor
Raging Bull - (1980) - Actor
Line of Fire - (1979) - Actor
The Deer Hunter - (1978) - Actor
1900 - (1977) - Actor
The Last Tycoon - (1977) - Actor
New York, New York - (1977) - Actor
Taxi Driver - (1976) - Actor
The Godfather: Part II - (1974) - Actor
Bang the Drum Slowly - (1973) - Actor
Mean Streets - (1973) - Actor
Born to Win - (1971) - Actor
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight - (1971) - Actor
Bloody Mama - (1970) - Actor
The Swap - (1969) - Actor
Hi, Mom! - (1969) - Actor
The Wedding Party - (1969) - Actor
Greetings - (1968) - Actor
Righteous Kill - () - Actor